Syro-Malabar laity commission opposes youth festivals on Sundays

KOCHI: The commission for laity of Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala has come out strongly against the education department for conducting the school youth festivals on Sunday, the day for religious rituals and teachings for the catholic community.
Various competitions of the school youth festivals in various districts were held on Sundays which is against the religious beliefs of the church, said Advocate V C Sebastian, secretary of the commission.
“There is a conspiracy behind the move to pose hurdles to religious rituals and catechism classes which have been conducted on Sunday by the community for generations,” he said.
The Christian community is playing an active role in the education sector, and this move would keep major educational institutions led by priests and nuns away from these festivals, he said.
The commission asked the education department not to conduct youth festivals and other school events on Sundays in the coming years.