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Colombo’s Catholic community was shaken over the weekend when Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, revealed a startling incident involving a same-sex wedding inside a Catholic church.
During Sunday service, the Cardinal disclosed that two Sri Lankan women had managed to marry in a church by deceiving the officiating priest. One of the women, he said, had altered her appearance with male hormone treatments, even developing facial hair, which convinced the priest she was a man.
“This incident took place right here in Sri Lanka,” the Cardinal declared, leaving the congregation in shock.
A Church Deceived
According to the Cardinal, the wedding was solemnised because the priest believed he was marrying a man and a woman. The revelation sparked immediate gasps among parishioners, as same-sex marriages are not recognised within the Catholic Church or under Sri Lankan law.
Cardinal’s Strong Opposition
Cardinal Ranjith used the episode to voice his strong disapproval of same-sex unions. “How can two men or two women lead a proper family life if they marry?” he asked.
He also criticised the Sri Lankan government’s recent promotion of LGBTQ+ tourism, warning that it could damage the country’s cultural identity. “Sri Lanka must not allow its children and youth to become victims of foreigners who arrive here to fulfil unacceptable desires,” he said.
Compassion With Limits
While denouncing same-sex marriage, the Cardinal called for compassion toward individuals with same-sex attraction. He distinguished between those “born with homosexual tendencies,” who he said should be treated with kindness and dignity, and those who, in his view, adopt such lifestyles due to external influence.
“We must not harass those born with homosexual tendencies. They should be treated with kindness and dignity,” he said, before warning against what he described as pressures to normalise alternative lifestyles.
A Warning from the Pulpit
The Cardinal concluded with a warning that Western nations had lost cultural and moral stability by normalising homosexuality. His remarks have stirred debate, with supporters praising his defence of tradition and critics accusing him of deepening prejudice at a time when LGBTQ+ rights remain a contentious issue in Sri Lanka.