Showing posts with label Participating in the Sins of Others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Participating in the Sins of Others. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

The Catholic Church and Casteism


Casteism in the Catholic Church of India



A divided Catholic cemetery in Trichy of Tamil Nadu State, 
India (the portion on the left is for the upper-caste and
the one on the right is for the lower-caste Catholics)

Photo courtesy: bbc.co.uk/  

What is casteism? Casteism is prejudice or antagonism directed against someone of a different caste in the Indian Hindu society. Hindus, even after their conversion to other religions -- including Christianity -- do maintain some sort of casteism among themselves. 

Casteism comes from the word 'caste.' According to the Wikipedia, a caste is a form of social stratification characterized by endogamy (the custom of marrying within one's own caste or group), hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural notions of purity and pollution. 

 According to the BBC, India's Hindu caste system is among the world's oldest forms of surviving social stratification. This caste system is more than 3,000 years old and it divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work or occupation) and dharma (religion or duty). 

 Ancient India's religious texts, called the Vedas, speaks of the caste system that divides Hindus into four main categories -- starting from the top to bottom -- the Brahmins (priests, academics or teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors, kings or rulers, and administrators), Vaishyas (merchants, landowners or farmers, herders, craftspeople), and Shudras (manual labourers, peasants or farm workers, servants). Later, a fifth group or caste called the Dalits (outcasts or untouchables), emerged and they are persons, from the first four groups, who have been condemned and driven out of their individual caste because of their serious sins, transgressions, or crimes. They, then, sought refuge among other similarly condemned people, whose professions are considered 'dirty.' They work as street sweepers, latrine cleaners, leather workers,  etc. 

  In later ages, some Indian Hindus converted to Christianity but did not abandon their earlier socio-religious caste system. In spite of Christ's teaching "love your neighbor as yourself," they hung on to the caste system, which is more or less present among both the Catholic priestly class and laypersons. In name, they are Catholic ("without any bias towards others"), but in practice, they are still caste Hindus.    

During the 2003 'ad limina' (required periodic) visits of the Catholic archbishops of the ecclesiastical provinces of Madras-Mylapore, Madurai, and Pondicherry-Cuddalore of India, Pope John Paul II had reminded them that "It is the Church's obligation to work unceasingly to change hearts, helping all people to see every human being as a child of God, a brother or sister of Christ, and therefore a member of our own society." 

 Please read the following to see the situation of casteism in the Indian Catholic Church:



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Monday, June 8, 2020

The Catholic Church and Racism -- 2


Pope Francis celebrating Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
Photo courtesy: Remo Casilli/Pool and AP via forbes.com/

Pope Francis in a recent Angelus prayer service condemned "the sin of racism" and the violence in the U.S. He said: "We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human being." He also specifically mentioned the police murder of George Floyd, a black person, in Minneapolis in the U.S.  To read more, click here. 

Please read the following to learn more on the Catholic Church and Racism:


(The End)

To go to the beginning of this write-up, click on 
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Saturday, June 6, 2020

The Catholic Church and Racism -- 1


Several decade-old racist Catholic demonstration in the USA 
with the placard "Jesus did not choose nonwhite apostles," 
meaning 'Jesus chose white apostles.' 

 Since the late 19th century, Jesus and his apostles, although being 
Jews were thought to belong to the Caucasoid race as the whites, 
Middle Eastern people, and most people of north-west and south 
India. Latter scientists began to propose that Semites -- Jews and 
other Middle Eastern people -- are not white, but brown or 
dark brown. To see how Jesus Christ really looked like, 
click on the following: The Real Face of Jesus  
Photo courtesy: stdominicsmedia.com/


Catholics participate in the black civil rights 
movement in the USA in the 1960s
Photo courtesy: Marquette University Archives via thrivingparish.org/



 "What Is Racism? 

 "Racism arises when—either consciously or unconsciously—a person holds that his or her own race or ethnicity is superior, and therefore judges persons of other races or ethnicities as inferior and unworthy of equal regard. When this conviction or attitude leads individuals or groups to exclude, ridicule, mistreat, or unjustly discriminate against persons on the basis of their race or ethnicity, it is sinful. Racist acts are sinful because they violate justice. They reveal a failure to acknowledge the human dignity of the persons offended, to recognize them as the neighbors Christ calls us to love (Mt 22:39).

