shlom lekh bthoolto maryam.

malyath taiybootho.

moran `amekh.

mbarakhto at bneshey wambarakhoo feero dabkarsekh yeshu`,

o qadeeshto maryam

yoldath aloho

saloy hlofain hatoyeh hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.

Amin.



Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.

Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,

nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.

Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!

Thampurante amme!

Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum

dheivam thampuranodu

nee apekshichu kollename.

Amen.



Hail O Virgin Mary

full of grace

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy

womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of our death

Amen

Dear All

During my childhood, we do celebrate "CHANGALA PERUNNAL" (Chain Feast)on August

5 in our parish.



Is still our church celebrating this feast? If so can anyone explain the base of

this feast?



In Christ

Issac K Joseph

Mar Thoman Church

Mulanthuruthi

# 0917

Another political drama, aiming vote banks!  But who are real responsible for

all those.



Almost all the “isms” could be here in India when Saint Thomas came. What makes

the different for his mission and ours? Are we some where sidetracked from the

way? If so, all those are new tracks are questions to us and will remain

unfaithful to our responsibilities.



Might be in those new tracks we failed to show the Gentile the faith what we

possessed by birth.  We might have given food to them, we alms them, but no one

was not ready to befriend them. If it is true then another truth is; in front of

those faceless we failed to show our Christianity.



As Christ speaks about the facts and pros of the "Kingdom of God", he was

offered it to the poor first (Mat 5:3). Being called as the Salt and Lights, we

do are liable for the same offering as we possess the son-ship of God.



As the Christ influenced the society through His lifestyle, he asks us to be the

salts and lights of the society, becoming personal witnesses. Here comes the

real mission… Certainly a move around is needed and stop questioning the laws.



In HIS Love,

Thomas Mann

Marth Mariam Church Kandanad,

St Mary’s JSO Cathedral Bangalore.

Member ID # 972

Raipur, Aug 3 (IANS) The Chhattisgarh assembly Thursday passed an

anti-conversion bill providing for a three-year jail term and a fine

of Rs.20,000 for those indulging in religious conversion by force or

allurement.



The legislation, which is an amendment to Freedom of Religion Act,

1968 that was retained by Chhattisgarh when it was carved out of

Madhya Pradesh in November, 2000, was passed after a heated debate

and exchange of allegations between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party

(BJP) and opposition Congress legislators.



The new law, Chhattisgarh Religion Freedom (Amendment) Act, 2006

requires that those wishing to convert their religion have to seek

permission of local district magistrate 30 days in advance. The

district magistrate will accept or reject the request after studying

the case.



The legislation is widely seen as a move by the BJP government to

check the alleged growing influence of Christian missionaries in vast

tribal areas in north and south of the state. The BJP governments in

Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan too have enacted similar laws.



While Congress legislators alleged the BJP government had a hidden

agenda and the legislation was aimed to whip up communal feelings,

Home Minister Ramvichar Netam said the new law would have stronger

impact on containing forceful conversions, mainly in remote and

backward areas where 'external elements are trying to destroy the

country through conversions'.



The new law says that cases of those who converted their religion

under force but reverted to their original religion would not be

categorised as 'forceful conversion' and they would be exempted from

punishment.



Source:

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/48216.php/Chhattisgarh_passes_anti-conversion_bil\

l

Dear Moderators,



I had the opportunity to be at Perth in Western Australia and spent about six

months  with my kin.



Most of our families there were attending the Catholic or Aglican church

services on Sundays at convenience, in the absence of churches of our

denominations.



There are quite a few Kerala Christian  families  at Perth  some of them  living

there for 30-40 years. A very good thing I experienced there  was to see a

congregation  of all the Kerala Christians ( I am avoiding using the term

Malayalee  as the new generation children there have turned more Aussies  out of

circumstances ) joining  for a common gathering with their full families on  one

Saturday  every month at an Aglican Church  for attending  to the spiritual

talks and common prayers. Any of our Priests  who visit  the place was invited 

by the group to give a sermon  and also to conduct the Holy Qurbana  in their

own rites.



As this congregation  was basically  initiated by Marthomites who were in a good

majority their elders managed  to follow up with their religious heads  and form

a Parish  of their own . One of their Bishops  had  come to announce  the Parish

formation.  Though they do not have a full time priest  they are contemplating 

to get one visiting them  from Merbourne or Sydney  for the time being. Now our

families also thought of having their own identity and  formed into a group

under the leadership  of one Dr.Mathew  and formed a congregation  of 8 

families( 7 Jacobite and 1 Orthodox ) and  co-ordinated with  an existing 

Syrian Orthodox Church who have agreed to  allow us to use their Church. They

had their first official gathering last month and the Rev.Father who is a

Jordanian ( if my guess is right) said the Holy Mass in Syriac  and our folks 

gave accompaniment in Malayalam. This arrangement is to continue  as long as it

may.



With the set up of Marthomites  and the Jacobites having formed their own groups

it is likely that the  Cathoilics  and the Protestants  of  the remaining 

Keralites  may slowly drift away and join their own  local churches which are

aplenty , permenantly.

Slowly the  gathering at the earlier common Kerala Christian congregation  will 

diminish  and the common platform they shared will disappear  and  the

affiliation of the families will be lost. While  my good  wishes are with  all

the groups in CHRIST , it is painful  to think that I will not be able  to meet

the same warm ,friendly,homely group of Kerala Christians  at a common place of

worship; if ever I happen to visit the place again.



May our Lords Blessings be with all those Kerala Christians  in

Perth ,Australia.



JUNAS

ID# 1022

shlom lekh bthoolto maryam.

malyath taiybootho.

moran `amekh.

mbarakhto at bneshey wambarakhoo feero dabkarsekh yeshu`,

o qadeeshto maryam

yoldath aloho

saloy hlofain hatoyeh hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.

Amin.



Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.

Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,

nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.

Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!

Thampurante amme!

Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum

dheivam thampuranodu

nee apekshichu kollename.

Amen.



Hail O Virgin Mary

full of grace

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy

womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of our death

Amen

Dear Abin



We have a few churches in Chennai. St. Thomas Church in Annanagar and then there

is one in Perambur. There is also a Knanaya church in Pallavaram. You can chose

any one. I dont know the location of Perambur Church. To go to Annanagar St.

Thomas Church, , First reach Thirumangalam in Annanagar, take the road to

Ambattur Industrial estate, get down at the Madras Medical Mission Bus Stop,

walk ahead cross the signal and walk a little further and you will find a road

to left (there's a restuarant at the corner). Take that road and walk about 50

mts and you will find the Church on left side and the Kurisupally on right. To

go to pallavaram Church, take any bus going from Guindy side to Tambaram, get

down at Pallavaram bus stop. Walk about 150 mts towards Guindy side, you can

find the St. Mary's Church on the left side of the road.



Hope this info helps

Prayers

Boney Kuriakose

# 0963

Mobile: +91-9444154201

Dear Moderators,



I do appreciate this very spirutual posting (By: Jose Kurian Puliyeril) and it

is well wrtten.



