Church’s Ten Commandments For Indian Voters
NEW DELHI, April 8 (SAR NEWS-Indian Catholic): The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, a premier representative body of the Catholic Christians in India based in Delhi, released a set of Ten Commandments for the Indian voters in view of the parliamentary elections beginning April 16. Here goes the decree:
I. You shall ensure that your name is on the electoral roll (ER) and that you have an updated elector’s photo identity card (EPIC). II. You shall help the poor, marginalised, underprivileged people to have their names on the ER by sending a filled-in Form No. 6 to the chief electoral officer of your state immediately.
III. You shall scrutinise election manifestos of various political parties to ascertain their stand in favour of vulnerable groups likes tribals, dalits, children, women and minorities before you decide to support a candidate.
IV. You shall vote neither for parties/candidates that are communal, casteist, criminal, corrupt and fascist, nor for those that have not kept their previous electoral promises.
V. You shall not accept any bribe/reward to vote for any party/candidate. Taking bribe is as much an offence as giving bribe, under Section 171B of IPC.
VI. You shall cast your vote early and also get others to do so on voting day. Remember that any other valid government photo ID can be a useful substitute for your EPIC provided your name is on the ER.
VII. You shall insist on Tendered Vote under Rule 49-P of the Conduct of Elections Rules 1961 “after convincing the presiding officer of the genuineness of your identity” even If someone else has already voted in your name.
VIII. You shall exercise your “electoral right” by declining to cast your vote (under the provision of Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules 1961) if you are not satisfied with any of the candidates. After having signed on the Register of Voters and after having received the voters’ slip from the second polling officer, you must inform immediately the presiding officer at the polling station of your decision.
IX. You shall report immediately, in writing, cases of bribery (for votes) booth-capturing, bogus voting (which is an offence of impersonation under Section 171D of IPC), etc. to the chief electoral officer of your state by fax / email (Find your CEO’s email ID at http://eci.nic.in/Directories&photogallery/e-mailaddress-ceos.asp) and also lodge a complaint at the nearest police station.
X. You shall bring serious concerns like the disenfranchisement of a whole community/village to the notice of: The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001.Tel: (011) 23717391; Fax:23713412 Christian Tourism Increased In Israel
Jerusalem : Christian tourism to Israel has increased by 17 percent since Pope John Paul II visited nine years ago, the Tourism Ministry said on Thursday.
Nearly 1.8 million of the 3 million tourists who came to Israel last year were Christians, the ministry said. In 2000, 1.5 million Christians came.
The number of Christian visitors from Eastern Europe and Africa was up dramatically in 2008 compared to 2000, while the figures for Western Europe and Asia fell.
Meanwhile, there was a 40% increase in Christians from the United States visiting Israel last year compared to the year 2000, while there were fewer visitors from Latin America, including a 64% drop from Argentina and 37% decrease from Mexico.
Last year, more than a million incoming tourists defined themselves as Catholic, 300,000 as Protestant, 360,000 as “other Christian,” and 75,000 as Evangelicals, according to the Tourism Ministry statistics that were released during a tour of Christian holy sites in Nazareth ahead of the Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the Holy Land next month.
Meanwhile, the number of Christian visitors who defined themselves as pilgrims shot up a whopping 43% over the last eight years, with more than one million in 2008 - more than half of the Christian visitors - calling themselves pilgrims.
The pope will visit the Holy Land between May 11 and 15, with stops that will include Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth.
The government has allocated NIS 43 million for the pope’s visit, Rafi Ben-Hur, a deputy director-general at the Tourism Ministry, said at a press briefing in Nazareth. The ministry will inaugurate a special Web site ahead of Benedict’s visit in seven languages at www.holyland-pilgrimage.org starting on April 15.
The ministry hopes the papal visit will be an impetus to further increase Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land, as was the case in the months after John Paul’s visit in 2000.
“The important thing is that we are building up plans for the future,” Ben-Hur said.
The desire for a tourism boom is especially great in Nazareth.
“Our great hope is that we will see a great increase in tourism in Nazareth in the wake of the pope’s visit that will improve the socioeconomic situation in the city,” said Mayor Ramiz Jaraisy, who is Greek Orthodox.
The city is undergoing a NIS 20 million development project ahead of Benedict’s visit, which will include a mass for 40,000 on Mount Precipice (Mount Kedumim) - where Christian tradition holds that a mob pursued Jesus and tried to throw him over a cliff - as well as an interreligious meeting and a tête-à-tête with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in the city’s Franciscan convent, Jaraisy said.
A press center will service journalists covering the pope’s visit to Nazareth at the city’s Golden Crown Hotel.
The increase in Christian pilgrims following the last papal visit ended abruptly with the outbreak of the second intifada in the fall of 2000.
Last year was a record year for tourism to Israel. Christian Holy Week Begins
Chandigarh, April 4 (Arkansas Matters) : Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate one of the holiest days of the year — Palm Sunday. It’s the Sunday before Easter and commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem five days prior to his crucifixion. The people of Jerusalem laid palm leaves in his path as a sign of welcome. The day is also referred to as Passion Sunday, commemorating the beginning of Holy Week as well as Jesus’ final journey to the cross. In all the churches, members of the congregation hold small crosses made of palm leaf, both to remember the palm leaves which the people of Jerusalem waved when Jesus arrived, and to remember the cross on which he died. Some Christians display the crosses from that service in their homes during the year as a symbol of their faith. The crosses are burned at the start of Lent the next year to provide the ash for Ash Wednesday. Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding atop a donkey and the people gather to meet Him with reverence, thus fulfilling the words of the prophet from the Old Testament.
On His arrival, a large crowd of people gathers to greet Him, and spread their cloaks on the road before Him, while others cut branches from palm trees and place them on the path. The crowd exclaims: "Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the Name of the Lord"
On Palm Sunday, churches are decorated with branches from willow trees and palm trees. Following a solemn morning service, the blessed branches are distributed to the faithful.
