The Quotation of the Week (December 27, 2015 - January 2, 2016)

A quotation of Gerard de Marigny on 'goals' and 'objectives,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (An alleyway between two buildings in a mall in Toronto: Oct. 11, 2015) © Jerome D'Costa

Merry Christmas to You All!

Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus in the manger

Artwork by Mary D'Costa (Dec. 24, 2015)

The Quotation of the Week (December 20 - 26, 2015)

A quotation of Pope Francis on 'Christmas,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Christmas decorations outside a house in Scarborough, Toronto: Nov. 25, 2015) © Jerome D'Costa

Today Is the 45th Victory Day of Bangladesh

Jatiyo Smriti Shoudho (national war memorial) at Savar, Bangladesh

Artwork: Mary D'Costa (Toronto: Dec. 15, 2015)

Today is Bangladesh's 45th Victory Day. On this day we specially remember the dead, who, during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971, gave their lives to make the deadly struggle for independence and freedom a reality. Due to the sacrifices of these departed souls, freedom fighters, sacrificing population of the country, and foreign support, Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation. 

The people of the then East Pakistan always had to struggle against the Pakistani ruling elite (big landlords or zamindars, government bureaucrats, and military leaders, mostly belonging to West Pakistan) since the independence of Muslim-majority Pakistan in 1947. The emergence of Pakistan itself was based on lies -- the populaltions of both the wings (East and West Pakistan) would live in freedom, prosperity and peace! The promises and actions of the ruling elite were always based on lies, and, even after independence of Bangladesh, the Pakistan government spews lies about the Liberation War. They are even using their money and material to influence some foreign governments and organizations as well as their local agents in Bangladesh to disrupt the war crimes trials in Dhaka. 

To understand the reality of the Bangladesh War of Independence (also called Liberation War) and the childish lies and hoodwinking efforts of Pakistan regarding the War, please read the following series of write-ups and videos published in the online edition of The Daily Star of Dhaka: 

• Genocide plot conceived at duck shooting trip
• Genocide coolly planned, carried out
• The blueprint for massacre
• Bangladesh's Liberation War: The night of horror 
• Pakistanis tried to keep foreign journos away
• Cables of genocide  
• Partners in genocide
• A living proof of Pak army's atrocities  
• It's Pak carnage with US supply (Declassified cables show how strongly America backed Pakistan)
  
• They did everything to block trial by Bangladesh 
• Shame they hid for 28 years (Non-publication of the Hamoodor Commission Report)
• Pakistan used Nazi Killer Eichmann's argument 
• Pakistan still in denial and self-deceit 
• Pakistan lying, still 
• 195 Pak soldiers can still be tried for genocide  
• The Diplomat monk (Venerable Sangharaja Jyotipal Mohathero)
  
• Opinion: Pakistani war criminals of 1971 still free [Brigadier R. P. Singh, VSM  (Retired) of India]
• Opinion: Demanding apology from a myopic establishment (Mohammad Nurul Huda, The Daily Star columnist)
• Opinion: Between Liberation and Freedom: Reflections on the Constituent Assembly Debate (Nazmul Sultan, Ph.D. student of Political Theory, University of Chicago, USA)
• Opinion: So we really remember? (Sushmita S. Preetha, activist and journalist)
• Opinion: It is important to remember 1971 (Julian Francis, former OXFAM official in India and Bangladesh and a recipient of the Friends of Liberation War Honour from the Government of Bangladesh)
  
• Opinion: BNP-Jamaat must explain what is Hanadar Bahini (occupation forces) (Sharier Khan)
• (Opinion) Atrocities by Pakistan Army: Why so shy to mention it? (The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam party leaders use hanadar bahini (occupation forces), shying away from saying Pakistan occupation army, Razakars, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams) (Rashidul Hasan)
• [Video] Sector Commander Shafiullah (Part 1 & 2)
• [Video] 'Intellectual killings brainchild of Pak collaborators' (Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed)
• [Video] Pakistan lying about 1971 genocide  
• [Video] Gobinda Halder: 1971 war lyricist 
• [Video] War crimes researcher Shahriar [Kabir] (Part 1)  
• [Video] Guerrilla fighter Shahzaman [Mozumder] (Part 1 & 2)
  
• Freedom in the Air (Film and video footages of 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh) 

Pope Francis Inaugurates the Holy Year of Mercy (December, 2015 - November, 2016)

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 8

Pope Francis opens and enters the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran on December 13

Photo courtesy: Rex, via The Telegraph, U.K.

Pope Francis, on December 8 -- the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary -- inaugurated the Catholic Church's Holy (or Jubilee) Year, called this time The Holy Year of Mercy, by opening and entering the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI along with scores of cardinals, bishops, and priests was also present at the ceremony.   