By looking  at current realities, no reason to believe all Metropolitans are

always driven by Holyspirit. Their episciopal election compaigning itself is the

proof. I don't need to go in to details.



Once consecrated leaving everything to Metropolitans and confine ourselves  to

praying and fasting just won't work in this world. Even though they are

annointed, Metroplotans are human beings and are likely to make mistakes. So

there must be a code of conduct made applicable to 'routine programs'as their

responsibility and administration are not just limited to spiritual affairs.



Metropolitans must be made accountable for the finance they receive from

laities.In short, 'unquestionable and infallible' attitude must change and it

will do good for the church.



Humbly, With prayers

Mathew Chacko

ID#2382

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 9 27-36



Dear and Respected Brethren,



We are blessed enough to meditate on a very important incident that happened

during the Public Mission of our Lord and Savior. As the incident took place

on the Koodaara Perunnal day, one of the three main festival days of the

Jews, we also call it Koodara Perunnal. As the transfiguration of our Lord

was the  great event, we also name it as the feast of Transfiguration. We

are sure that our Lord Jesus Christ was hiding the divine glory and shining

in him and lived as an ordinary man to identify with the normal human

beings. Our Lord was hiding his glory and shining and real nature as God in

himself because He was so sure that ordinary human beings could not face

them face to face. In fact our Lord was revealing the real nature of Heaven

on mount Tabor on the day of the feast of Transfiguration. (He was showing

who is God and How is God) He only said, one who has seen him has seen His

Father. That is why He said "There are people among you who will not taste

death before seeing the heaven" (Refer verse-27)



The Psalmist says "I will see the face of God in righteousness". (Psalms

17:15) This is a clear declaration that God is the Sun of righteousness. Or

in other words the glory of God means the glory of the Sun of righteousness.

Kindly read Philippians 3:21, Colossians 3:4, 1 John 3:2 and meditate on the

glory of our Lord Jesus. St. Matthew 26:40-43 and St. Luke 22: 45 reveals

that the Apostles had experienced the heaviness for their eyelids.



We understand from the reading that St. Peter, St. James and St. John the

blessed Apostles were the blessed people who could witness the heaven, while

being on the earth. As they were also ordinary people, they were not

powerful to face the brightness of the glory of God. So they felt heaviness

on their eyelids. Still they were blessed to view a partial vision of the

glory of God. Verse 32 certifies that they were blessed enough to watch the

glory of God and the two men who were standing with him. This is the clear

evidence for the teaching of the Holy Church that the people who followed

saintly life on earth would be blessed to know the things to happen in the

future. Let us meditate on the verse 31 and grasp more and more divine

teachings.

Any way it is a clear answer to the ones who oppose the ritual and pracise

of seeking the intercession of Saints.

In the 35th verse we read "This is my beloved, give heed to Him". We might

feel that we are not in a need of a such an introduction. But we must make

sure who is He for us. Let us decide how we look at our Savior and in fact

who is He for us in our practical lives. Let us humble ourselves to declare

and confess with faith that Lord Jesus is our Saviour, our Redeemer, our

Lord and God.



May God bless us to share the glory and brightness of Lord Jesus in our

lives. Let us try hard for such a meaningful experience.



May God bless us all.



Jose Kurian Puliyeril

PRESS STATEMENT



4TH AUGUST 2006



Mrs. Sonia Gandhi opposes Anti Conversion Bills



Christians demand for White Paper on development status, conversions.



15 Point Charter of Requests to National Commission for Minorities



The Congress President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, has voiced her party's

strong opposition to the so called Freedom of religion Bills, or anti

conversion laws, being enacted by several BJP ruled States.



In a signed letter to Dr John Dayal, who had submitted her a

memorandum signed by hundreds of Civil Society and religious leaders

of all religions, Mrs Gandhi said "The Congress Party's views on this

are well known. These are enactments passed by the State legislatures

where the Congress is in Opposition. The Congress Party has opposed

this strongly in the assembly and through demonstrations."



The letter came even as several Christian leaders were on 4th August

meeting the National Commission for Minorities to raise this and

other issues. They called for a comprehensive White Paper on the

social, economic and political situation of the Christian Minorities

in India, as also an official statement from every State if there had

been any forcible conversions, which was a canard spread by Hindutva

and other fascist political groups. While NCM chairman Hamid Ansari

and vice Chairman PM Pinto represented the Commission, the community

was represented by Delhi Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Church of

North India General Secretary Rev Enos Das Pradhan, All India

Christian Council secretaries Rev Madhu Chandra and Mr Sam Paul,

Catholic Union president Dr john Dayal, Sr. Mary Scaria, NCCI

representative Mr Philip Jhadav, Indian Social Institute director Dr

Jimmy Dhabi, Rev Valson Thampu and several others.



The community leaders reminded the Commission "its first and main

allegiance was to the Constitution of India and is obliged to monitor

the Government of India and its policies and practices, as those of

the State governments, to ensure that at no time do religious

minorities feel they live in an unjust system, or that Government and

its apparatus is deaf to their pain. We demand nothing more, and

nothing less, than what is our right as Citizens of a free India."



The harassment or erosion of rights of even the smallest and most

vulnerable group is an erosion of the rights of the entire Minority

community guaranteed under the Constitution. The Commission must

therefore get through a White paper a comprehensive picture of the

social, economic, religious and other problems faced by the Christian

community in the country – everything from issues relating to Visas

and FCRA, physical violence, and hate campaigns.



NCM Chairman Ansari said the Commission is of the view that the right

to profess practice and propagate religion, guaranteed by Article 25

of the Constitution, is an essential ingredient of our country's

multi-religious edifice. It urges the State governments concerned to

do nothing to water down this basic provision and resolve misgivings

and misunderstandings through dialogue.



The 15-point `Charter of Requests' to the Government of India through

the National Commission for Minorities included



I. Implement Constitutional Provisions (Including

freedom to Practice, Profess and Propagate Faith; and provisions of

Articles 25 to 30). Reverse discriminatory laws such as the Madhya

Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, MP, Chhatisgarh and Arunachal Freedom of

Religion Acts.



II. Full Civil and Constitutional Rights to Dalit

Christians. Take steps to encourage Political and Social uplift by

correcting the aberrant policies that today injure the rights of

Dalit Christians. This is not an issue of mere reservations in

government jobs, but of equal opportunity in all spheres of political

and economic activity.



III. Reassure Minorities on the Rule of Law by curbing

Communalism, prosecuting hate crimes and those guilty of violence

such as the Sangh Parivar and other elements. State and Central

Governments, District administrations and Police must take suo motu

notice of such hate campaigns, which lead to violence eventually.

FIRs must be statutorily registered in cases of anti-Christian

violence and harassment.



IV. Issue a White paper on the condition of Christians in

India, including the matter of so called forced conversions. Set up

an economic and quality of life enquiry commission on the pattern of

the Justice Rajendra Sachchar Commission for Muslims, to assess the

poverty and disempowerment of poor Christians and specially Dalit and

OBC MBC Christians.