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, has declared April 5 the day of children's sanctification. All churches will be held a ceremony of sanctification. Prime Accused Of Kandhamal Christians Gets BJP Ticket
Bhubaneswar (Orissa), April 2 : Manoj Pradhan is booked in more than a dozen cases of murder and arson. He is the prime accused in the Kandhamal riots in which many Christians were killed. He is also the BJP’s candidate for the communally sensitive G Udayagiri Assembly seat. The 30-year-old is presently in the G Udayagiri jail, charged with inciting communal violence and rioting. However, the BJP uses a familiar fig leaf to defend its choice, the fact that he is yet to be proved guilty. “Before giving Manoj the ticket, different party leaders were consulted. In fact, the charges against him were discussed. But we got information from our local leaders that he has been arrested under false charges. In any case he is not yet proved guilty in the court of law. Let the people decide his fate,” BJP legislative party leader BB Harichandan said. For the BJP, it is a clear move to push a Hindu hardline agenda, especially after its alliance with the ruling BJD in the state broke. It is not just a ticket to Pradhan but also Ashok Sahu, a retired IPS officer, who blamed the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati on what he called Christian terrorists, the murder that sparked off the Kandhamal riots. The church in Orissa is viewing the BJP’s choices of candidate with a mixture of fear and sadness. Their fear is rooted in the fact that many Christians will not even vote and candidates like Pradhan will win. Some voters even believe that with many more people still fearing to go back to their villages, candidates like Pradhan might even win the election. “The court will take its time to prove someone guilty. But to a criminal against whom all have definite information of riots and murder, how could the BJP give a ticket to him? We are all sad about it,” Father Joseph Kalathil of Vicar General in Orissa said. In the last Assembly election, Pradhan fought as an Independent candidate and got over 15,000 votes. The winning candidate got over 34,000 votes. This time Pradhan hopes that with the Kandhamal issue in the background and the support of the BJP he would win the election comfortably even while remaining behind bars. (Courtesy : IBN Live) Christians Readying For Britain’s Oldest Annual Pilgrimage
London, April 1 : More than 250 Christians are dusting off their walking boots for the start of Britain’s oldest annual pilgrimage this Saturday. Student Cross will see 10 groups – known as ‘Legs’ – will set off from different points across England and walk around 120 miles between 4 and 12 April. Each of the Legs will carry a large wooden cross as a visible witness to their Christian faith. On Good Friday, the groups will come together for a joint Easter celebration in Walsingham, one of the biggest pilgrimage sites in the world during the Middle Ages until the Reformation. Although the pilgrimage is predominantly Catholic, it has over the years attracted many Christians from other denominations. At an ecumenical service last year to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee, former Master of the Dominican Order Fr Timothy Radcliffe, stressed that the pilgrimage was about “unity in difference”. Felicity Cairns, Student Cross national director for 2009, said: “If anyone is looking for a unique way to celebrate Easter and experience fully the community of pilgrimage then Student Cross is for them!” Christian Pilgrimage Tour Before Good Friday
Mumbai, March 31 : You may avail the next ten days before Good Friday as pilgrimages. Please make the sacred tour with the help of following schedule :
Day 01: Arrival at Chennai
Visiting St. Mary’s Church and Santhome Basilica.
Day 02: Chennai Sightseeing
You will be visiting the Marina Beach, Velankanni Church, The Armenian Church and C.S.I. Holy Cross Church. In the evening you will board the train for Thanjavur, which is an overnight journey.
Day 03: Thanjavur Excursion (Vailankanni)
You will be taken to an excursion trip to Velanganni. There, you will visit ‘Our lady of Good Health’, popularly called “Our Lady of Vailankanni”.
Day 04: Thanjavur - Madurai
On the way, you will make a stoppage at Trichy and visit ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ and ‘ST. John’s Church’. Thereafter, you will go for visiting St. George’s Church.
Day 05: Madurai - Trivandrum
You will be taken to various tourist spots like St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Christ Church, etc.
Day 06: Trivandrum - Quilon
Here various attractions, like Diocese of Quilon, St. Antony’s Church, Kollam Town, Achankoil, Mayyanad, etc.
Day 07: Quilon - Kottayam - Cochin
Some of the famous churches of Kottaym are Cheriya Palli and Valiya Palli. After visiting the churches, you will be driven to Cochin.
Day 08: Cochin Sightseeing
You will be visiting Dutch Palace at Mattancherry, St. Francis’ Church, Jewish Synagogue, Santa Cruz Basilica and Malayatoor Church.
Day 09: Cochin - Goa
You will leave on a sightseeing tour of Goa and visit Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of Mary Immaculate Conception, Church of St. Monica and Church of Our Lady of the Rosary,.
Day 10: Goa - Mumbai
You can visit the various tourist spots such as Mt Mary Church, St Michaels Church, St Thomas Cathedral, The Gateway of India, etc. Inter-Denominational Church Complex Opens In Qatar
Dubai, March 30 (PTI): To provide places of worship for 24,000 Indian Christians of 28 denominations living in the country, a Inter Denominational church complex has been inaugurated in Doha. The church complex at Mesaimeer was inaugurated yesterday by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah. Qatar’s minister of state for energy and industry Mohamed bin Saleh al-Saddah, Indian Ambassador Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, senior government officials were present on the occasion, Gulf Times reported on Sunday. Inter Denominational Christian Community (IDCC) chief coordinator Siby Joseph thanked the people of Qatar for their invaluable gift. Assuring that the IDCC complex shall remain a place of peace for years to come, he stated that “prayers for the prosperity of the State of Qatar and its people will be raised to the Almighty from here on all occasions.”
