The Catholic Community in Bethlehem has expressed their deep concern over shifting of the highly venerated statue of our Lady of Madhu to an area 70 kilometres inside the jungle not accessible to the devotee.

“Therefore we of the Catholic community in Bethlehem in Palestine appeal once again to all parties concerned to protect this venerated statue of Our Lady of Madhu and place it in historical site so that devotees from all over the world could worship as in the past," they said in a statement.

Full text of the statement from the Catholic Community in Bethlehem- Palestine:

“We the undersigned members of the Catholic community in Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ are deeply concerned about the reported shifting of the highly venerated statue of our Lady of Madhu to an area 70 kilometres inside the jungle not accessible to the devotee. It is with great sorrow that we also learn of this venerated statue of Our Lady of Madhu being used as a shield by the radical group called LTTE in Sri Lanka.

“In view of the fact that the government of Sri Lanka has given the assurance that this shrine would be protected as in the past we appeal to the leaders of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka to persuade LTTE leaders to return the statue to its original shrine so that it would be accessible to the devotees who belong to all religions in the island. As we understand this statue end the shrine is a national heritage and should be protected by all irrespective of faith or ethnic identity.

Therefore we of the Catholic community in Bethlehem in Palestine appeal once again to all parties concerned to protect this venerated statue of Our Lady of Madhu and place it in historical site so that devotees from all over the world could worship as in the past.”