There are Christians who think they have to forgive whatever crimes may be committed against them because Jesus Christ said so. Jesus Christ spoke of mercy and forgiveness but not in all cases. When Jesus Christ spoke about forgiveness it was not about murder, abetment to murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, false claim to…
Category: Christianity
Benedict XVI resigns
The decision of Benedict XVI to resign as pope with effect from 8 p.m. Italian time on 28/2/2013 came as a surprise. Some put it as a bolt from the blue. Recently he had opened a twitter account. Some said it is not a job from which one usually retires. He is likely to spend…
Rites and Churches
Roman Catholic Church has various rites – Latin, Ambrosian, Mozarabic, Alexadrian, Byzantine, Chaldean, Maronite, Melkite, Ruthenian, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Ukrainian and so on. Since some years rites are referred by some people as churches. This is contrary to the creeds and creates confusion.
Church and Better India
Catholic Bishops of India had met in Bangalore on 1-8 February 2012 and after having reflected on “The Church’s Role for a Better India†have given their message. They have quoted the Preamble of the Constitution, talked about India’s condition, what the Church has done and what the Church intends to do.
Bishops should know that the words Socialist Secular were not part of the Preamble when the Constitution was adopted on 26/11/1949. They were added by 42nd Amendment in 1976 which came into effect on 1/3/1977. Bishops should be inspired by the Bible and not the Constitution.
Mary Magdalene not a sinner
There are misconceptions about Mary Magdalene. Perhaps she is the most defamed person in the history of the world. There are people who say she was a great sinner by which they mean she was an adulteress or a prostitute. Many of them have heard that from others and repeat it.
It is wrong to say Mary Magdalene was a great sinner because Jesus cleansed her of seven demons. It means Jesus cured her of sickness. At that time people did not know of epilepsy. According to the Bible in one case Jesus cast out many demons from one person. Those demons entered pigs and ran into the sea and those pigs died. One pope, probably St. Leo I, identified seven demons with seven deadly sins, lust being the worst. After that Mary Magdalene was defamed.
Vatican and Barabbas
Vatican officials oppose death penalty in disregard to church tradition. That has influence on other bishops. One official went so far as to say people who want death penalty for murder are like those who shouted “Kill him.†about Jesus in front of Pilate. The official could not have been more wrong.
Christianity has no caste
Christianity preaches fatherhood of God, brotherhood of men and equality of people. No one is high or low. It has no caste. Practice of caste system is unchristian. Every Christian should know that, more so bishops.
Demanding Scheduled Caste Status for a section of Christians who are called Dalit Christians is against Christianity. Some were on hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on 25-28/7/2011. Cardinal Oswald Gracias led a march from Ramlila Ground to Jantar Mantar and many bishops, priests, nuns and people participated in it. Bishops leading such a demand is reprehensible and an abomination in the sight of God. Justice Ranganath Misra Commission report is immaterial. What is CBCI doing? Have they forgotten Christ’s teachings? Christ wanted his disciples to be the light of the world. He said “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men.†He had warned against light turning into darkness. He said “If light turns into darkness how dark darkness will be.†What is the Pro-Nuncio doing? He should have reprimanded the bishops. Caste system is not something that needs to be imbibed. It is a cancer that needs to be eradicated. Robert De Nobili and people like him were wrong.
Ohio bishops and death penalty
Sometime back California bishops had opposed death penalty. Now Ohio bishops oppose death penalty.
Do Ohio bishops want Ohio to end up like Mexico? Why bishops ignore the dangers of not having death penalty? The bishops have eyes but they do not see. They have ears but do not hear. Death penalty is according to the tradition of the church. Christianity is not opposed to death penalty.
Pope Benedict XVI may be opposed to death penalty but sometimes popes have been wrong. One pope was declared a heretic in 681.
Mount Infant
Christianity is a monotheistic religion and forbids prayers to mountains. It is inappropriate to say “We pray to you Mount Infant†or “We thank you Mount Infantâ€.
During mass the prayers are to God the Father through Christ and Holy Spirit. During novenas of saints or while reciting their litanies, the saints are asked to pray for us. During novenas of Infant Jesus it may be said “We pray to you Infant Jesus†or “We thank you Infant Jesusâ€.
Orthodox Churches and Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar was a reform of Julian calendar and was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII. Catholic countries adopted it that year. Protestant and Orthodox countries were slow to adopt Gregorian calendar but eventually did. USSR ruled by communists adopted Gregorian calendar in 1927. Orthodox Churches have persisted with Julian calendar. That creates problems…