IDCC technical adviser Mathew Kurian recalled that the Emir had issued an order in 2003 allotting land for churches. The IDCC complex is located on a 12,000 sq m plot and the building occupies 4,800sqm, providing places of worship for Christians. Seven buildings are there in the complex. The Indian envoy described the inauguration of the IDCC complex as a cherished dream of the Indian Christian community in Qatar. Christian Leaders Hold Meeting In Ludhiana
Ludhiana (Punjab), March 28 (Express News Service) : An all-Christian community meeting was held under the the leadership of Father Jose at Holy Cross Church here. Eminent Christian leaders of different churches like Protestants, Catholics, Pentecostal and Methodist etc from all over Punjab participated the meeting, where topical issues like terrorism and Lok Sabha elections were discussed. Albert Dua, president of Holy Cross Church, said, “All the leaders have unanimously decided to consider fighting election by nominating a Christian candidate.” Warris K Masih (CNI), said, “We are calling a meeting on April 2 at Kalvari church, in which we will decide to which political party we should support.”
Father Jose said that we would conduct rallies all over Punjab and India to lay stress on national integration. Among those present at the meeting were Warris K Masih, K. Koshi, Madan Lal, Issac Dutta, Pawan Gulzar, Augustin Dass, Advocate David Gill, Sarofin Kukkuu, K C Gupta, Alex P. Sunil and other community leaders. Sister Prema Is New Head Of Missionaries Of Charity
Kolkata, March 27 (IANS) : Germany-born Sister Mary Prema is the new superior general of the Missionaries of Charity (MoC), a congregation founded by Nobel laureate Mother Teresa. “Sister Mary Prema is the new superior general of the order,” MoC spokesperson Sister Christie told IANS. She did not give further details. Sister Nirmala Joshi, who had led the congregation for 12 years, was re-elected for a third term March 13. But the MoC held a second election on Tuesday after she expressed a desire to be relieved of the post owing to ill-health. The election, presided over by Archbishop Lucas Sarkar of Kolkata, was held at the congregation’s general chapter in Green Park, 30 km from in Kolkata. The low-profile Sister Prema, one of the senior most nuns in the order and known for her work among the poor, is the third superior general of the order. Nirmala, now 74, succeeded Mother Teresa to the post in 1997 and was elected for a second term in 2003. Catholic Church sources said Sister Nirmala had also expressed a desire to return to the “contemplative life” she led before becoming the superior general in 1997, six months before Mother Teresa’s death. Despite several attempts, Sister Prema could not be contacted. “She will not talk before Friday. She is away from Mother House (global headquarters of MoC),” Sister Christie said. Sister Prema’s appointment now needs an approval from the Vatican, which will a mere formality. Mother Teresa, winner of the Nobel Peace award in 1979, founded the MoC in 1950. Chennai Lenten March Unites Christian Missions
Chennai, March 26 (UCAN) — Hundreds of Christians from various denominations/Missions recently joined a Lenten march in Chennai, southern India, to help others know about their faith and to build Christian unity. Father Alexis Manohar, a Catholic priest and coordinator of the March 22 event, said, “The Lenten march was organized to help Christians of various denominations pray together, and to foster the spirit of ecumenism among local Churches.” The priest, who heads the ecumenism commission of Chingleput diocese, said the two-kilometer march brought together members of the Church of South India (CSI), the Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Church of India and nine local Pentecostal groups in Tambaram, a suburb in Chennai. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu state. The marchers sang hymns, prayed and distributed religious pamphlets while a Catholic group re-enacted the sufferings of Christ prior to his crucifixion. Reverend Dayanadan, a CSI pastor, said the march was organized to “witness Christ to others during the Lenten season.” It was also an attempt to reach out to people of other religions and help them know about Christianity, he added. Father Arulraj, pastor of Tambaram’s Fatima parish, added, “Such marches not only bring unity among Christians but also renew each others’ faith.”
Participants said they enjoyed the event. Ruth Nirmala, a Protestant woman, said she felt happy to march along with fellow Christians. “I hope we do it often.” Her Catholic friend, Mary Josephine, said it was “a great feeling to walk with other Christians to share the same faith and witness to Christ.” At the end of the march, leaders of various Churches preached on the last words that Christ uttered as he hung on the cross. Father Manohar said the Catholic Church took the initiative to organize the program. He explained that the Catholics were inspired by the late Pope John Paul II’s call to Christians to jointly participate in a program that commemorates Christ’s suffering and death. The priest also said Church leaders in Tambaram meet once in three months to discuss issues of common interest. They are planning another ecumenical Lenten rally on March 29 in Chingelput, he added. MP Christian Priest Accused Of Molesting
JABALPUR (Madhya Pradesh, India), March 25 (Union of Catholic Asian News) — Police in central India arrested and then released a Catholic priest on a molestation charge, but Church people have dismissed it as an attempt to defame the Church. Father D. Davidson of Bhopal archdiocese was arrested on March 21 on charges of molesting a woman in his parish house in Berkhera near Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh state. He was released the same day. A police official said they had registered a case of sexual molestation under a section of the criminal code which allows the local police station to grant bail without taking the accused to a court. “So we released the priest on bail but will continue the investigation,” he added. Father Anand Muttungal, spokesperson of the Catholic Church in the state, dismissed the case as “a well-orchestrated drama to defame the Church.” Father Davidson, narrating the entire incident, recalled in the past few days before his arrest that a woman had been coming to the parish house seeking work as a domestic servant. The priest refused her request twice as she was a stranger. “As soon as I saw her (a third time) I shouted at her to go out,” but she refused. The priest then called the house maid and parish workers to take the woman out of the house. But the woman suddenly broke her glass bangles and threw them on the corridor, apparently to create proof that the priest had broken them during an attack. She later lodged the molestation complaint. Father Muttungal said that some Hindus had pressed the police to register a rape case. Succumbing to pressure, the police registered the case even though it was a “fake complaint.” He added that the case “is just a continuation” Hindu radicals systematically targeting Christians with tacit state support. The Church wants a “fair probe to bring out the truth” and punish the guilty “for painting a bad picture” of Christians, he said. Mayawati Promises Reservation To Dalit Christians
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), March 23 (IANS) : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati promised reservation to Dalit Christians and upper caste poor as she launched her poll campaign from here. Mayawati flew to the Kerala capital to kick off her nationwide 52-day poll campaign, vowing to clamp down on terrorism and Maoist violence in the country. “Labourers, religious minorities and the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe communities continue to be aggrieved even 61 years after independence. Many from these communities have taken to Naxalism (Maoism) and other wrong ways because of this neglect,” said Mayawati. She spoke in Hindi for nearly 40 minutes and her speech was translated into Malayalam. “The BSP has clear cut policies on foreign affairs, agriculture and economics. All post-independence governments have sacrificed governance to the interests of the rich land-owning class,” she said. The BSP has decided to contest all the 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Its star candidate here will be former Congress MP and three time former state minister Neelalohithadasan Nadar, who has been in a number of parties during his political career. Nadar is contesting from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, which he won in 1980 trouncing then veteran Communist Party of India leader M.N. Govindan Nair. One of his rivals this time will be Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor, former UN under secretary-general. Kerala Church To Field Candidates In LS Polls
St Mary’s Forane Church Kottayam - KeralaKottayam (Kerala), March 22 :Unhappy with both the Congress-led UDF and the CPI-M led LDF, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Kerala decided to field independent candidates in seven constituencies for the Lok Sabha elections in the state. The decision was taken at a meeting of church authorities here this evening, a church official said. This was the first time the church, which has pockets of influence in some of the constituencies, would be fielding its candidates. The decision was taken as the church felt the successive LDF and UDF governments failed to consider the problems of the church so far, he said.