V. Implement PM's 15 Point Programme 1983, and Dr Manmohan

Singh's revised programme 2006, in full. Monitor devolution of funds

meant for minorities in the budgets of various Ministries so that

Christians – particularly OBC MBC get their share.



VI. Evolve Economic programmes and credit and financial

systems to spark entrepreneurial activity in the community, generate

self employment



VII. Special income generation and housing schemes for

minorities in rural areas – farmers, landless peasantry, agriculture

labour and traditional craftsmen



VIII. Expanding and monitoring of National Minorities

Development Finance Corporation



IX. Honest implementation of Article 30 specially to encourage

educational institutions in sunrise areas, such as medical

engineering, Information technology and management and engineering

colleges. Gujarat and some other States must immediately stop curbing

the freedom of Christian schools in appointing Principals, Head-

mistresses and Managers in place of retiring Nuns.



X. Ensure adequate and compensatory representation of

Christians in particular in Civil, Military, Administrative and

Judicial services. The entire state of J&K has just one Gazetted

Officer, a Policeman who is transferred all too frequently



XI. The harassment in VISA provisions and the bigotry in FCRA

and administration must end. Government must ensure that foreign-born

wives of Indian religious workers, including protestant Pastors, and

their children are allowed entry into the country on spouse visa as

is case for other citizens.



XII. Check constitutionality of some laws that seem to bar

Christians from some areas, such as in Andhra. Also laws that allow

religious books of some religions being sold at Rail Stations but

bars Bible's presence on stations.



XIII. End victimization of certain categories of Converts to

Christianity. This includes the Catholics of Kashmir Pundit origin

who has been victims both of terrorism and of State apathy and

vicissitude. These refugees are not on the horizon of State concern

at all.



XIV. Consult the Christian community in the formulation of the

Five Year Plans and the Plans of HRD and other ministries



XV. And finally, urgently bring forward laws on Adoption and

Christian marriages which have been in cold storage for many years.



Released for Publication in the Media By Dr John Dayal

shlom lekh bthoolto maryam.

malyath taiybootho.

moran `amekh.

mbarakhto at bneshey wambarakhoo feero dabkarsekh yeshu`,

o qadeeshto maryam

yoldath aloho

saloy hlofain hatoyeh hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.

Amin.





Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.

Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,

nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.

Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!

Thampurante amme!

Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum

dheivam thampuranodu

nee apekshichu kollename.

Amen.



Hail O Virgin Mary

full of grace

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy

womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of our death

Amen

"...a silent man is a son of wisdom and is always gaining great knowledge."





St. John Climacus.



--------------------------------------------------------------



"For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed For He who is

mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name."  Luke 1:48-49

Dear friends,



While some of our members pointed out the ‘terrible things’ happening in another

Church, I thought about writing something 'terrible' happening in our Church.



In the Puthencruz convention held in December last year, there was an

announcement about inaugurating a website for our Church. Hooray!!! As an

ordinary Church member, I was very happy to hear our Church’s jump into this

electronic arena.  I got the site address from a friend and just visited the

site.  An elegant ‘home page’ opened with photos of the Patriarch and

Catholicos.  A very small description about the origin of the Church and various

sub-headings were given there.  I tried to go to next pages by clicking on

sub-headings; alas, there is no links provided!!  Ok. It is only inaugurated

now, may be not fully constructed, I said to myself and left the site.



Recently I thought about it and tried to visit the site to see it completely. 

Since I forgot the correct site address, I thought about a ‘google’ search for

it.  To my surprise there come three different types of ‘jacobitesyrianchurch’

sites, one with a “.com”; another with an “.org” and another with “.in”

extensions, as well as another ‘jacobitechurch’ with a “.com’ extension!!!!!!

First I thought it is the work of some members of the dissident group to confuse

our members!! I remember few years back one IOC guy in USA  claimed in their

forum that 'knanaya diocese' is part of IOC. Some knanaya members questioned it

and then he made himself a one page site for 'knanaya diocese' showing

allegience to IOC Catholicos and pointed it as his reference for the statement

he made, as if it is the official site of 'knanaya diocese'!! Since I am really

confused now, I decided to visit each ‘jacobitesyrianchurch’ sites and thus

first visited the “.com” one.  The site opened with the name “Jacobite Syrian

Christian Church” with the Patriarchal logo, a group photo of Patriarch,

Catholicos and Bishops of the Church; but instantly I know this is not the site

I visited in December 2005!!!  However, when I looked into the site description,

it says “Welcome to the Homepage of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Greater

India.”!!!!!!!!  I wondered who is behind this site development to name it as

“jacobitesyrianchurch”, and who given the authority for it and using patriarchal

logo in it, when it is only meant for a diocese of the Church????????



Next, I visited the second one “.org” site.  The site opened with the name

“Jacobite Syrian Church” with the Patriarchal logo, photos of Patriarch and

Catholicos, a group photo of newly consecrated metropolitans etc. To my

surprise, it is mentioned there that “This is not an official website of

Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. This web site is developed & maintained by

………………………..” It means it is a private site to promote something else!!!! How can

an individual take the name of the Church for his private web site and use

Patriarchal logo in it??????  When I visited the link ‘history’ in the site, to

my astonishment, he mentioned there that “It was (our Jacobite Church) founded

(6th cent.) as a Monophysite church in Syria by Jacob Burdano, greatly helped by

Empress Theodora.”  Rejoice my Jacobite friends, for us a new ‘His-storian’ is

borne in India(?)!!! Our Church is "founded in the 6th century by Jacob

Burdano"!!!!! So as per him, Jesus Christ is not the founder of our Church and

the Patriarch is not sitting on the Throne of St. Peter, as it is founded only

in 6th century, and further to this, our Christology is 'monophysitism'!!!! What

a stupidity he mentioned in his private site!!!!! I wondered who authorized him

to write and publish this type of wrong and distorted ‘Church history’ and using

patriarchal logo in it??????? Again, in other sections, many details given are

copies of ‘syriacchristianity.org’ site!!!!  What is the use of copying this to

his site???????



Next, I visited the third one “.in” site.  Alas!!! It is my Church’s “Official

Web site”!!! Hey, what is this?? No change at all from its starting stage of

December 2005!!!!! The same ‘one page’ site, which is the home page, with NO

LINKS activated or developed, even after seven months of its ‘official’

launching!!!!!!!! What a pity!!!!! Who is behind the development of this

official site and what happened to it now??? Who can answer to this inactiveness

of the developers for all these months???  Mind you, this is the present state

of our Church’s ‘OFFICIAL WEBSITE’!!!!!!!



Next I visited the ‘jacobitechurch.com’ site. Something interesting to see, with

so many sub-headings with links and even a ‘jesus movie’ and 'feedback'

sections!!!  Anyway, at least the Patriarchal logo was not used here. Well done,

but who is behind this site and what is his motive?? No answer to it seen

anywhere, but web designer’s e-mail address was given there!!!!