The main purpose of this special year is to demonstrate the merciful and welcoming aspect of the Catholic Church rather than it moralizing , judging, and condemning aspect. 

Pope Francis said: "How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven before judgment and in any event God's judgment will always be in the light of his mercy."

Unprecedented security measures were taken for the pilgrims and attendees to the outdoor ceremony. Due to security concerns, due to previous Islamic State (ISIS) threat to the Vatican, only about 50,000 people participated in the inauguration ceremony. 

The Holy Year of Mercy, beginning from December, 2015, will last until November of 2016.

For details on the inauguration of the Holy Year of Mercy (or Jubilee Year), please read the following:

• Holy Year is a reminder to put mercy before judgment, pope says (Catholic News Service, USA)
• Pope Francis Opens Holy Door, says: "We Have to Put Mercy before Judgment" (America magazine, USA)
• Pope Francis Opens Door on His Holy Year of Mercy (NBC News, USA)
• Francis opens Jubilee Year with call for church that puts mercy before judgment (National Catholic Reporter, USA)
• Pope Francis opens St. Peter's Holy Door to launch jubilee (BBC News, U.K.)
• Pope Francis opens doors to 'Year of Mercy' in a time of fear (chron.com)
• Opening the Holy Year, Francis says mercy always trumps judgment (cruxnow.com)
• Cathedrals around the world throw open Holy Doors on order of Pope (The Telegraph, U.K.) 
• Holy Year of Mercy (The National Catholic Reporter, USA) 
• Holy Year of Mercy (cruxnow.com)
• Full Text of Pope's Homily for Opening of Jubilee of Mercy (zenit.org) 
• Why a Jubilee of Mercy? Because the Church needs it, Pope Francis says (CNA, Rome)
• The Year of Mercy and theology: a conversation with Cardinal Muller (CNA, Rome)
• What is the Catholic Year of Mercy? (BBC News, U.K.)
• Hebrew origin of the Jubilee in the Old Testament (zenit.org)
• Everything you need to know about the Holy Year of Mercy (cruxnow.com)
• Francis announces wide indulgences for mercy Jubilee, grants Lefebvrites faculties (The National Catholic Reporter, USA)
• Vatican unveils logo, prayer, details of Holy Year of Mercy (The National Catholic Reporter, USA)
• Francis: If church forgets mercy even for one moment, its work is 'useless' (The National Catholic Reporter, USA)
• What I am supposed to do for the Year of Mercy? (The National Catholic Reporter, USA)  

The Quotation of the Week (December 13 - 19, 2015)

A quotation of Charlie Parker on 'music,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A musician at Dundas Subway Train Station in Toronto: Oct. 25, 2013) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (December 6 - 12, 2015)

A quotation of George Carlin on 'three types of people,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork © Ujjal Peter D'Costa

BANGLA KAGOJ: A Publication of Toronto

Bangla Kagoj -- a Bengali-language weekly -- from Toronto

The Bangla Kagoj weekly provides news, features, articles and columns on Bangladesh, Bangladeshi communities in North America (Canada and USA), international events and issues, arts, culture, economy, education, literature, politics, health and fitness, entertainment, sports, and more. 

Contact Email: thebanglakagoj@yahoo.ca

 This weekly is also available online at: Bangla Kagoj

The Quotation of the Week (November 29 - December 5, 2012)

A quotation of Winston Churchill on 'politician,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Dancing light in Toronto: March 30, 2013) © Jerome D'Costa

A Commentary of Father William Grimm, M.M., on "'Ours is a religion of peace': The Stark reality is that most religions are not"

Father William Grimm, M.M.

Photo courtesy: www.ucanews.com/

 Father William Grimm, M.M., publisher of the UCANews -- an independent Catholic news agency in Asia, on November 20, wrote a commentary on 'Ours is a religion of peace.' 

In this write-up he demonstrates that this is mostly a programmed response which can be heard from adherents of any religion when faced with the question of religion-based violence around. 

In reality, Father Grimm says, most religions do not prove to be religions of peace. He shows how western Christianity, in the past, in the name of Jesus' love and peace, used the religion as an instrument of persecution and violence within the Churches and without, for example, inquisition, religious wars between Churches, and crusades.   

He says, now some Muslims are using Islam to justify their acts of injustice and violence. 

Father Grimm predicts: "If, as seems likely, history will repeat itself, we are facing a century of increasing violence by Muslim fanatics mainly within the Muslim world. That violence will likely produce such overwhelming revulsion that more and more people will renounce the religion and become a force to defang it. That has happened before; it happened to Western Christianity."