As per the primary list, Prof G John will contest from Pathanamthitta constituency, Mathew Cherian from Kollam, Dr V A Phillip from Kottayam and Bose Abraham from Idukki constituency, he said. Three more candidates will be announced tomorrow for Eranakulam, Thrichur and Wayanad. In the other constituencies, the church would support candidates of democratic and secular forces. The working committee of the church authorities would be held on Monday in which they would decide the date for submitting nomination papers, the official said. Christian Missionaries Beaten By Mob in HP
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), March 21 (Anne Thomas for Christian Today) : Two missionaries were recently beaten by an anti-Christian mob in the state of Himachal Pradesh, located in northwest India. A group of 30 extremists attacked GFA missionaries Murari Jay and Atul Rajesh on March 14, according to a statement on Thursday. “[They] took them to the local temple and stripped them naked and made fun of them, took all their Gospel tracts and Bibles and burned them,” Danny Yohannan of Gospel For Asia explained. “Then they beat up the missionaries really bad. Then, they took them to the police station and had them arrested.” Murari sustained severe injuries to his back after enduring repeated kicks and Atul suffered acute head trauma, according to Gospel for Asia, an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas. Moreoever, the mob burned everything the missionaries owned. While the Indian constitution officially grants freedom of religion, the state of Himachal Pradesh has an anti-conversion law to hinder the work of Christian missionaries. According to Yohannan, the missionaries were arrested and the mob was not penalized for their actions. GFA leaders went to the police station after hearing of the attacks and managed to secure the release of the victims after much discussion. Both victims were required to return to the police station the next day to clear the case. After investigation, police authorities found non fault in the mob for the unproven beatings. Neither the mob nor the missionaries were charged with any crime. Despite the attack, Yohannan said that both men are keen to continue spreading the Gospel. The missionaries were even praising Jesus and told GFA leaders that the experience strengthened their faith. Hindus Assault Christian Pastor In AP
Christian Congregation in Medak ChurchNEW DELHI, March 20 (Indian Catholic): Hindu activists belonging to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) assaulted a pastor and seriously injured him on March 11 in Pathur village, Medak, Andhra Pradesh. According to a report from the Evangelical Fellowship of India, the extremists’ attacked Pastor Ezra Krupanamdam from Bethesda Prathana Mandiram on his way back home after conducting a prayer meeting at a believer’s place. The extremists verbally abused the pastor for his faith, started beating and stomping on him and warned him not to conduct future prayer meetings. The pastor was found lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to a hospital. Doctor’s investigation showed that the pastor suffered fractured in his spinal cord and ribs. The pastor received treatment at Gandhi Hospital. The extremists were arrested under 341, 324, 153(a) to be read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code for wrongful restraint, causing hurt , promoting enmity on grounds of religion with acts done in furtherance of common intention respectively. Please pray for the quick recovery of the pastor and for his ministry. Now, the environment for the minorities, including the Christians, is not favourable in India. The Centre & State Governments are not doing anything positive in this regard. The Christians should boycott all the politicians and the political parties during the general elections. France Condemns Pope’s Comments On Condom
Cameroon, March 19 : France is criticizing comments by Pope Benedict that condom use is aggravating the AIDS problem in Africa. A French Foreign Ministry spokesman, Eric Chevallier, said Wednesday that while it is not up to France to pass judgment on church doctrine, it considers such comments a threat to public health policies and the duty to protect life. A Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombari, says the pontiff’s comments are in line with the Catholic Church’s doctrine, which opposes the use of contraceptives. On Tuesday, the pope said AIDS cannot be overcome by the distribution of condoms. He said that condoms only increase the problem. That contradicts the advice of many health officials, who recommend condoms as a way to prevent the spread of HIV, which causes AIDS. About 22 million people are infected with HIV across sub-Saharan Africa, which reported three-quarters of all AIDS deaths worldwide in 2007. Actually, the Church wants the whole humanity as perfect ethically also. One should not give up the ethics by using the condoms. Meanwhile, Pope Benedict met with Cameroon’s bishops Wednesday and urged them to defend the rights of the poor and the values of the traditional African family. Earlier, he met with Cameroon’s President Paul Biya. No details of the talks were released. Pope Benedict will spend three days in Cameroon on his week-long tour of Africa. He travels to Angola on Friday to celebrate Mass and meet with religious leaders. Pope May Soon Meet Obama
Rome (Italy), March 18 - The Vatican and Washington are in the process of organizing a meeting of Pope Benedict XVI with US President Barack Obama, Italian media quoted US Vatican representative Thomas J Reese as saying. It is possible that the two leaders would meet during Obama’s first visit to Europe on the occasion of the G20 summit in London in April, Reese said in an interview on Italian television. According to the Ansa news agency, the Holy See has unofficially confirmed the proposed meeting. The Vatican has criticized the new president on his administration’s policies on abortion and stem cell research. The Vatican on Sunday denied news reports of plans by Pope Benedict XVI to meet in the coming weeks with US President Barack Obama. Vatican press secretary Federico Lombardi announced that there was "no official request" by the US administration for a meeting with the pope. Lombardi did mention as a possibility a meeting between the two leaders in July as part of the G8 summit on island of La Maddalena near Sardinia. Italian media had previously quoted US Vatican representative Thomas J Reese as saying the Vatican and Washington were in the process of organizing a meeting of the two leaders, possibly to take place during Obama's first visit to Europe on the occasion of the G20 summit in London in April. The Ansa news agency also reported that the Holy See had unofficially confirmed the proposed meeting. The Vatican has criticized the new president on his administration's policies on abortion and stem cell research. Church Leaders Flay Orissa Marxists