Now, as I see, anybody can register a name of ‘jacobitesyrianchurch’ or

‘jacobitechurch’ and develop his/their own private sites, with contents whatever

he/they feels suitable, unauthorisedly using patriarchal logo in it, and publish

it in the net as if it is the official site of the Church!!! What if an innocent

visitor will think/study if he happend to browse these sites??? A small

'disclaimer' notification will be enough for the developers to shake his/their

responsibilities!!! Who in our Church can control this situation of ‘Vaal

Edukkunnavan Ellam Velichappadu’ attitude by our own members?? Or I wonder who

is interested to look into these matters???? Since our Church is developing an

'official website' in the name of 'Jacobite Syrian Church', even if it will take

ages to complete, I feel our Church heirarchy should not allow our

members/dioceses to promote their sites in the name of 'Jacobite Syrian Church'

or 'Jacobite Church'. We should issue "idaya leakhanam" against this type of

activities of our own members and not against the ‘self financing bill’ issue!!!

But who will bell the cat???? “Kezhuka maname…”



I request responses from all learned members of this forum to put forward your

idea to how can we curtail this activities of our members as well as

unauthorised use of 'patriarchal logo' everywhere by anybody.



Varkey Titus

Member Id # 1024

Statement at the meeting of representatives of various Christian

groups called by the National Commission for Minorities on 4th August

2006 in New Delhi "to discuss various issues pertaining to the

community."



Mr Chairman, Sir,



Please accept my greetings on behalf of the Christian groups I have

the honour to represent. Please also accept my gratitude for this

opportunity to address the Commission.



This is the first time the Commission is meeting representatives of

the Christian community after it was reconstituted recently by the

UPA government with Prof Hamid Ansari as Chairperson and retired IAS

officer Mr M P Pinto of Mumbai as Vice Chair and Christian member. We

congratulate you, Mr. Pinto, for becoming the first ever Christian to

be nominated Vice Chairman of the NCM.



Even if its appointed by a political government, I wish to recall

that the National Commission for Minorities owes its first and main

allegiance to the Constitution of India and is obliged to monitor the

Government of India and its policies and practices, as those of the

State governments, to ensure that at no time do religious minorities

feel they live in an unjust system, or that Government and its

apparatus is deaf to their pain. We demand nothing more, and nothing

less, than what is our right as Citizens of a free India – a

Constitutional secular democracy which is a signatory to the United

Nations Charter and its Articles 18 and 19 and its Resolutions on

Freedom of Religion.



PREFACE:



I can say in all honesty that till recently, the Christian community

has been ill-served by the NCM, barring the interlude when the Rev

James Massey, former General Secretary of ISPCK and an eminent Dalit

activist, was the Christian representative. The two recent Christian

members of the NCM were both more loyal to the Bharatiya Janata

Party, which had nominated them, than to their office or to their

community. The NCM is now to be empowered through new legislation

which may equip it with powers of investigation etc, if all goes well.



We, therefore, come to this meeting, in much hope that this is an

occasion for the community to place before the NCM, for information

and redress, issues of a chronic or generic nature, as also questions

on probity of the Law and Order apparatuses in States and the justice

delivery system. Naturally, matters of persecution of Church

personnel, house churches, Pastors, Priests and Nuns, Evangelists and

Rights activists, are bound to figure. It is, however, not my

intention in this presentation to list every single case of

persecution in the last one month, or since January this year.

Suffice to say the numbers are disturbing. We may be a mere 2.4 per

cent of the population; we may be demographically so scattered as to

have almost no political impact; we may have been undemanding and

even perhaps politically naïve and ignorant of the full extent of our

rights in free India. But we number almost 25 million – 2.5 Crore.

That is larger than many so called Christian nations of West Europe

or the Western Hemisphere. Some issues are singular to us, because of

demographic dispersal and disempowerment in some spheres, especially

those concerning Dalit Christians. Some issues concern us more than

others, because of our historic commitment and presence in the areas

of Education, Medicare and Empowering Outreach social work among the

marginalised and the poor. Other issues have been generated because

of the fact that for even amongst minorities, Governmental action and

proactive developmental activity has been uneven. Compared to other

minorities – the Muslims are five times as many, and the Sikhs, for

instance, are concentrated in Punjab and therefore exercise

considerable political power at the national level – Christians have

been on the margins of political consciousness of the governments in

power over the decades, and specially in recent years. Not every

Denomination, Church or group is affected in the same manner.

Denominations and groups, and individuals in high position, also

often seem to have differing perceptions on various issues, as we

have seen. But the harassment or erosion of rights of even the

smallest and most vulnerable group is an erosion of the rights of the

entire Minority community guaranteed under the Constitution. The

Commission must therefore get a comprehensive picture of the social,

economic, religious and other problems faced by the Christian

community in the country – everything from problems in FCRA and VISA

to violence, refusal to register FIRs, coercion and hate campaigns.



I would put the issues under the following heads.



1. FREEDOM OF FAITH

2. CONSTITUTIONAL JUSTICE and SOCIAL JUSTICE – The Dalit issue

3. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

4. STATE BIGOTRY – Issues of Visas, FCRA, Spiritual spaces,

Policy bigotry

5. HATE CAMPAIGNS – Hindutva tirade, Persecution and violence



• FREEDOM OF FAITH: India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal

Nehru in his letter Chief Ministers of all States [circular dated 17

October

1952] said "I have sometimes received complaints from Christian

missions and missionaries both foreign and Indian, about the

differential treatment accorded to them in certain States. It is said

that there is some kind of harassment also occasionally. Some

instances of this kind have come to my notice. I hope that your

government will take particular care that there is no such

discrimination, much less harassment. I know that there is a hangover

still of the old prejudice against Christian missions and

missionaries. In the old days many of them except in the far south,

where they were indigenous, represented the foreign power and

sometimes even acted more or less as its agents. I know also that

some of them in the north-east encouraged separatist and disruptive

movements. That phase is over. If any person, foreigner or Indian,

behaves in that way still certainly we should take suitable action.

But remember that Christianity is a religion of large numbers of

people in India and that it came to the south of India nearly 2000

years ago. It is as much a part of the Indian scene as any other

religion. Our policy of religious neutrality and protection of

minorities must not be affected or sullied by discriminatory

treatment or harassment. While Christian missionaries have sometimes

behaved objectionably from the political point of view, they have

undoubtedly done great service to India in the social field and they

continue to give that service. In the tribal areas many of them have

devoted their lives to the tribes there. I wish that there were

Indians who were willing to serve the tribal folk in this way. I know

that there are some Indians now who are doing this, but I would like

more of them to do so. It must be remembered that the Christian

community, by and large, is poor and is sometimes on the level of the

backward or depressed classes. We permit, by our Constitution, not

only freedom of conscience and belief but also proselytism.

Personally I do not like proselytism and it is rather opposed to the

old Indian outlook which is, in this matter, one of live and let

live. But I do not want to come in other people's ways provided they

are not objectionable in some other sense. In particular, I would

welcome any form of real social service by anyone, missionary or not.

