Sri Lankan politician asks Pope to protect bishop from government reprisals


CWN - June 15, 2012

In Sri Lanka, a politician of the opposition party has written to Pope Benedict XVI, asking the Pontiff to protect a local bishop from government reprisals.

Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar has been harshly attacked by government officials after the bishop called for investigation of war-crimes accusations in the wake of Sri Lanka's civil war. Jayalath Jayawardena, a member of parliament representing the United National Party, asked the Pope to intervene in order to ensure that the bishop "can continue his mission without threats, intimidation, and false allegations."