NEW DELHI, March 14 (Indian Catholic) : Church leaders have flayed the Communist-Marxist leaders for inking a pact with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Orissa that has been witnessing anti Christian violence for the last one year. The decision of Communist Party of India, Marxists (CPM) to join hands with BJD that is struggling hard to wash out the blood stains of atrocities against Christians in Orissa has left the Church in India fuming. The election-eve alliance with BJD in Orissa is all set to destroy the chances of the CPM in several constituencies in the southern India state of Kerala where Christian votes will decide the fate. The party had forgotten the fact that BJD leader Naveen Patnaik led the Orissa Government that mutely witnessed the brutal murder and torture of Christians in Khandamal, including the rape of a nun. The official statistics had put the death toll at 32. In the violence unleashed by Hindu fundamentalists after the murder of saint Lakshmanananda Saraswathy, 140 churches and 2,000 houses were destroyed. In October last, the central committee of the CPM found that the Naveen Patnaik Government had completely failed in controlling the violence against minorities in Orissa. The CPM organised corner meetings and dharnas in every nook and cranny of Kerala against the policies of Naveen Patnaik. The party was planning to use the Orissa issue for campaign in the Christian-dominated constituencies in Kerala. The fate of the contest in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Chalakkudy and Wayanad will be determined by Christian votes. The state unit of the CPM has done a lot of prepoll work to sort out its issues with various Christian denominations. Latin Catholic Church Thiruvananthapuram Archbishop Soosa Pakiam said the double- standards of the CPM would be one of the several issues that would be debated in the run-up to the election. “Christians across india have been hurt by what is happening in Orissa. Now, the Marxists will have to answer for tying up with a party like BJD,” the Archbishop said. Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar says violence and continuing atrocities against Christians in Orissa by Hindu activists is one of the main reasons for the break-up of the political alliance between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJD-BJP alliance in the state collapsed last week on the eve of parliamentary elections that are scheduled across India in April. Kerala Priest Prayers For Saudi Regime
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), March 12 (Nirmala Carvalho for Asia News) : Praying for Saudi king Abdallah; for the well-being of the country and for religious freedom; for the Christians of India, who should make "a positive contribution" to the society that welcomes them. In this spirit, Fr. George Joshua, an Indian Catholic priest of the Malankara rite, has created prayer groups that every day, 24 hours out of 24, 7 days a week, alternate Masses, recitation of the Rosary, and meditations for religious freedom and for the prosperity of Saudi Arabia. In 2006, Fr. George, who is from Kerala, became familiar with the rigors of the Saudi jails: the bishop had sent him to the Arab country to prepare Indian Christians for Easter. The religious police in the kingdom arrested him at the end of the Mass, and put him in jail for four days. In Saudi Arabia, it is prohibited to practice any religion except for Islam. During the spiritual retreat after his experience in jail, Fr. George had a vision of "a chalice cup planted on the map of the Saudi kingdom"; he says that he received a "call" to pray for the country, in which God gave him "the opportunity for an experience" of profound faith. On May 1, 2007, Fr. George founded the Christ Army for Saudi Arabia (CASA), made up of groups that "pray and fast" for the well-being of the Saudi kingdom. As of today, more than 500 people have joined the initiative. "Our primary prayers are for the king of Saudi Arabia," the priest explains, "and for the prosperity and richness of the Saudi kingdom who so generously welcome tens of thousands of Indian to work there, thus leading to an better lifestyle and improved standard of living in their native India." Fr. George has talked with Indian nurses who are working in the Saudi kingdom. "75% are Catholics from Kerala. I tell them they should serve their patients with the love of Christ, serve the sick with tenderness and love." He also recalls the many laborers in the factories and industries of Saudi Arabia; they come from a society, that of India, that is "multicultural, interconfessional, and pluralist," and can "make a responsible and positive contribution to Saudi society." "In Saudi Arabia," Fr. George concludes, "when Christians and our dear Muslim friends interact so closely on a daily basis, each respecting the other as individuals and respecting each other’s religion, it gradually builds up fraternal collaboration. All this will be fulfilled through our prayer cells of CASA." Christian Population Is Decreasing In US
WASHINGTON (USA), March 11 : Americans have become less Christian than they were 20 years ago due to a growing rejection of religions, a survey published Monday found. Three out of four Americans now call themselves Christians, according to the American Religious Identification Survey by Trinity College in Connecticut. In 1990, the figure was closer to nine out of 10 — 86 percent. At the same time there has been an increase in the number of people expressing no religious affiliation. In the survey, one in five Americans said they have no religious identity or refused to answer the question on their religious belief, while more than 25 percent do not expect to have a religious funeral. In comparison, less than 10 percent said they have no religious belief in 1990. The survey also finds: The percentage of Catholics in the United States has remained steady at about one in four since 1990, while the percentage of other Christians has plummeted from 60 percent to 50 percent. The percentage of Muslims has doubled since 1990, but remains statistically very small, at 0.6 percent of the population. The survey polled 54,461 Americans between February and November of last year. The survey is the third in a series, following polls in 1990 and 2001. Among the key findings in the 2008 survey:• So many Americans claim no religion at all (15%, up from 8% in 1990), that this category now outranks every other major U.S. religious group except Catholics and Baptists. In a nation that has long been mostly Christian, “the challenge to Christianity … does not come from other religions but from a rejection of all forms of organized religion,” the report concludes. • Catholic strongholds in New England and the Midwest have faded as immigrants, retirees and young job-seekers have moved to the Sun Belt. While bishops from the Midwest to Massachusetts close down or consolidate historic parishes, those in the South are scrambling to serve increasing numbers of worshipers.• Baptists, 15.8% of those surveyed, are down from 19.3% in 1990. Mainline Protestant denominations, once socially dominant, have seen sharp declines: The percentage of Methodists, for example, dropped from 8% to 5%. • The percentage of those who choose a generic label, calling themselves simply Christian, Protestant, non-denominational, evangelical or “born again,” was 14.2%, about the same as in 1990.• Jewish numbers showed a steady decline, from 1.8% in 1990 to 1.2% today. The percentage of Muslims, while still slim, has doubled, from 0.3% to 0.6%. Analysts within both groups suggest those numbers understate the groups’ populations. Priest, 4 Hurt In Attack On Bihar Church
