I just got this information from a couple of friends about some extremist Buddhist monks trying to cause disharmony between Buddhists and Catholics living in Crooswatta, Kotugoda.
The problems seems to have cropped up regarding an extension to the church which commenced construction in Feb 2007. Accordingly the Ja Ela magistrates court had suspended the construction of the church and asked the two parties to come to a settlement. The court had also given permission to conduct Sunday School classes and Mass on Saturday evening. However on Oct 6th just 3 days after the court verdict a police official halted the Mass that was taking place. According to the police the Ja Ela OIC had ordered that the Mass be stopped despite the court order that Mass and Sunday School can be conducted.
I have given below the links to the website of the Archdiocese of Colombo website that gives detailed descriptions regarding this incident.
October 3rd 2007 : Constructions of the Church at Crooswatta, Kotugoda temporarily suspended by Courts
October 7th 2007 : Police interrupts and stops the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Crooswatta Church, Kotugoda
Oct 17, 2007 at 12:11 pm
A most disturbing incident and a regrettable sign of the increased polarisation of communities that have followed the anti-foreigner, pro-war, campaign on which Rajapakse was elected.
The Catholic church needs to communicate with the Buddhist hierarchy an defuse this situation.
Avoid open protests or other things that might inflame passions further, quiet diplomacy is the way forward.
Oct 18, 2007 at 11:16 am
So essentially the priests went and attacked the monks when the cops prevented them from conducting mass. Hmm…
Oct 18, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Anyway, the question is, whose side are you on here. As an evangelical fundamentalist fuckhead you surely cannot support the Catholic Church, or as your preachers lovingly call it, the Whore of Babylon.
Dec 11, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Exremist Buddhist monks? What about the extremist Catholic priests? Only can point fingers at others huh?