A question arises, however, how far we should encourage foreigners to

come here for purely evangelical work. Often these foreign countries

raise funds on the plea of converting the savage heathens. I do no

want anyone to come here who looks upon me as a savage heathen, not

that I mind being called a heathen or a pagan by anybody. But I do

not want any foreigner to come who looks down upon us or who speaks

about us in their own countries in terms of contempt. But if any

foreigner wants to come here for social service, I would welcome him."



Many, even many in Government, seem to have forgotten Nehru and the

ethos he wanted for India. The result are a clutch of so called

Freedom of Religion legislations in various States which, by default,

make India look like any intolerant theocracy. These laws mock the

federal Constitution.



It was my honour last month to submit to the Chairman and members of

the national Commission for Minorities a Joint Statement signed by

very large group of intellectuals, Christian and Non Christian,

Indian and Foreign, which said:



"We, the undersigned, represent a broad range of religious

communities and organisations in India. We are drawn from Protestant,

Roman Catholic, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist faiths and none. We

believe passionately in basic universal human rights. One of the most

basic rights is the freedom to adopt, change, practise, teach and

observe the teaching of a religion. This is set out in Article 18 of

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the freedom to freely

profess, practise and propagate religion is enshrined in the

Constitution of India. Five states in India have already enacted

legislation which restricts or impairs the right of citizens to

freely convert from one religion to another. As the Rajasthan

Government introduces its own law, we believe that we must raise our

voice. We consider that these laws seriously infringe and undermine

religious freedom, and violate the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and

the Constitution of our nation. Furthermore, we believe these laws

deepen and worsen religious divisions, conflicts and violence instead

of enhancing the search for religious tolerance, harmony and mutual

respect. While we unreservedly condemn any unethical or improper

conduct, and any 'forced conversions', on the part of evangelists and

religious teachers in their efforts to communicate their faith, we

believe that the use of the terms 'force', 'fraud' and 'allurement'

have been poorly defined in the legislation, and that the vague

definitions both restrict religious and charitable activities, and

create ample opportunity for abuse and unjust prosecution. We believe

that enshrining these terms in legislation gives credence to the

rhetoric used by extremists against religious minorities, and

publicly legitimises opposition to a wide range of religious

activities. We believe these laws are superfluous and serve only to

intimidate religious minorities and to obstruct freedom of faith. We

especially abhor the additional penal provisions in four state laws,

where the converted person is a woman or a member of the Scheduled

Castes or Scheduled Tribes, and call for full freedom of faith for

the most vulnerable sections of Indian society. We urge the

Governments of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal

Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan to repeal these unjust laws. We call

on all religious and political leaders in India to work together to

find ways of addressing disputes through dialogue and through non-

violent, non-legislative and non-discriminatory ways. We call for a

new climate of equal rights, religious freedom and harmony based on

mutual respect for one another as human beings. Finally, we ask the

international community to support our call"



Mr Chairman



We are grateful, and very happy, that the National Commission for

Minorities acted promptly on the Joint Statement and issued a bold

statement that sets out the principle of Freedom of Faith in

definitive terms; The NCM in its recent Press Note said: "The

National Commission for Minorities has received communications and

representations from members of the public, and community

organizations, expressing concern over reported efforts to abridge

the Right to Freedom of Religion as expressed in Article 25 (1) of

the Constitution of India under which "all persons are equally

entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess,

practice and propagate religion".



2. The representations received by the Commission specifically draw

attention to existing and recent pieces of legislation, imposing

restrictions on religious conversions, in some States of the Indian

Union. They express the view that while coercion is inadmissible in

matters of faith, restrictions based on vague or unsubstantiated

allegations of "inducement" and "allurement" have resulted in

interference with the practice of religion and in hampering

legitimate activity of propagation.



3. The representations assert that such practices violate the

guarantee given in Article 25; they also contravene India's

commitments under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. They urge the

State Governments concerned to repeal such laws and urge all

religious and political leaders to work together to find ways

of "addressing disputes through dialogue and through non-violent, non-

legislative and non-discriminatory ways".



4. The National Commission for Minorities is of the view that the

right to profess practice and propagate religion, guaranteed by

Article 25 of the Constitution, is an essential ingredient of our

country's multi-religious edifice. It urges the State governments

concerned to do nothing to water down this basic provision and

resolve misgivings and misunderstandings through dialogue. Signed.

(A. Banerji) Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India" ? We hope the

Central and State Governments will listen to this voice of Conscience

on Freedom of Faith, as articulate by the NCM. They, otherwise, stand

to lose their credibility in the comity of Nations.



CONSTITUTIONAL JUSTICE and SOCIAL JUSTICE: It is on the issue of

Dalit Christians that the Government disappoints most, and raises the

most apprehensions. All but two constituents of the BJP Alliance had

in previous years wholeheartedly supported the Christian demand that

the Dalit amongst them be given the same Constitutional and legal

rights that were given to their brethren who were professing the

Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faith. The Constitution of India when it was

drafted and signed by the Founding Fathers did not make any communal

distinction between Dalits. It recognized that the Dalits, suffering

the infirmities of three millennia of social and oppression, social

violence and underdevelopment need long years of careful and tender

support. Implicitly, the Founding Fathers recognized that a change of

religion did not end the social infirmity as man lived not in the

church building but in open society, and continued to be a victim.

The Constitution was subverted in the darkness of the early days. The

right of the Dalits of the minority faiths was snatched from them

cruelly and in violation of the law of the land. It took our Sikh and

Buddhist brethren long years of struggle to regain their just right.

The long, painful struggle of out Christian Dalit brothers continues.

Often they are victims of violence, their widows bereft of the

state's protection and munificence, their children robbed of the

government's strengthening hand. This must be remedied now. . The

promise of Samajik Nyaya (Social Justice) based on the principles of

Samajik Samarasta (Social harmony) by the BJP-led NDA government was

a sham. The UPA government in its attitude as shown in the Supreme

Court and in its reference of the issue to the Misra Commission,

which in turn has farmed it out to the Tata Institute of Social

Sciences, provokes suspicion as to its bon a fides and intentions on

this critical matter. ? The UPA government's Agenda will have no

meaning unless Dalit Christians are given their human right.



ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: Today, there is an added urgency. In the words

of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, of blessed memory, ` Those

living in poverty can wait no longer: They need help now and so have

a right to receive immediately what they need." Our test surveys show

that the Christian community in reality does not have an

entrepreneurial class, and there is little self-employment amongst

our youth, particularly among the Dalits, the rural communities.

There is vast under employment amongst educated youth in urban areas.

The National Minorities Development Finance Corporation has failed

singularly in reversing poverty and unemployment. ? Set up an

economic and quality of life enquiry commission on the pattern of the

Justice Rajendra Sachchar Commission to assess the poverty and

disempowerment of poor Christians and specially Dalit Christians and

those in the Coastal and tribal belts of India The Christian

community has done no formal survey to gauge the social and economic

infirmity of the people, and particularly of the youth, in the

hinterland. Christians have allowed the growth of myths about their

economic status based on the images of a few well off people from

Goa, Bombay, Kerala or the metropolitan areas of Delhi and Calcutta.