SASARAM (Bihar), March 10 : The priest of a church at Badadhia village under Nasariganj police station in Rohtas district was shot at and seriously injured during an attack on the church on Sunday morning. Four others, including two women, also sustained injuries in the incident. According to police sources, the incident took place when priest Vinod Kumar James along with 70 others, including women, assembled for a mass at the church which came up in the village in 1990. The attacker Rajesh Singh, a graduation student who the Rohtas SP later described as “mentally unstable”, hurled a bomb through the window of the church. When the inmates ran for cover in panic and tried to come out of the church, he stopped them at gunpoint. When James asked him not to do that, Rajesh fired in his abdomen. The injured priest was sent to Varanasi in a critical condition. The four others, who sustained splinter injuries in the bomb attack, were admitted to a local hospital. The police recovered four live bombs and a countrymade pistol from the possession of Rajesh. Incidentally, Rajesh’s left hand had to be amputated after he was diagnosed suffering from cancer a few years back. He said the attack was in protest against the “forcible religious conversions” by Christian missionaries in the area. Rohtas SP Vikas Vaibhav visited the spot and claimed the youth was “mentally abnormal”. The matter is being probed, he said. The youth later told local mediapersons that he would also have killed himself had there been one more bullet in the pistol. He said he has nothing to do with any political party or organisation. Stephen Gill Donates To Cornwell Library
A Christian poet laureate of India Mr. Stephen Gill with Cornwell Public Library CEO Dawn KiddellCornwell (Canada), March 8 (Standard-Freeholder) : A renowned Cornwall author has donated a selection of his works to the library. Stephen Gill, an award-winning Christian author and poet, handed over several of his literary creations to Cornwall Public Library CEO Dawn Kiddell on Wednesday, and plans are in the works to have Gill back at the library on May 13 for a reading. Kiddell said the upcoming event will provide an opportunity to highlight Gill’s achievements as a writer, speaker, literary critic and poet. “We have to do something to honour you in this community,” Kiddell told the author. Gill was born in Sialkot, Panjab (now Pakistan) and grew up in India. He taught in Ethiopia and lived in England for a time before moving to Cornwall in 1971. Gill’s work has been the subject of numerous literary essays, books and doctoral studies. His poetry and prose have appeared in hundreds of Canadian and international publications, and he has received honours from a number of national and international organizations, including two honourary doctorates. Peace, humanitarianism and social concerns are Gill’s main areas of interest as a writer and speaker. Kiddell said the works donated by Gill will be put into circulation at the library. Kerala High Court Rejects Plan To Demolish Historic Churches
16th century St. Augustine Church and 19th century St. Mary’s Church in Palai diocese of KeralaRamapuram (Kerala), March 7, (Independent Catholic News) : The High Court in India’s southern Kerala state has rejected the plea of a parish priest who wanted to demolish two historic churches. On Wednesday, the Court ruled that the two churches: the 16th century St. Augustine Church and 19th century St. Mary’s Church in Palai diocese, are historical monuments and should be protected. Father Matthew Narively had appealed against a government notification stipulating that he was not to demolish the churches. He said he needed the space for a new church building to accommodate the growing parish population. Justice Antony Dominic, a Catholic, dismissed his appeal and observed “there was no substance” in such contention. The government reacted when a group of parishioners resisted the priest’s plans, saying the churches are linked to the history of the Oriental-rite Syro-Malabar Church, one of the three Catholic Church rites in India. “These monuments speak volumes about our rich culture and history. If we destroy them, we are wiping out our past,” said PJ Cherian, director of the Kerala Council for Historical Research and a member of the Mar Thomas Church. The Church is one of seven in Kerala that trace their faith to Saint Thomas the Apostle. He welcomed the ruling as it will help to “protect many more historical monuments facing demolition threats.” In June 2008, the government declared the two churches as monuments under the provisions of the Kerala Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1969. Pak Muslims Attack A Church, 1 Believer Dead, 28 Injured
Gujranwala (Pakistan), March 5 (Pakistan Christian Post) : The Christian Mass services were in progressing with dedication of worshippers in a Presbyterian Church in remote town of Aroop in Gujranwala district of Punjab province of Pakistan when a Muslim mob attacked on Church with firearms. It was 8.00 PM of March 2, 2009, the silence of village like town of Mangowala Aroop was broken by bursts of guns and Christian worshipers were falling with bullet injuries on Church floor to protecting their Church pastor The news of attack on Church broke out in village Aroop and other nearby villages on which Christian rushed to Presbyterian Church where blood was all over Church floor and cries of injured Christians. The injured were rushed for medical care but a Christian woman worshiper named Shakeela died on spot, whereas about 28 Christians are injured.. A Christian social activist called Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) with its headquarters in Lahore and a team was dispatched to help injured and on fact finding mission. According to the facts collected by Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan’s District Coordinator Gujranwala, some arguments arose between Christian and Muslim about a week ago at village Mangowala Aroop Police Station. To take revenge from Christians the village Muslims named Amjad, Balal, Zeeshan Azam and others decided to teach lesson and equipped with deadly arm weapons attacked on Presbyterian Church Gujranwala. Police is allegedly denying legal action against the culprits, while funeral of Shakeela did not take place yet, it needs legal action against murder of Shakeela, and postmortem of dead body should be conducted for trial. Mr. Sohail Johnson Chief Coordinator Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan condemned this brutal attack on Christians of Gujranwala. 'Christians' Security Must Be Top Agenda During Elections'
