Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs – news from ekklesia on theology and politics from a christian perspective
Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs – news from ekkl
Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs – news from ekklesia on theology and politics from a christian perspective
Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs – news from ekklesia on theology and politics from a christian perspective
Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs
-8/7/03
India’s most prominent radical Hindu group has accused Pope John Paul II of interfering in Indian affairs, alleging that he has called on bishops to ignore the country’s anti-conversion laws.
The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) said the pope had told a gathering of Indian bishops at the Vatican in May to carry out evangelism in India ignoring the laws which prohibit conversion.
The group, which is close to the ruling BJP party, said the pope had also claimed that religious freedoms were restricted in India.
The RSS warned that India’s legacy of tolerance should not be construed as a licence to anyone “to infringe on our national ethos and disturb peace”.
It said the government should lodge a protest with the pontiff for his encouragement to Christian missionaries in India to carry on their campaign of conversion, defying the law of the land.
But the secretary general of the All India Christian Council, John Dayal, said the pope had merely expressed concern about religious freedoms in India.
“The pope addressed an Indian church delegation to the Vatican last month. He expressed his concern at laws that are being claimed as protecting religious freedom but instead suppress religious freedom. We have always maintained these are black laws,” Dayal said.
“I think the pope as spiritual head of the Catholic church is quite within his right to express his deep concern whenever his followers are under duress,” he said.
Christians account for two percent of the overwhelmingly Hindu population of India.
But the secretary general of the All India Christian Council, John Dayal, said the pope had merely expressed concern about religious freedoms in India.
“The pope addressed an Indian church delegation to the Vatican last month. He expressed his concern at laws that are being claimed as protecting religious freedom but instead suppress religious freedom. We have always maintained these are black laws,” Dayal said.
“I think the pope as spiritual head of the Catholic church is quite within his right to express his deep concern whenever his followers are under duress,” he said.
Christians account for two percent of the overwhelmingly Hindu population of India.
Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs – news from ekklesia on theology and politics from a christian perspective
Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs – news from ekklesia on theology and politics from a christian perspective
Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs
-8/7/03
India’s most prominent radical Hindu group has accused Pope John Paul II of interfering in Indian affairs, alleging that he has called on bishops to ignore the country’s anti-conversion laws.
The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) said the pope had told a gathering of Indian bishops at the Vatican in May to carry out evangelism in India ignoring the laws which prohibit conversion.
The group, which is close to the ruling BJP party, said the pope had also claimed that religious freedoms were restricted in India.
The RSS warned that India’s legacy of tolerance should not be construed as a licence to anyone “to infringe on our national ethos and disturb peace”.
It said the government should lodge a protest with the pontiff for his encouragement to Christian missionaries in India to carry on their campaign of conversion, defying the law of the land.
But the secretary general of the All India Christian Council, John Dayal, said the pope had merely expressed concern about religious freedoms in India.
“The pope addressed an Indian church delegation to the Vatican last month. He expressed his concern at laws that are being claimed as protecting religious freedom but instead suppress religious freedom. We have always maintained these are black laws,” Dayal said.
“I think the pope as spiritual head of the Catholic church is quite within his right to express his deep concern whenever his followers are under duress,” he said.
Christians account for two percent of the overwhelmingly Hindu population of India.
But the secretary general of the All India Christian Council, John Dayal, said the pope had merely expressed concern about religious freedoms in India.
“The pope addressed an Indian church delegation to the Vatican last month. He expressed his concern at laws that are being claimed as protecting religious freedom but instead suppress religious freedom. We have always maintained these are black laws,” Dayal said.
“I think the pope as spiritual head of the Catholic church is quite within his right to express his deep concern whenever his followers are under duress,” he said.
Christians account for two percent of the overwhelmingly Hindu population of India.