The vast majority of Christians amongst the Dalits in Tamil Nadu and

Andhra, the tribals in central and East India, and the Dalits and

others in the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are amongst the most

economically deprived. The economic uplift, education and removal of

islands of disparities are of essence. The government must strengthen

and expand the Minorities Finance Commission, and other provisions

that were designed to bring about economic and social uplift of the

poor amongst the minorities. While there are development plans for

women, plans we wholeheartedly support, the Government ignores the

special needs of women of the minority communities, and particularly

of women of Dalits from the Christian community. The promise of

removal of Poverty, Housing for All and Universal education, a

promise that was made by the first Government fifty years ago,

remains largely unfulfilled. Similarly, on the issue of Population,

governments teeter on the precipice of an anti-democratic sub-agendum

with warnings of `incentives and disincentives." ?



Implement PM's 15 Point Programme 1983, and Dr Manmohan Singh's

revised programme 2006, in full. Monitor devolution of funds meant

for minorities in the budgets of various Ministries so that

Christians get their share. The Government accepts the agenda set for

it by the Indian industry, while also accepting the pressure of the

multinationals in crucial areas. India's private sector cannot escape

its guilt in the continuing islands of underdevelopment in the

country as much as multinational corporations must life with their

guilt in exploiting the resources, natural and human, for their ever

increasing profits. ?



NCM must call for a meeting with Industry national organisations –

Public Sector and Private Sector --and the Christian community to

discuss such issues. The shrinking world in this age of information

technology and transport makes developing countries more vulnerable.

The Government of India cannot allow either domestic monopolies or

international economic colonisers to exploit the poor. The Government

remains silent on safety nets for the large lower and middle class

whose savings is an important ingredient in the finances available

for national development. It also remains quiet on the need for

social security and a safety net for the working class which is

increasingly bearing the brunt of the so-called modernization process.



CONCLUSION:



This, Sir, is in the nature of a `Charter of Requests' to the

Government of India through the National Commission for Minorities:



1. Implement Full scope of Constitutional Provisions (Including

freedom to Practice, Profess and Propagate Faith; and provisions of

Articles 25 to 30). Reverse discriminatory laws such as the Madhya

Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, MP and Arunachal Freedom of Religion Acts.



2. Full civil and Constitutional Rights to Dalit Christians.

Take steps to encourage Political and Social uplift by correcting the

aberrant policies that today injure the rights of Dalit Christians.

This is not an issue of mere reservations in government jobs, but of

equal opportunity in all spheres of political and economic activity.



3. Reassure Minorities on the Rule of Law by curbing

Communalism, prosecuting hate crimes and those guilty of violence

such as the Sangh Parivar and other elements. State and Central

Governments, District administrations and Police must take suo motu

notice of such hate campaigns, which lead to violence eventually.

FIRs must be statutorily registered in cases of anti-Christian

violence and harassment.



4. Set up an economic and quality of life enquiry commission on

the pattern of the Justice Rajendra Sachchar Commission to assess the

poverty and disempowerment of poor Christians and specially Dalit and

OBC MBC Christians and those in the Coastal and tribal belts of India



5. Implement PM's 15 Point Programme 1983, and Dr Manmohan

Singh's revised programme 2006, in full. Monitor devolution of funds

meant for minorities in the budgets of various Ministries so that

Christians – particularly OBC MBC get their share.



6. Evolve Economic programmes and credit and financial systems

to spark entrepreneurial activity in the community, generate self

employment



7. Special income generation and housing schemes for minorities

in rural areas – farmers, landless peasantry, agriculture labour and

traditional craftsmen

8. Expanding and monitoring of National Minorities Development

Finance Corporation



9. Honest implementation of Article 30 specially to encourage

educational institutions in sunrise areas, such as medical

engineering, Information technology and management and engineering

colleges. Gujarat and some other States, must immediately stop

curbing the freedom of Christian schools in appointing Principals,

Head-mistresses and Managers in place of retiring Nuns.



10. Ensure adequate and compensatory representation of Christians

in particular in Civil, Military, Administrative and Judicial

services. The entire state of J&K has just one Gazetted Officer, a

Policeman who is transferred all too frequently



11. The harassment in VISA provisions and the bigotry in FCRA and

administration must end. Government must ensure that foreign-born

wives of Indian religious workers, including protestant Pastors, and

their children are allowed entry into the country on spouse visa as

is case for other citizens.



12. Check constitutionality of some laws that seem to bar

Christians from some areas, such as in Andhra. Also laws that allow

religious books of some religions being sold at Rail Stations but

bars Bible's presence on stations.



13. End victimization of certain categories of Converts to

Christianity. This includes the Catholics of Kashmir Pundit origin

who have been victims both of terrorism and of State apathy and

vicissitude. These refugees are not on the horizon of State concern

at all.



14. Consult the Christian community in the formulation of the

Five Year Plans and the Plans of HRD and other ministries



15. And finally, urgently bring forward laws on Adoption and

Christian marriages which have been in cold storage for many years.



Thank you God Bless you And God Bless India



John Dayal

Dear in Christ,



"The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the

LORD increased all that Job had twofold" Job 42:10



The 19th global chain prayer will be starting on Tuesday, 08th August 06 at 1800

Hrs GMT and will end on Wednesday, 09th August 06 at the same time.



You can access the Prayer subject file in our file section at the URL:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socmprayercell/files/09.08.%202006%20Prayer%20Subj\

ects.doc



If you have any prayer subjects to be added, please send it to us as early as

possible, to include in the next chain prayer to be held on Wednesday 22nd

August 06.



Yours in HIS service,

SOCM PRAYER CELL MODERATORS

shlom lekh bthoolto maryam.

malyath taiybootho.

moran `amekh.

mbarakhto at bneshey wambarakhoo feero dabkarsekh yeshu`,

o qadeeshto maryam

yoldath aloho

saloy hlofain hatoyeh hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.

Amin.



Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.

Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,

nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.

Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!

Thampurante amme!

Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum

dheivam thampuranodu

nee apekshichu kollename.

Amen.



Hail O Virgin Mary

full of grace

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy

womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of our death

Amen

"A person full of anxiety about worldly things is not free: he is dominated and

enslaved by this anxiety, whether it is about himself or about others."





St. Symeon the New Theologian.



--------------------------------------------------------------



"Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is

written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  Romans 12:19



---------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Abin,



Boney Kuriakose already given you details of two churches in Chennai.  If

you would like to get the location of Perambur church, please call my friend

Mr. Thomas P. Thomas on 044-25516105, who is an active member of Perambur

Church.  He will guide you to that Church and can also give details of other

churches in Chennai.  The moderators of this forum already given last week

the details of the Church in Vellore, near Katpadi.