Vincent Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi's file photo with Dr. Manmohan Singh, The Prime Minister of IndiaNew Delhi, March 4 : The city’s Christian community on Monday appealed to all political parties, asking them to make the security of religious minorities their top electoral agenda. The community has prepared a memorandum, which they plan to submit to major political parties within the coming week. Said Archbishop, Vincent Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi: “All political parties must put the security of all religious minorities, specially the Christian community, at the top of their electoral agenda. Parties must assure that they will bring the culprits of crimes in Orissa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh to book.’’ The memorandum broadly states, enforcing rule of law and end impunity of state. The proposed Prevention of Communal Violence Bill must take cognizance of Christian concerns and apprehensions. The government must take responsibility, punish the guilty, reconstruct damaged homes, institutions and churches and provide adequate compensation to victims of Orrisa and other places. The community has also raised a demand for a national commission on the lines of the Justice Rajender Sachhar commission set up for Muslims, by the Central government, in order to redress the economic deprivation of Dalit Christians, landless labourers and tribal Christians. (Times News Network) Bangla Christians & Sikhs Stress Unity
Bhai Piara Singh speaking at the gathering. Archbishop Joseph Marino is seated behind (extreme left)Dhaka (Bangladesh), March 3 (Union of Catholic Asian News) — The main purpose of inter-religious dialogue is to break down walls between religions, said Archbishop Joseph Marino, apostolic nuncio to Bangladesh. He was speaking to a gathering of 150 Christians and Sikhs at a Sikh temple in Dhaka on Feb. 28. The Interreligious Dialogue Commission of the Bangladeshi bishops’ conference organized the event, which is believed to be the first such dialogue between the two religions. “We learn from each other through such dialogue,” said Archbishop Marino at the event. The Christian participants included Catholic nuns, seminarians, priests and a few Protestant pastors.
Ten speakers addressed the theme “Unity of God and of mankind.” “We believe in only one God who wants all mankind to be united,” stated Bhai Piara Singh, head granthi or chief priest at the Gurdwara Nanak Shahi temple stated. Nurul Islam, chairman of the University of Dhaka’s Department of World Religion, stressed that “we must have interreligious dialogue for religious pluralism, and respect and tolerance between followers of different religions.”
Islam, who is also director of the university’s Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, added, “I have profound respect for the teaching of Christ who taught mankind to be united with God.” He pointed out, “Though Christians are few in number in Bangladesh, they can bring about peace through dialogue.” The event included a question-and-answer session to help Christians and Sikhs understand each other’s religions better. After this, they attended a worship session led by the Sikhs, and ended the gathering with a lunch. Narayan Robi Das, executive member of the Bangladesh Gurdwara Management Committee, told UCA News that such “interreligious dialogue will be continued in the future.” Das’ committee manages all Sikh religious activity in the country, There are about 150 million people in Bangladesh. Muslims form 88.3 percent, Hindus 10.5 percent, Buddhists 0.6 percent and Christians 0.3 percent. There are only about 100,000 Sikhs, who form approximately 0.07 percent of the population. Christians Are Marginalised : Cherie Blair
London (England), March 2 :Christians are being marginalised in society, Cherie Blair has claimed. She said few believers liked to discuss their faith openly. Mrs Cherie Blair, a lawyer, committed Catholic & the wife of ex-Prime Minister of England Mr. Tony Blair said Christianity was “ambivalent to women” and will not have a future unless traditional churches do more to reflect social change. Her comments were made in the final part of the Channel 4 series Christianity, to be screened on Sunday night, in which she gives her own perspective on the future of the religion. Mrs Blair spoke of her disappointment at the apparent “terminal decline” of Christianity, adding: “Everywhere you look today churches are being closed, Christians are often being marginalised and faith is something few people like to discuss openly.” Mrs Blair said women were “virtually invisible” in the public face of Christianity and that its failure to recover from the social changes of the 1960s was one of its “fundamental weaknesses”. “Until the traditional churches fully resolve their relationship with the female half of the population, how can they expect Christianity to have a future in the modern world?” she asked.
Mrs Blair interviewed veteran civil rights activist Jesse Jackson about the power of faith to transform American politics.
Reverend Jackson said: “It was our faith that changed the law. The law did not change our faith. The America that we see today is born of the sacrifice that we made defining the Christian faith. One could argue that our religion makes us political, but politics don’t make us religious.” During the programme, Mrs Blair also hinted at her continued thirst for public life. In conversation with a pupil at the Liverpool catholic school she attended as a child, she said: “I still want to change the world... and I’m 54.” MP govt proposes law to regulate Christian properties
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), March 1 : On the eve of the general elections, yet another trump card of sorts being attempted by the BJP. This time in Madhya Pradesh. Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s government has proposed a new law to regulate Christian properties and bringing churches to missionary schools under government control. The decision is already being seen as a conspiracy to polarise votes. Spokesman, Catholic Church, Madhya Pradesh Father Anand Muttungal said, “ This is a conspiracy by the state government to harass the Christian community and the minority commission has become a tool in the hands of the state government.”
