Kerala bishops ask to donate blood to protest West Asia violence

KCBC president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis suggested the step in a circular.

Kochi:  The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) has urged Catholics to donate blood to protest the ongoing extremist violence and torture in the name of religion in West Asia.

KCBC president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis suggested the step in a circular.

The body Catholic bishops in Kerala also asked to intensify prayer to resist religious terrorism, during the period of lent, a 50-day period of intense prayer and abstention that culminates in Easter.

It also suggested observing March 24 as Fasting Day. The circular said the international community, cultural organizations and nations should join hands to resist religious terrorism.

“It is high time the international community intervened in the Middle East region, where people are being tortured in the name of religious beliefs. It is the responsibility of the civilized society to take steps to prevent such atrocities," it said.

"International organizations like the United Nations should form a policy and initiate rescue operations to save those in trouble,” the Cardinal added.

Source: New Indian Express