To read the full commentary of Father William Grimm, M.M., please click on the following: 
'Ours is a religion of peace'

To read some news items dealing with religion-based violence, please click on Fundamentalism in Asia

To read read on an appeal of a Muslim to fellow Muslims, please read the following: Let There Be More Exemplary Muslims -- An Honest Muslim's Powerful Statement

The Quotation of the Week (November 22 - 28, 2015)

A quotation of Colin Powell on 'success,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A shoeshine-cum-shoerepair boy on a footpath on Asad Avenue in Dhaka: January 13, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

Italian PIME Missionary Priest Receives Bullet Wounds from ISIS Assailants in Bangladesh

Father Piero Parolari, PIME, after initial surgery in Dinajpur, being placed in the helicopter for flying him to Dhaka for further treatment 

Photo courtesy: asianews.it/

Several years ago Father Piero Parolari, PIME, is being greeted by school children in a parish in Bangladesh

Photo courtesy: resegoneonline.it/

Three gunmen on a motorcycle shot at Father Piero Parolari, 64, a PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) missionary bicycling his way to his work at St. Vincent Hospital in Dinajpur, and wounded him seriously on November 18. Initially the identity of the assailants was not known, but later the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Father Parolari, a missionary and a medical doctor, has been working among the poor in Bangladesh since 1985.

With gun-shot wounds on his neck, the priest underwent a surgery in Dinajpur Medical College Hospital and later he was transferred by helicopter to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka further treatment.

Christians, Muslims, and Hindus staged several protest gatherings in different parts of Bangladesh condemning the attack and asked the Government for seeking out the culprits and making them to face justice. 

The UCANews reports, "Over the past two weeks, at least seven Protestants have received death threats in the form of text messages. It comes after violent attacks on a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister. Christian leaders say the attacks and death threats are interlinked."

The Italian PIME missionaries have been working in the north and north-west region of Bangladesh for more than 150 years. During the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971, they gave shelter and food to many Muslim, Hindu, Christian and other internal refugees in their mission and school compounds, and after independence, they did massive relief and rehabilitation work among returning Bangladeshi refugees from camps in India. 

For more details on the attack on Father Parolari, please read the following:

• PIME missionary targeted in Dinajpur gun attack (asianews.it)
• Italian priest shot in northern Bangladesh (ucanews.com)
• Itlian priest attacked in Bangladesh, in critical condition (Vatican Radio)
• Italian priest shot in Bangladesh by gunmen (The Guardian, U.K.) 
• Italian priest Piero Parolari attacked in Bangladesh (BBC, U.K.)
• Gunmen on motorbike shoot Italian priest in latest attack on foreigners in Bangladesh (japantimes.com)
• Italian priest shot in Bangladesh (bdnews24.com)
• ISIS claims responsibility for shooting Italian priest in Bangladesh (ibtimes.com.au)
• Islamic State claims responsibility for shooting priest (ucanews.com)
• ISIS claims attack on Italian priest in Bangladesh (The Times of India)
• Islamic State Claims Attack on Italian priest in Bangladesh (ndtv.com) 
• IS claims attack on Italian priest in Bangladesh (www.news.va)
• Bangladeshi Christians, Muslims and Hindus demand justice for Fr. Parolari (asianews.it) 
• Bangladesh Christians protest against attacks on priests (ucanews.com) 
• A dozen priests get death threat (The Daily Star, Dhaka)
• Priests under threat (Editorial of The Daily Star, Dhaka)
• Christians feeling insecure after attacks on priests (The Daily Star, Dhaka) 
• Christians concerned about safety (Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka)
• Killings, Death Threats Feed Climate of Fear in Bangladesh (voanews.com)
• 10 priests get death threat in Rangpur (Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka)
• 19 noted personalities receive death threat (Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka)
• Two more priests of a church in Khulna receive death threat (bdnews24.com, Dhaka) 
• Three seriously hurt after Catholic family attacked in Dhaka home (ucanews.com)
• Arrest attackers immediately -- Demands Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (The Daily Star, Dhaka) 
• Dr. Mizan finds link between war crimes trial and recent incidents (in Bangladesh) (unb.com.bd) 

(Updated on December 11, 2015)

We Remember the Victims of Terrorist Attacks in Paris

Artwork: Jerome D'Costa

A total of 130 persons died in Islamic jihadi attacks in Paris on November 13. These coordinated attacks were unleashed on a football stadium (Stade de France), two restaurants (Le Carillon and Le Petit Cambodge), a bistro (La Belle Equipe), a bar (La Bonne Biere), and a concert hall (Bataclan). 

