Sunday, September 12, 2010

Pastoral letter against Prof T J Joseph

Pastoral letter against Prof T J Joseph, Not done anything wrong to apologise: Joseph
Pastoral letter against Prof T J Joseph read out in 120 churches
12 Sep 2010
Kochi: A Pastoral letter condemning the 'irresponsile action' of Prof T J Joseph, for preparing a question paper hurting
the religious sentiments of a community, was today read out during the sunday mass in 120 parish churches under the Kothamangalam Dioceses in Ernakulam district.

Coming out against the lecturer, whose is recovering after a brutal attack on him by radical outfit, Popular Front of India (PFI),
which hacked his right arm, the Kothamanagalm dioceses bishop, George Punnakottil, said the attack does not nullify the 'crime' committed by Joseph. Such an 'irreresponsbile' act cannot be expected from the lecturer.

The college was accused of being an accomplice in hurting the reglious feelings of the muslim community. So the management had to take a decision to distance itself from the act of the lecturer, it said.

The pastoral letter also supported the management of the Newman college for sacking him.

Despite his repeated pleas for pardon, the management has been adamant with regard to its stand.

The Bishop said the aggrieved lecturer can approach the court to redress his grievance and the management would abide by the decision.

As controversy broke regarding the question paper, Joseph was suspended by the management.

The lecturer has decided to approach the university appellate tribunal for his re-instatement as his pleas to the college management to reconsider its decision, has fallen into deaf ear

Ousted New man college lecturer T J Joseph, who's hand was chopped off for preparing allegedly derogatory question in a exam, said that he had not done anything wrong to apologise to the church and accept favours from it.

'I have not done anything wrong. I am a religious person and respect all religion. Knowingly I have not hurt any religious community. Why is the Church asking to me apologize for a wrong doing I have not done?', Lecturer added.

'We have no other choice', Stella, his sister, who is a nun, said. The family is 'upset' and 'scared' with the letter being read out in the churches.

Submitted by newsman on Sun, 12/09/2010 - 15:15. church pastoral letter Islamic

Monday, September 6, 2010

Continuing story

Some Christians denied Flood relief aid unless they convert to Islam in Pakistan
newsman Sep 6, 2010 5:06 PM - Show original item

September 06, 2010

The head of an organization that combats anti-Christian persecution charges that some Pakistani Christian families are being denied flood aid unless they convert to Islam.As far as the aid brought by Islamic charity groups, they defend themselves by saying that according to their doctrine, the money from the zakhat (Islamic alms) should go only to Muslims,”“

Christian suppression - a continuing story

Pastor detained in Doni village, Gadag distrct Karnataka
newsman Sep 6, 2010 5:18 PM - Show original item

Pastor Mallikarjuna Sangalad aged 36 years belonging to Indian Pentecostal Church, started a worship in Doni village. The worship is conducted in a shed belonging to one of the believer Mr Nagaraj.
There are about 60 believers participating in the worship. The service is conducted on every Sunday from 7.30 pm to 9.pm. read more »

NCCI condemns plan to burn the Holy Qu'ran on 9/11

National Council of Churches in India condemns US based 'christian body's plan to burn the Holy Qu'ran The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) joins the Christian community and the friends belonging to other faith traditions and ideological persuasions both in the country and world-wide in strongly condemning the intention and plan of the persons connected with the Dove World Outreach Centre in the USA to burn copies of the Holy Qu'ran on the 11st of September 2010. Such an act is contrary to the spirit and essence of the teachings and practices of all faith and secular traditions, and particularly detrimental to the spirit of unity and comradeship that prevails among adherents of different faiths. That it is called for during the sacred days of Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr is deplorable. The NCCI calls upon all its constituents - Churches, and Ecumenical Councils, Orgainsations and Agencies, to reach out to the Muslim brothers and sisters with a spirit of goodwill and friendship particularly at this time, which can be used by miscreants to sow seeds of division. The NCCI recalls the experiences of solidarity and the sense of mutual self-respect shared between the peoples of Muslim and Christian communities in India at all times and particularly when issues relating to religious minorities, including the recent claim of SC status to Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians, and that of secularism were addressed. The NCCI requests the brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith tradition to view this call to burn the Holy Qu’ran as that of some pervert minds and not as representative of the whole Christian community which shares with its Islami c sister-faith a heritage of united pilgrimage, more so in India as religious minority communities. The NCCI seeks the intervention of the Government of India in using its diplomatic channels with the counterpart Government in the United States of America for stopping the proposed act on 11th September 2010. This will send out a strong message of National Solidarity to the Muslim community in India, which is the World’s largest Muslim-minority population In solidarity with the people of Islamic faith who have been unduly targeted time and again, the NationalCouncil of Churches in India will co-ordinate with the National Council of Churches in USA who have already strongly condemned the call for burning the Holy Qu’ran, more than once.

Signed by: Rt. Rev. Dr. Taranath Sagar  ( President NCCI )    Rev. Dr. P.B.M. Basaiawmoit,  Ms.Sushma Ramswami, Mr. Angelious Michael (Vice-Presidents ) Adv. Suresh Koshy (Treasurer) and Rev. Asir Ebenezer (Officiating General Secretary)

NCCI release on 6th September 2010

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Mar Thoma Church and175th Anniversary of Reformation

Mar Thoma Church is celebrating 175th Anniversary of Reformation in 2010.  This is an occasion to take new steps to continue reformation, that is, to do something for making the spiritual ife meaningful, as Abraham Malpan did. The Church needs to take bold steps in relation to their attitude towards ecumenism, towards women ministry and make adequate revision of its liturgy to reflect the contemporary  aspirations of the people, especially the young members of the Church. Towing the line of Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan, it should allow open communion for all those who want to participate. Marriage rules need to be amended to allow Church marriages for all who desire.  The boundaries of the Church must be opened for cross cultural influences.  New  forms of worship need to be encouraged. The Church has to become a fellowship and a movement towards human freedom rather than  an insititution thriving to maintain its  institutional interest.

Friday, September 3, 2010

ECUMENISM   VIS - A - VIS   SHARING HOLY QURBANA

ECUMENISM VIS - A - VIS SHARING HOLY QURBANA The essence of what Chrysostom Thirumeni told them was that the true message of ecumenism was sharing or participation in the Holy Qurbana without restrictions. In other words, as I understand, a believer should have the freedom to accept Holy Qurbana from any church whatever be his denomination. HG Dr Gheevrgese Mar Osthathios Thirumeni has been advocating this view as the truth behind ecumenism through many of his writings with the churches coming together by respecting each other, spreading the message of love and coming to an understanding on faith and interpretation of truth as taught by Jesus and shown in practice by the Apostles and church fathers. I don’t think any Bishop in Orthodox Churches would object to this, nor the Church leadership. Then, what is it that prevents us from doing it?

- Indian Christianity

- Indian Christianity

St. Thomas Evangelical Fellowship of India


Dedication of the new Church building at Kesavadasapuram, Trivandrum on 4th September, 2010.










False Calendar of Mar Joseph Metropolitan of Marthoma Church by Dr. M. Kurian Thomas

False Calendar of Mar Joseph Metropolitan of Marthoma Church by Dr. M. Kurian Thomas