Author: Sat Maharaj
Publication:
Date:
POPE John Paul II has
once again created international controversy, by proclaiming the superiority
of the Catholic Church.
In a Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith Declaration - "Dominus Jesus" - this ailing,
aging and sometimes stammering Pontiff said only Catholics can attain full
salvation from earthly sins.
For many decades, the
Catholic Church, from its city enclave known as the Vatican in Rome, has
been propagating the doctrine of Ecumenism. In 2000 however, he admits:
"The church's constant missionary proclamation is endangered today."
As if to combat its falling
membership, the Pope has declared even other Christian churches like the
Protestants have defects that render them inferior. The major defect
in these Christian churches seems to be that they refuse to recognise the
infallibility of the Pope.
The Pope has gone beyond
the boundaries of Christianity, and from a pulpit of colonial arrogance,
proclaimed that Jews, Moslems and Hindus are not on par with the Catholics.
Mahatma Gandhi and Dr
Martin Luther King, two great 20th Century souls, will not enter the Pope's
heaven, as they were not Catholics. We take comfort in the knowledge
Pope John Paul II and the Catholic Church hold no exclusive franchise to
God and to heaven.
Pope John Paul II has
been travelling to various countries of the world, preaching the message
of peace, harmony and tolerance. At times, this Pontiff has had to
be carried up the steps of the aircraft, and the world admired him as a
man of peace. But now he has shown that conversion is the true motive
behind his numerous expeditions.
Even the World Council
of Churches, according to Associated Press, has said: "It would be a tragedy
if Christian cooperation was obscured by the churches about their relative
authority and status."
This Pope has been very
insensitive to the religious beliefs and feelings of people other than
Catholics. Even those who extend an arm of welcome in their own country
have suffered his arrogance.
India is the home of
Hinduism. That country, with more than 900 million Hindus, extended
a warm welcome and unprecedented hospitality when he visited in November
last year.
But this religious leader
repaid hospitality with arrogance when, on Divali morning (7/11/99), he
told Hindus of India that in the last millennium, Catholicism conquered
the New World, and in this millennium, it would conquer Asia.
What a Divali message
from the Pope to Hindus! After a meeting with India's Prime Minister AB
Vajpayee, Pope John Paul II told a gathering at St Peter's Square in Rome
that in Indonesia, some 4,000 Christians and Muslims have been killed in
communal violence.
The Pope referred to
Christian attacks in India and said reports from India were "alarming,
after many attacks were made against Christians." He made no mention of
Ireland, where Catholics kill Protestants, or Bosnia, where Christians
kill Muslims.
The Pope, however, did
not tell the gathering how many Christians had died in the attack in India.
If he had revealed the actual number of those killed, he would have made
no impact. Not even a dozen persons have been killed in the "alarming"
attacks on Christians.
Someone interested in
exaggerating religious violence in India gave the Pope wrong information,
and he has not yet apologised for the false imaging of one billion Indians.
In no country in the world is religious freedom available to people as
it is in India. There are dozens of faiths which all co-exist.
The Pope, who recently
apologised to the Jews for the barbaric manner Christians persecuted them
for centuries, is perhaps not aware India is the only country where Jews
have not been persecuted. The Jews have built synagogues all over
the country and are practising their religion in total freedom.
When Parsis sought refuge
in India, a Hindu king gave them shelter. And ever since, they have
been practising their religion in total freedom. There are hundreds
of tribes who have their own gods and they are all free to worship as they
please.
Some Hindus in India
have decided to stop conversions and this is what makes the Pope say there
is no religious freedom in India. For nearly two centuries, conversions
have been going on in India, without let or hindrance.
There was keen competition
between the Catholic and Protestant churches who were in partnership with
the colonial governments of Europe, whose purpose was to conquer and dominate
the world. Between them they were able to convert some unfortunate
people.
Before the European conquest
of India, there were only a handful of Christians in the country.
By using force, by trickery and treachery, by dangling baits, by false
propaganda, the missionaries from The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy,
Germany and England converted Christians. They continue, with a lot
of money coming from abroad.
Under the guise of helping
leprosy patients, providing education or medical facilities, the missionaries
continue their nefarious work. They go to tribal areas because the
poor tribal folks are illiterate and gullible and it is easy to convert
them. Conversion is the string attached to all the charity work they
do.
Graham Staines, an Australian
who was killed, was a good missionary, but in addition to doing leprosy
work, he was also engaged in a conversion programme. Help the poor,
conduct programmes of charity, spread the message of love, but stop the
religious arrogance.
(Satnarayan Maharaj is
secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha of Trinidad & Tobago)