The proposal from the Madhya Pradesh Minority Commission is worrying. · Madhya Pradesh has over 2000 christian institutions. · Out of these Bhopal alone has 21 churches, 24 missionary schools and two colleges. · Catholics also run three hospitals in the state capital. However, Minister, religious endowments Laxmi Kant Sharma said, “There is no communal feeling behind the move. The government takes care of Muslim properties as well as Hindu properties so Christian properties can also be looked after.” And while the government is playing down its move, saying the properties need state conservation, it has no real answers. After all, it is also alleged that the VHP-RSS combine in the state itself gets huge amounts of funding from foreign donors. Malaysia To Allow Christians To Use ‘Allah’
KUALA LUMPUR, (Malaysia), February 28 (The Associated Press): The Malaysian government has softened an earlier ban on the use of the word “Allah” by Christian publications to refer to God and is allowing them to use it as long as they specify the material is not for Muslims. The government had earlier argued that the use of Allah in Christian texts might confuse Muslims, who might think Allah refers to their God. The revised order was issued Feb. 16 by Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, according to the Rev. Lawrence Andrew, the editor of the Herald, the Roman Catholic Church’s main newspaper in Malaysia. He said Thursday that the publication has already started printing “For Christianity” on its cover. The Herald publishes weekly in English, Mandarin, Tamil and Malay with an estimated readership of 50,000. The ban on “Allah” concerns mainly the Malay edition, which is read mostly by indigenous Christian tribes in the eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak. The other three editions usually do not use the word “Allah.” The dispute has become symbolic of increasing religious tensions in Malaysia, where 60 percent of the 27 million people are Muslim Malays. A third of the population is ethnic Chinese and Indian, and many of them practice Christianity. Malaysia’s minorities have often complained that their constitutional right to practice their religions freely has come under threat from the Malay Muslim-dominated government. They cite destruction of Hindu temples and conversion disputes as examples. The government denies any discrimination. Andrew, the Herald’s editor, said although the order “makes things easier” for the newspaper, it will not drop a legal challenge against the ban. A court is due to hear arguments in the case Friday. The Herald is arguing that the Arabic word is a common reference for God that predates Islam and has been used for centuries as a translation in Malay. Andrew said most Malay-language Bibles in Malaysia are imported from Indonesia, which uses a variation of the same language. A Splendid Indian Christian Fair Offers Spiritual Nourishment
RAIPUR (Chhatisgarh, India), February 27 (Union of Catholic Asia News) — For the hundredth time in as many years, an island in the middle of a river in central India was packed full of Christians seeking spiritual nourishment and fellowship.
About 10,000 people from about 50 Protestant Churches came to the Feb. 8-15 Christian fair started in 1909 by foreign missioners from six Protestant Churches. It was held on a 13-hectacre island in the middle of the River Shivanath, north of Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state. At 5 a.m. each day, participants sang hymns as they walked around the island holding their Church banners, before entering a make-shift church with a three-meter-tall cross on the river bank. Participants spent mornings and evenings listening to preachers, singing and praying. More informal programs in the afternoons and nights included drawing, singing, public speaking, debating, quiz and even fancy dress competitions on biblical themes. Contestants were divided into children, youth and adult groups. The fair also offered programs on how to choose a life-partner. A number of stalls also sold bibles, Christian books, cassettes, calendars and stickers. Pastor Arpan Tarun of the Community Church, the fair’s chairman, said the founders of the fair, called Chhattisgarh Christian Mela, started it to build solidarity among local Christians.
Pastor Sharad Lal, fair manager and pastor of the Wesleyan Church, said most people return home by evenings, but about 300 families stay on the island in tents for the whole week.
People spent their free time cooking, bathing in the river, meeting friends and shopping from the stalls. Said Kamala Bagh, who had come from Gandai town, “This is a calm and quiet place, and people can feel the peace.” Suchita Kindo, a physician in a government-managed hospital in Ambikapur, 250 kilometers away, said the fair helps her family to “learn more of the Bible and deepen their faith.” Kindo’s family is among those who have attended the fair for years and again stayed for the whole week. Lent Comes Again
Chandigarh, February 25 : The time for purple vestments, cut nails, palm frond crosses and Easter eggs has come once again. The forty days of Lent are at hand. From Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, Christians across the globe will be reflecting upon the sacrifice Christ made on the Cross 2,000 years ago. Perhaps a more important purpose for this sacred season, is the chance it gives us to face our own human mortality, the sinful human failings that demanded the sacrifice of the Cross in the first place. Jesus did not die for the sake of the revolution against Roman imperialism. He didn’t die to champion great ideas or to reform society. He died to change human hearts from the inside out, to make a down payment on a perfect world that no human effort will ever attain. Jesus died because we mere mortals needed a Savior. Adherents of many religions, not to mention atheists and agnostics, do not acknowledge this need. The Good News of salvation through Jesus will is a news to us. Just as God placed the children of Israel and Jesus Himself in the howling wilderness to see with their own eyes the face of their human emptiness, so I descend into the days of silence. Time to stop, listen, think, pray. May we all go and do likewise much this Lententide. World Vision Urges To Learn from ...Millionaire
New Delhi, February 24 (ANI) : Christian Humanitarian Organisation World Vision has urged movie-goers to increase their awareness by watching movies like Slumdog Millionaire. “Don”t just be entertained; do something,” insisted World Vision as India”s Slumdog Millionaire, a movie depicting the challenges of ‘’street children” won eight Oscars. “While the film does a good job in depicting the realities of slum life to a large extent, there are many more challenges these children are up against,” said Dr. Jayakumar Christian, National Director, World Vision India. “Moviegoers should realise that poverty in India is a clear and present challenge for children in India, but there are tangible ways by which people can make a difference,” he added. According to the agency, which has worked in India for 50 years, key issues like malnutrition, HIV infection and AIDS, child labour, education and protection of children and natural disasters and climate change in India need urgent action. Recent government and civil society reports have pointed to the dismal state of child nutrition and survival in India. World Bank report estimates that malnutrition costs the nation10 billion dollars every year in terms of lost productivity. World Vision”s call for proper implementation and allocation of appropriate funds to ensure that every child has nutrition security. World Vision has underlined a comprehensive HIV and AIDS act to address the challenges of the poverty stricken children born with the deadly infection, as the need of the hour. These children have limited access to health care and anti-retroviral.
