Cardinal problem

CARDINAL Malcolm Ranjith’s recent proclamation denouncing same-sex relationships is a stark reminder of the centuries-old tension between religious doctrine and individual freedoms. While the right to freedom of religion or belief must be upheld in any democratic society, it cannot and should not be wielded as a tool to deny others their fundamental human rights.

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Sri Lanka’s criminal code, imposed in 1884 under British colonial rule, continues to criminalise same-sex relations. This archaic law, rooted in the morality of Victorian Britain and further justified by religious texts and canon law, has no place in a modern, pluralistic society. These laws have been repealed in imperialist nations long years ago while ironically, they remain in the statute books of their former colonies, Sri Lanka included. Even the Vatican has changed its position on same-sex relations, with recent Popes calling for nondiscrimination. In 2023 Pope Francis in an interview said that “being homosexual is not a crime.” He defined as “unjust” laws that criminalise homosexuality or homosexual activity and urged church members, including bishops, to show “tenderness” as “God does with each of his children.”