Kerala Bishop Council flays move to ban 'confession'

New Delhi:The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) has taken note of reports that National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma has made a recommendation to the Union Home Ministry to ban the Sacrament of Confession among Christians in India and said the move is shocking to Christians and also those, who believe in the freedom of religion.

In a statement, KCBC Deputy Secretary General Varghese Valikkat said the move is 'shocking' for all, who believe in the freedom of religion, guaranteed by the Constitution.

The recommendation is supposed to be based on the NCW Chairperson's investigation in two separate incidents of allegation of atrocity against women in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches of India. 

The statement said instead of reporting the findings of the Commission, the Chairperson has ventured into something, which is totally out of her prerogative and without any consultation with the Christian Churches and communities.

The move is also "without considering the moral, theological or psychological aspects of the centuries old spiritual practice of confession among the Christians", the statement said.

The Chairperson has crossed the boundaries of her constitutional powers, it alleged and said that it forms "an attack on the Christian faith and spiritual practice". 

"We strongly feel that the recommendation is unwarranted and violates the honour and credibility of the Christian community. We suspect communal and political motives behind this unconstitutional interference into the internal spiritual affairs of the Church," added the statement.Confession, according to the Christian faith, is a Sacrament. It is a way to spiritual progress and salvation, it said.(UNI)