 "Racism occurs because a person ignores the fundamental truth that, because all humans share a common origin, they are all brothers and sisters, all equally made in the image of God. When this truth is ignored, the consequence is prejudice and fear of the other, and—all too often—hatred. Cain forgets this truth in his hatred of his brother. Recall the words in the First Letter of John: “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him” (1 Jn 3:15). Racism shares in the same evil that moved Cain to kill his brother. It arises from suppressing the truth that his brother Abel was also created in the image of God, a human equal to himself. Every racist act—every such comment, every joke, every disparaging look as a reaction to the color of skin, ethnicity, or place of origin—is a failure to acknowledge another person as a brother or sister, created in the image of God. In these and in many other such acts, the sin of racism persists in our lives, in our country, and in our world. Racism comes in many forms. It can be seen in deliberate, sinful acts. In recent times, we have seen bold expressions of racism by groups as well as individuals. The re-appearance of symbols of hatred, such as nooses and swastikas in public spaces, is a tragic indicator of rising racial and ethnic animus. All too often, Hispanics and African Americans, for example, face discrimination in hiring, housing, educational opportunities, and incarceration. Racial profiling frequently targets Hispanics for selective immigration enforcement practices, and African Americans, for suspected criminal activity. There is also the growing fear and harassment of persons from majority Muslim countries. Extreme nationalist ideologies are feeding the American public discourse with xenophobic rhetoric that instigates fear against foreigners, immigrants, and refugees. Finally, too often racism comes in the form of the sin of omission, when individuals, communities, and even churches remain silent and fail to act against racial injustice when it is encountered." 
--Compiled from Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love -- a pastoral letter against racism (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 2018)

 In spite of Biblical and Catholic Church teachings on love, justice, and human dignity and equality, a good number of Catholic Church members (both the laypersons and the hierarchy) are not immune from racist behaviour.   

 To learn more about the positive and negative aspects of the Catholic Church and racism, please read the following:


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Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Pope Francis Abolishes 'Pontifical Secrecy' Rules For Clergy's Child Sex Abuse Cases


Pope Francis
Photo courtesy: www.biography.com/

Pope Francis, on December 17, eliminated the existing 'pontifical secret' provision of the Catholic clergy sex abuse cases for greater transparency and cooperation with civil authorities. He also raised the age of a minor or child to 18 (previously it was 14 years). Any priest or bishop having sexual relations with a person under the age of 18 will be considered child sex abuse. A priest or bishop's possession of pornographic images of a person under the age of 18 will be considered a crime, too.   

The new Church laws allow qualified laypersons to represent and defend persons in Church tribunals in cases of sexual misconduct without having to ask permission. Previously, only the clergy was allowed to do it. 

For details, please read the following:


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Thursday, August 8, 2019

Father Dominic Vlanmanal Claims Parents' Mortal Sins Cause Their Children's Autism!


Father Dominic Valamanal of Kerala, India
Photo courtesy: Facebook Home of Father Dominic Valamanal

Father Dominic Valamanal, belonging to the Eastern Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, “is a Catholic priest under the diocese of Kanjirapally and serving as the Director of Marian Retreat Centre Anakkara Kerala.” He leads healing and deliverance (charismatic) retreats in different parishes in India and some Syro-Malabar Catholics in diaspora abroad.

“Alcohol, cigarette, beedi [Indian rolled-leaf cigarettes], narcotics, Pan Parag [chewing tobacco], adultery, masturbation, homosexuality, porn; if you are addicted to these, I say to you in the name of God…when you get married and have children, there is a high possibility of bearing these types of children,” he preached in Malayalam language in Kerala and available on Youtube (the CBC television of Canada independently verified the English translation of this).

Father Valamanal continues, “The young men and women are not filled with the Holy Spirit anymore. Afterward, they lead an animal-life. They copulate like animals. They bear children like animals. Therefore, those children will be like animals.”

Father Valmanal also said he “cured” a boy with autism during a visit to Ireland. He had said in the boy’s home: “I bind the spirit of autism and hyperactivity that has infested this house. I banish it. Banished to the foot of Jesus’ cross.”

His ‘fire and brimstone’ preaching in these retreats attracts some but repels others. Some diaspora Catholics requested their local bishops to cancel these retreats. As a result, retreats due to be held in Canada, Australia, and Ireland have already been cancelled.

According to the www.webmd.com, autism is a complex neurobehavioral condition that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid, repetitive behaviors. Because of the range of symptoms, this condition is now called autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

How is autism caused? “Some genetic mutations seem to be inherited, while others occur spontaneously. Environmental factors. Researchers are currently exploring whether factors such as viral infections, medications or complications during pregnancy, or air pollutants play a role in triggering autism spectrum disorder.”

In this scientifically enlightened modern-day, Father Valmanal blames parents’ mortal sins for their children’s autism, as some Old Testament writers mentioned sins of the parents for their children’s physical and mental problems. Let’s see what Jesus said on the same subject: “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:1-3)

If this priest’s words were correct, let’s ask him what sins cause high blood pressure and stroke, heart attack, cholera, tuberculosis, malaria, ebola virus attack, influenza, etc.

We also need to ask this self-righteous priest what sins of parents caused so many Catholic priests and bishops engage in different types of sex abuses all over the world. He mentions of demons possessing autistic children, but what about demons possessing clergy sex abusers? He should go among these sinful priests and heal them of masturbatory demons, pedophile demons, homosexual demons, heterosexual demons, and other types of demons.

His pure judgmental, condemning, and punishing attitude may further his cause and prestige as a ‘forthright speaker,’ but he is using these autistic children and their parents in such a way that it tantamounts to blackmailing – making the parents feel ashamed, demeaned, pathetic, and worthless. He claims to have cured a child or two miraculously. If God works through him, why cure only a few, why not all autistic children of the rest of the world? Why not go among Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and other religionists and non-believers and cure them all using such a language?

