KCBC: The bill to be introduced in the legislature to address issues pertaining to the cremation of believers in the Jacobite and Orthodox churches should be taken into account by the existing system of all churches and acceptable to all. Cardinal Mar George Alenchery, President and Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, called on the government. The efforts of the government to resolve the issues in connection with the cemetery in the Jacobite and Orthodox churches are welcome. But the bill that is being drafted is inaccurate, inaccurate, and could jeopardize the constitutional freedom of religion and therefore lead to more complex legal issues.
The Kerala Christian Cemeteries Act 2020 specifically states that a Christian body is entitled to burial and burial services for the burial and funeral or related purposes. This bill may serve to protect the rights of Jacobite believers. However, the general nature of the bill makes it clear that the new bill will in some way harm the funeral services and cemeteries of Christian churches that have been operating for centuries. It is the government’s responsibility to clarify the matter.
All Christian churches in Kerala have their own cemeteries. Their construction and functioning are currently in compliance with government laws and the internal rules of each church. Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, in his statement, urged the government to hold discussions with representatives of all churches in the new legislative process and take their views into account.
