Monday, April 7, 2008 at 12:12am
Mary statue removed due to shelling
A 400-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary has been removed from the beloved shrine at Madhu, Sri Lanka, for safekeeping due to heavy artillery shelling in the region, Catholic World News reported Monday.
Bishop Rayappu Joseph of the local Mannar diocese said "the time has come for Our Lady of Madhu to vacate the area, along with the people, for the first time in more than 400 years."
Government officials charged that the shelling of Madhu was conducted by forces of the Tamil Tigers rebel group. Bishop Joseph had appealed ot the rebels to leave the vicinity of the shrine to protect it from shelling.
Bishop Rayappu Joseph of the local Mannar diocese said "the time has come for Our Lady of Madhu to vacate the area, along with the people, for the first time in more than 400 years."
Government officials charged that the shelling of Madhu was conducted by forces of the Tamil Tigers rebel group. Bishop Joseph had appealed ot the rebels to leave the vicinity of the shrine to protect it from shelling.