With prayers,



Chev. Thomas Abraham - Bahrain

http://groups.msn.com/BahrainSt-PetersJacobiteSyrianOrthodoxChurch

http://www.socmnet.org/

Dear in Christ,



"The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends,

and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold" Job 42:10



The 19th global chain prayer will be starting on Tuesday, 08th August

06 at 1800 Hrs GMT and will end on Wednesday, 09th August 06 at the

same time.



You can access the Prayer subject file in our file section at the URL:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socmprayercell/files/09.08.%202006%

20Prayer%20Subj\ects.doc



If you have any prayer subjects to be added, please send it to us as

early as possible, to include in the next chain prayer to be held on

Wednesday 22nd August 06.



Yours in HIS service,

SOCM PRAYER CELL MODERATORS

Dear all,



This is in reply to the mail by Mr.Junas about the congregation at Perth.



Eventhough I haven't been to that place, the congregation is led by my own

brother who is working as a Psychiatrist over there.



As per the information I have got,the Malayalee Christians over there were going

to either Anglican or Catholic church. There is a Syrian Church over there but

since the Holy Mass is in Arabic, our people cannot attend over there. The

Priest there is a Jordanian.



When we Jacobites have a church over there, we were thinking how we could make

use of it. It was at this same time, our congregation at Sydney got separated

from the church built over there since it was built with joint effort of IOC

people and us. But when the case of Bishops came, the IOC people never allowed

our Bishops over there. And we started thinking of a new congregation. Those

people didn't even help us to form a church. Our people at Sydney under the warm

support from the Syrian Bishop MOR  MILITIUS MALKE LAHDO started service at a

Syrian Church with a Syrian Clergy as Chief Celebrant- Prayers in English and

Syriac and Songs in Malayalam. Following this the people at Perth also inspired

from this and continued the suit. Again under the direction of Mor Militius

Malke,the Jordanian priest helped us to start a service over at Perth.



I am doubly happy because I was involved in this divine thing. I helped the

people at Perth to compile a new Qurbanakramom with Syriac and Malayalam. The

new Qurbanakramom has Syriac on one side with Malayalam and Malayalam

transliteration of Syriac on the other side.This is a novel one. With this

Qurbanakramom their first service went very nicely after several rehearsals. The

rehearsal was needed since the priest knows only Syriac and the laity knows only

Malayalam.I was very happy to hear that the work compiled by myself, a humble

and meak faithful, helped them to attend a mass in a far off place. I am trying

to improvise it better by adding English and English transliteration of

Malayalam part so that the new generation over there who doesnt know Malayalam

will also able to attend it. I am intending to print it and if possible make it

available in web,if God willing, so that people in such places where they have

access to a Syriac priest and no Malankara church can attend the Holy Mass. This

will be the scenario in other parts of Australia as well as Europe.



Coming to what Mr.Junas has said, I don't think it as a grave mistake to have a

service of  our own. Whatever Ecumenism is preached,the identity of our Mother

Church shouldn't be put at stake. Eventhough our congregation has been

started,they are not keeping aloof from the activities of our Malayalee society

over there. So I don't agree with your attitude like we are putting segregating

tendency over there. We have the right to pray on our own. It is because

attitude like this we are losing our identity everywhere and we end up in

protestant and Pentecost groups thinking 'we all are believing in Jesus'.



We need to preserve our identity, the identity of our Mother Church. It is we

Jacobites who least show it and thats why we see the flow of faithful to other

denominations.



Ecumenism is good but it shouldnt be done at the cost of sacrificing our

identity. Perhaps this is the reason why you cannot find Catholics in local

ecumenical groups. Their ecumenism is seen only in Joint Dialogues and round

table conferences.



It is sad to see the Jacobite ecumenists, surrendering the traditions to

protestant thinking.



So pray that we gain more congregations at every part of the world. We need to

uphold our identity and tradition. Let it not make way to any other attitudes.

We should be Jacobites first and Christians and Malayalees second.



Dr.Paul Samuel

ID NO 172

Matrimonial Digest / 0031-2006



Dear members



We do not take or assume any responsibility for the particulars

given by the advertiser. Concerned parties are encouraged to verify

the particulars. As per the request of some advertisers we withheld

the contact details and will forward any reply to the advertiser for

further personal contact.



Please read the successful stories of the matrimonial advertisement

in the SOCM forum at



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/message/6505

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/message/4384



For the full list of the matrimonial advertisement, please visit:

http://www.socmnet.org/Matrimonial.htm



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Matrimonial; Code # 060/06

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Jacobite parents from Pathanamthitta Dist  presently living in USA

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Matrimonial; Code # 059/06

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Proposals invited for a Jacobite Christian girl from Ernakulam

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Matrimonial; Code # 051/06

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Jacobite Christian girl from Ernakulam District, 27 yrs,Diploma

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Matrimonial; Code # 049/06

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Suitable alliance invited for a Jacobite girl MS (Dual certification

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She is the eldest of the two children of her parents and her brother

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Matrimonial; Code # 048/06

***************************

Orthodox parents from Ernakulam dist invite proposals for their

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Matrimonial; Code # 045/06

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Proposals invited for a god fearing girl 28years 28/163 cm

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Matrimonial; Code # 044/06

***************************

Orthodox parents living in US for 32 years invite marriage

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Matrimonial; Code # 043/06

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Proposals invited for a god fearing girl 23years 5-4" BDS and doing

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Matrimonial; Code # 041/06

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Jacobite Christian girl, 29 yrs old, 5'3", very fair,  USA citizen,

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Matrimonial; Code # 040/06

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Proposals invited for a 25year old Jacobite girl presently working

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Matrimonial; Code # 039/06

***************************

Suitable proposals invited from parents of boys between  26 & 30 for

a fair, thin, humble and God fearing girl,  M.P.E., MPhill., (Rank

holder)



She is 172 Cms., DOB March 1981 & She is working in a  Kuwait

Private School. Proposed girl is very soft spoken,  modest and is a

Sunday School Teacher. Father a Jacobite  Priest, Mother a

Housewife, Only younger sister studying for B.Sc., Nursing.



Prefer boys to be qualified, well behaved and with clean habits,

from middle class Jacobite families, working in India or abroad.

Preference is for boys working in Kuwait. Please send proposals with

maximum details in first e-mail to  raajuissac@...



Matrimonial; Code # 038/06

***************************

Suitable alliance invited for a God-fearing Jacobite girl 28years,

Height : 181cms, Complexsion : Fair, BTech in EEE Working with an

indian MNC in Bangalore.

Parish : Simhasana Church, Kottayam  Father : Advocate, practising

at Kottayam

Mother : Retired Professor.  Siblings : Two.   The proposed girl has

two elder broters, both married and settled.  our prefferance for

goom - should well qualified and employed, have  good moral values.

If interested please respond with your son's details with recent

photo to roni.simon@...



Matrimonial; Code # 037/06

***************************

Orthodox parents residing in USA invite proposals for their

daughter  who is 31 Years old; green card holder from professionally

qualified  boys from any Christian denomination who would like to

immigrate to  USA. She is born & brought up in Kerala, very pretty,

goodlooking,  5'7" tall & slightly disabled. Interested parties

please respond  with your details & a recent photograph to this

address vivaham06@...



