Cardinal Baselios Cleemis of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has stirred controversy by urging Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs to support the Wakf Bill. His statement, coming ahead of the Bill’s presentation, raises serious questions about the role of religious leaders in political decision-making. For one, the exact contents of the Bill remain unknown to the public, as it was vetted by a parliamentary committee. If he had access to the Bill’s provisions before they were officially disclosed, it would constitute a breach of parliamentary privilege. This alone should make lawmakers wary of heeding his advice. It is telling that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has echoed the KCBC stance. This........

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