Religion should unite society -Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith

Shirley WIJESINGHE

A religion should be able to unite human society and not to divide it, the Ninth Archbishop of Colombo Most Rev. Dr. Malcolm Ranjith said.

He added that the church will support President Mahinda Rajapaksa's effort to banish all differences from society. "If we are divided and separated we will always be unsuccessful", he stressed.

Archbishop Dr. Malcolm Ranjith was addressing the gathering after his canonical installation as the 09th Archbishop of Colombo at St. Lucia's Cathedral Kotahena yesterday. The Archbishop said that he had learnt more lessons while working with the common man.

They were more valuable than the lessons I learnt through the educational theories. I had been so close to human beings in my services related to local as well as abroad.

"I have closely experienced the unconditional love of God throughout my life. It has directed me on the correct path when I was at a cross roads in my life. God guided me in my destiny.

Commenting on the present decadence of the younger generation, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith appealed to them not to follow the trend as it is neglecting spiritual development.

He appealed to all to show kindness and love to those who are suffering from trauma and anguish. "Always try to help each other the way God taught you", he added. .

Most Rev. Dr. Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith was appointed as Secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments till His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as the new Archbishop of Colombo.