After these senseless and cowardly attacks, the Islamic State (ISIS) issued a statement saying their motive was "to teach France, and all nations following its path, that they will remain at the top of Islamic State's list of targets, and that the smell of death won't leave their noses as long as they partake in their crusader campaign."

For more details on these attacks and the aftermath, please read the following: 

• Attacks in Paris (The New York Times)
• Paris Attacks (The Guardian, U.K.)
• Paris Terror Attacks (CNN, U.S.A.)
• Cabinet condems terror attacks in Beirut and Paris (Arab Times, Kuwait)
• Paris Attacks (BBC, U.K.)
• Paris Attacks (Kuwait Times, Kuwait)
• Attacks in Paris (Arab News, Saudi Arabia)
• Paris Attacks (Gulf News, United Arab Emirates)
• Paris Attacks (Al Jazeera)
• Paris Terror Attacks: Newspaper front pages from around the world (in photos)
• Pope Francis: No religious or human justification for Paris attacks (Vatican Radio)
• Top Vatican diplomat backs use of force in wake of Paris attacks (www.cruxnow.com)
• Paris (National Catholic Reporter, U.S.A.)
• Is the UK a breeding ground for Jihadists? (Chattam House, U.K.)

More Vatican Scandals on Mismanagement, Greed and Conservative-Progressive Clash Outed

The Vatican arrested Spanish Monsignor Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda (left) and Italian public relations specialist Ms. Francesca Chaouqui on charges of secretly passing confidential information and documents to outside Italian journalists. Ms. Chaouqui was later released for cooperating with the Vatican investigators.

Photo courtesy: cnmn.org

When Pope Francis has been emphasizing on the "Church of the poor," two recently published books in Italy disclose some of the Vatican inside information giving the opposite picture. 

These two books, Merchants in the Temple, written by journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, and Avarice (greed), by journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi, are based on leaked documents  that reveal the following: 

--the opposition and clash between the pre-Francis Vatican Curia officials and the Francis-appointed new ones for helping him bring about reform in the Vatican departments and offices;

-- misuse of funds and lack of financial accountability;

--greed: some officials occupying large apartments paying nominal rents, and some staff buying duty-free items at the Vatican stores and selling them outside at high price and pocketing the money;

--and other lapses that go against the official teachings of the Catholic Church.

Two officials, Monsignor Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda and Francesca Chaouqui, of the financial reform commission have been arrested for illegally handing over inside information and documents to outside journalists. The latter has been released from jail for cooperating with the investigators. 

For details, please read the following:

• Vatican's Financial Troubles Run Deep, According to New Book (The New York Times)
  
• Vatican hit by new claims of financial mismanagement and lavish spending (The Guardian, U.K.)
• Vatican Tapes Reveal Pope's Struggles to Clean Up Finances (bloomberg.com)
• 'Vatileaks' scandal a 'battle between good and evil' in the Catholic Church (The Guardian, U.K.)
• More Scandal for Vatican with Release of Tell-All Books (huffingtonpost.com) 
• New Vatican Book: Five Key Claims (The Catholic Herald, U.K.)
• New books claim widespread mismanagement of Vatican finances (The Catholic Herald, U.K.)
• Vatican makes two arrests in investigation over leaked documents (The Catholic Herald, U.K.)
• Vatican leaks intensify with new book exposing saint-makingg scandal, internal resistance to pope (National Post, Canada)
• Understanding the latest Vatican scandal: A clash of tradition against reform (National Post, Canada)
• Vatican scandal heats up with book exposing waste, resistance to Pope (ctvnews.ca) 
•  Conservatives within the Catholic Church are trying to lay 'poisoned bait' for Pope Francis, says author (The National Post, Canada)
•  New books allege financial scandals at the Vatican (CNN)
•  Francis' Friends May Be Numbered in the Vatican -- and the 'Vatileaks' schandal Is a Testament to That (huffingtonpost.com)
• Pope Francis has his work cut out for him, according to two new investigative books detailing Vatican corruption (mydailynews.com)
• New book claims to expose corruption, mismanagement inside the Vatican (foxnews.com)
• Bugged Priests and Sainthood for Sale (thedailybeast.com)
• 'Sexy bombshell' at center of new Vatican corruption scandal (New York Post)
• Vatican judge indicts 5 in leak scandal (New York Post) 
• Vatican scandal over leaked documents broadens to include Silvio Berlusconi's family (The Telegraph, U.K.) 
• Pope Francis invokes the notorious Borgias amid Vatican scandal over sex and spying (The Telegraph, U.K.) 
• Vatican: Leak of classified docs is illegal, trying to sow confusion (Catholic News Agency)
• Pope Francis prepared to battle on Vatican reform, senior cardinal says (National Catholic Reporter, USA)

(Updated on December 7, 2015)