Priests need to be careful about defamation when speaking or delivering their sermons. “Generally, defamation is a false and unprivileged statement of fact that is harmful to someone’s reputation, and published ‘with fault,’ meaning as a result of negligence or malice. Libel is written defamation, and slander is spoken defamation." If an affected or disgruntled person files a lawsuit, a priest may fall into a real problem.

 A priest or bishop, who speaks in such an accusing and condemning language, needs to get reorientation on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (especially, on the place and role of the laity in the Church, and that priests and bishops are there to serve the laity religiously and spiritually and they are not to rule over them – they are to practise servant leadership,); teachings of Pope Francis (love, compassion, and mercy – including the evil effects of clericalism).

Bishops who allow such priests to go around and speak in accusing terms and charge high fees (about $400 per participant of retreats abroad) become complicit in their ‘sins.’ Participation in other’s sins is an important teaching of the Catholic Church, although many religious superiors, priests and bishops forget about it in real life.


For more on Father Dominic Valamanal, please read the following: 
(Updated on August 9, 2029)



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Thursday, May 9, 2019

Conservative Catholic Clergy and Scholars Accuse Pope Francis of Heresy


Pope Francis
Photo courtesy: biography.com/

A 20-page letter, signed by a group of conservative Catholic priests and scholars, accuses Pope Francis of heresy. This is the latest of the long series of efforts of the conservatives to disgrace the pope who is trying to bring about reforms in the light of the Second Vatican Council and a new attitude of mercy and forgiveness in the Church.

 The letter, addressed to all the Catholic bishops of the world, tries to "accuse Pope Francis of the canonical delict [a violation of the law] of heresy, and second, to request that you take the steps necessary to deal with the grave situation of a heretical pope."

 The reaction to this accusation resulted in both some support for and opposition to the accusation of heresy.

 To learn more, kindly read the following:
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Thursday, April 18, 2019

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Points To Sexual Revolution Of The 1960s For Church Sex Abuses


Pope Benedict XVI 
Photo courtesy: catholicnewsorgcouk/CNA

Some call it 'essay,' others 'letter.' Whatever it is, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in his recent writing on the sex abuse crisis in the German magazine Klerusblatt (clergy monthly), claimed that the sexual revolution of the 1960s, the post-Vatican II (1962-1965) liberalization of the Catholic Church's moral teachings, increasing absence of God among many, morally lax teaching and practice in seminaries and practice of homosexuality led to this widespread child sex abuse in the Church. 

Some progressive priests, bishops, and theologians criticized this view of Pope Benedict on the sex abuse in the Church, some conservative elements, on the other hand, are supporting him. 

 If one uses his or her common sense, it becomes clear that even though Pope Benedict, at the time of his retirement, said that he would spend the rest of his life in 'prayer and silence,' he failed to remain true to it. Why? Some of the conservative elements in the Catholic Church think that Pope Francis has been leading the Church to 'heresy' through his words and actions. Their constant goading, coaxing, and pleading with the 'prayerful and silent' Pope Benedict made him add his voice publicly in the fray.  

 Where there is a sex organ, there is sexuality. Some use this sexuality for a good purpose, others for an evil purpose (sex abuse). Clergy sex abuse is nothing new in the Catholic Church. Since the founding of the Church, it, in different forms -- heterosexuality (concubinage), bisexuality, homosexuality, pedophilia, ephebophilia -- continues till today. Why does it continue till today? Remember the 'one-in-twelve syndrome?' Jesus Christ himself showed by example that one in twelve fails to remain true to his vocation. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, in spite of hands-on training by Jesus, ultimately failed in his task. What do we learn from this? We learn that a few in a group will always commit sin, commit a crime. Members of the laity and the hierarchy (priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes) of the Catholic Church are not immune from this one-in-twelve syndrome. 

 As usual, Pope Benedict, as a member of the hierarchy, failed again to take any responsibility for the abuses that took place during his governance of the Church as a cardinal and as the pope. Pope John Paul II, too, failed in this respect. During their time, a deep and long silence on the worldwide clergy sex abuses was the norm, with only a few exceptions. This type of cover-up of the clergy sex abuse is tantamount to 'participating in the sins of others.'  When teaching about the participation in the sins of others, the Church always directs its fingers towards the laymen and laywomen, not at all towards the members of the hierarchy! This very holier than thou attitude, self-righteousness, and a sense of immunity from the sinfulness of the members of the Catholic hierarchy are called clericalism. Now is the right time for them to rethink and act on this extremely serious matter.  

 Pope Francis, in spite of his weaknesses, is the first pope to allow widespread and public conversation on the clergy sex abuse, especially clergy child sex abuse. The public conversation ultimately brings out the truth, brings about the healing. 

 For more, please read the following:

 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's Message on Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis


 Critique of Pope Benedict's Message

Support to Pope Benedict's Message

(Updated on May 6, 2019)


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