Christianity Archives - Voice from the rooftop

Church and Better India

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Catholic Bishops of India had met in Bangalore on 1-8 February 2012 and after having reflected on â€œThe Churchâ€™s Role for a Better Indiaâ€ have given their message. They have quoted the Preamble of the Constitution, talked about Indiaâ€™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

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

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.

Ohio bishops and death penalty

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

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.

California bishops and death penalty

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

California bishops are opposed to death penalty. They think life imprisonment without parole is an alternative to death penalty. They are wrong.

California bishops should look at Mexico and how things have gone wrong after Mexico stopped death penalty. Murders have shot up. Lives of ordinary people are not safe. Even lives of priests are not safe.

Christianity is not against death penalty. St. Thomas Aquinas justified death penalty. Jesus Christ was in favour of death penalty when he said if anyone causes little ones to sin a millstone shall be hung around his neck and he should be thrown into the sea. For a long time the church has put heretics to death.

Colours of terror

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Chidambaram spoke of saffron terror. Some joined issue by saying terror has no colour.

However one describes terror by a particular group there are people who object to the nomenclature. Some speak of Jehadi/Islamic/Islamist terror. Some speak of Hindu/ Hindutva/ Saffron terror. Some speak of Maoist/Naxal/Red terror. There was Khalistani terror. There is terror in Kashmir and North-East India. There is Marathi terror which has forced multiplex owners to show Marathi films at prime time at reduced rates.
…………………
…………………
…………………
…………………
BJP and Shiv Sena wanted tough line against terror and Afzal Guru hanged. Nitin Gadkari had asked why there is delay in hanging Afzal Guru, is he a son-in-law of Congress? UPA government recommended rejection of Afzal Guruâ€™s mercy petition over two months back. Pratibha Patil has not rejected of Afzal Guruâ€™s mercy petition. Why are BJP and Shiv Sena quiet? Is Shiv Sena quiet because Pratibha Patil is a Marathi Manoos?

Catholic Church and sex scandals

Posted on March 21, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Sex scandals involving Catholic priests are making news with regularity. USA, Canada, Ireland, Spain, Holland, Germany, Austria and some other countries have reported sex scandals. Some scandals are cases of paedophilia. One case refers to a priest who was in Munich when the present pope Benedict XVI was then Joseph Ratzinger, archbishop of Munich.

Apostolic Administrators

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

A bishop being Apostolic Administrator of another diocese reminds me of Pre-Reformation days when many bishops had two or more dioceses under them. In some cases those appointed as bishops were not consecrated for years.

Catholic Church and Clerical Celibacy

Posted on May 9, 2009 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Roman Catholic Church has three Western Rites and 22 Eastern rites. Bishops, priests and deacons are clerics. Latin, Ambrosian and Mozarabic are Western Rites. Celibacy is obligatory for priests in Latin, Ambrosian and Mozarabic rites. Celibacy is not obligatory for priests in most of the Eastern rites. Celibacy is obligatory for priests in Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites which are Eastern rites. Celibacy is obligatory for bishops in all rites.

Vatican and Death Penalty

Posted on February 12, 2007 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Vatican extended support to international conference on death penalty held in Paris from February 1 â€“ 3, 2007. Vatican wants death penalty abolished. It is following European Union and many other countries.

Death penalty is neither anti-Christian nor anti-human. The church has put to death many people over the centuries for heresy. Death penalty is as per the tradition of the church.

Thoughts on 24/11/2006

Posted on November 24, 2006 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Christianity and Islam do not have caste system. Christians and Muslims who practise caste system go against their religions. In Christianity all are children of God. In Islam all are slaves of God. India should not interfere in Sri Lanka. LTTE wants independent Tamil Eelam. Sri Lanka is opposed to it. No compromise is possible….