Election office orders bishops’ letter probe

Kerala’s Election Commission has ordered an investigation into a pastoral letter from bishops asking Catholics not to vote for atheistic political parties.

The head of the state Election Commission, P. Kamalkutty, has directed the Ernakulam district collector to inquire into the content and circumstances behind the letter from the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council.

The Election Commission’s order follows a complaint by Joseph Velivil, a Catholic from Ernakulam.

He alleges the letter propagates social disharmony.

Velivil, who heads the Kerala Latin Catholic Association, a dissident group, also alleges the letter undermines the state’s democratic principles.

The pastoral letter was read out in all the state’s parishes on July 18.

It comes ahead of village council elections in September and state polls next year.

The letter, without naming Kerala’s ruling alliance led by the Communist Party of India (Marxists), allegedly attacked the tactics of “atheist” parties in politics.

It asked people to be vigilant against “atheists” fielding “God-fearing popular people” as independent candidates to garner votes from Christians.

The bishops’ spokesperson Father Stephen Alathara said it was the Church’s “right to issue a pastoral letter to guide its faithful.”

“We are not concerned about its legal aspects,” he said.

The Electoral Commission, a quasi judicial body, acts independently of state bodies.

If those responsible for the letter fail to give a satisfactory explanation for its contents, the commission can take legal action, experts warned.

The commission had sought explanation for a pastoral letter prior to the 2009 general election, Father Alathara said.

“It later ruled there was nothing improper in its content,” he said.

The latest letter is aimed at “strengthening democratic values” and to educate people about political traps, he said.

“We have not appealed to voters to favor particular political parties,” Father Alathara explained.

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