Matrimonial; Code # 036/06

***************************

Proposals invited for orthodox girl,24yrs,164 cms, MBBS. Father

working  abroad, but legally separated since 8 yrs. Mother working

in Govt  service. Only brother studying for BTech. Proposals invited

from  doctors  only. If interested contact at ashbluelark05@...



Matrimonial; Code # 035/06

***************************

Suitable alliance invited for a God-fearing orthodox girl  26years,

Height : 153, Complexsion : Fair, M B A in HR & Marketing  (dual

specialization) Languages Known: Malayalam, Hindi& English.  Working

in a stock & share broking company.

Parish : St. Mary's Orthodox Church (Kottayam Cheriyapally) Father:

Mr. Bose Punnathra, Business man  Mother : Ms. Susan Bose, Rtd.

Deputy DEMO.  Siblings : Two



The proposed girl is the one among twins the elder one married and

working as a teacher in a CBSE school Kottayam and younger sister

is  persuing engineering in Calicut government college.  our

prefferance for goom - should well qualified and employed, have

good moral values. If interested please respond with your son's

details with recent  photo to bosepunnathra@...



Matrimonial; Code # 034/06

***************************

Jacobite parents, middle class family, invite proposals for their

daughter, B. Pharm, MBA, 26/158, medium complexion, God fearing,

employed in a multinational pharmaceutical company in Chennai,  from

parents of professionally qualified or postgraduates well  employed

Jacobite/Orthodox boys.



Interested may contact on Email: johnmercy@...



Matrimonial; Code # 027/05

***************************

Jacobite parents invite remarriage proposals for their

daughter /white&fair/ 28/ 152cm /M.com, DCA. Recordical proof only

existed for the first marriage and the court declared the same as

null and void. Please contact by e-mail with details at at

simiraj@...



Matrimonial; Code # 026/05

***************************

Suitable alliance invited for a God fearing Jacobite Girl, Working

in UK, as staff nurse she is in25, 5.4?, 59 KG, will be coming by

middle of April. Her father is a retired teacher; an active member

of church, Mother is housewife and one brother, working in Delhi.

The boy should be God fearing, fair, caring, having good manners and

preferably from the medical background (BPT or any other).



Interested parents may please contact at basilpaul@...;

basilpaulk@... , 9818730557 04842678110 (K. K Paulose)



Matrimonial; Code # 023/05

***************************

Suitable alliance invited for a Jacobite Girl, 22 years,

164cm,slim,  M.com final. Parents in Saudi Arabia. Family belongs to

Angamally  Diocese. Interested parents may contact

vvmvvm2003@...



Matrimonial; Code # 021/05

***************************

Looking for a good boy computer professional/engineer from a middle

class family from Kerala preferably cochin orthodox/Jacobite aged

over 28 for our second daughter aged 27 MCA slim good looking.

interested persons may wish to contact at george_kunju@...

giving the details.



Matrimonial; Code # 020/05

***************************

Jacobite Christian parents settled in Canada invite proposals for

their daughter, 28 years old, fair, slim 5;5''tall with very high

moral value. she is working after finishing masters in chemical

engineering. Proposals are invited from parents of well educated

boys from any Christian denomination in North America. Please e-mail

thomekurian@... giving the details with code # MP-020/04.



Matrimonial; Code # 019/05

***************************

Jacobite parents seeking alliance for their beautiful daughter

31yrs, height 5.6'' postgraduate teacher in a public school. Born

and brought up outside Kerala. Parents settled in Angamally. The

boy  should be God fearing educated & employed. Preferance will be

given  to boys working outside Kerala. Please contact on

mcsm53@... giving the details.



Matrimonial; Code # 013/05

***************************

Jacobite parents from Ernakulam Dt. invites proposals to her

daughter, who is presently working at Bangalore. Educated and

employed Jacobite youths working at Bangalore are preferred. The

proposals to be made from middle class family. The boy should be

God  fearing. The girl is 25 yrs of old, 5.3". She had Completed

B.Sc. Maths and have GNIIT, (3 yr computer diploma) course

Certificate) please respond to eldhoshimmy@...



Matrimonial; Code # 011/04

***************************

Suitable alliance invited from Jacobite parents for a Jacobite girl

24 years/161 cm), fair, smart and God-fearing, B-tech with MBA,

working  in a leading firm in Techno-Park, Trivandrum. Please

respond to thomasvt@...



Matrimonial; Code # 003/04

***************************

Jacobite parents from Kottayam invite proposals for their daughter,

divorcee with one girl child,)39 yrs.5'3", Home Science Graduate,

medium complexion, very Home loving and God fearing, from JACOBITE

Widowers/ Divorcees of 40 to 45 age group, well settled in life in

India or abroad, with clean habits, positive attitude towards life

and home loving.  Please respond to moderator_socm@... with

code # MP-003/04





--------------------------------------------------------------------

SEEKING BRIDE

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Matrimonial; Code # 062/06

***************************

Jacobite retired middle class parents from Kottayam invites

proposals for their elder son, 30years(July 1976), 175cms,God-

fearing, teetotaler, MCom, Completed CA Aticleship, passed one group

of CA Inter, working in Dubai as accountant, coming on leave in

August, from parents of God-fearing Jacobite/ Orthodox/Marthoma /

Syrian CSI girls preferably MCom/ MBA/ Bcom + CA Articleship.

Contact: 0481-2518151, 2518161 or mail to alexthomasp@...



Matrimonial; Code # 058/06

***************************

Middle Class Jacobite parents from Kothamangalam seeking proposals

from Jacobite families only for their son, MCA graduate, 25 years

(DOB-19/10/81, Height: 161 cm) working as a software engineer in an

MNC (Satyam Computer Services). Parents are retired teachers and the

only sister is married and settled. Girls must be God fearing,

loyalty towards the Church and who are graduates or doing above

degree 2nd year.  Interested parties may contact Mr. Abin George

Kuriakose on 0091-9949496760 or e-mail: usocsecure@...



Matrimonial; Code # 057/06

***************************

Jacobite Parents from Kottayam Diocese invites proposals for their

son aged 30yrs, 173 cm height, white, working as Spares-in-charge in

leading private Firm in  Kottayam.  Father Pharmacist. Mother house

wife . One younger brother  working as System Administrator

(Computer). Interested parties Please respond to email:

philiperuthical@... or by phone : 0481 – 2371822 (R)".



Matrimonial; Code # 056/06

***************************

Proposals invited for a god fearing Boy 26yrs/186 cm , from a middle

class Jacobite family  from Muvattupuzha. He is a B-Tech graduate in

Computer Science and Engg. Now working as GM in a US based company

at Infopark, Kochi. His parents were  in Bhilai and now settled in

Muvattupuzha. Sister, BSc Nurse married and settled in Florida (US).



Proposals are invited from god fearing, well placed professionals

preferrably from US, with god fearing girls with similar backgrounds

(nurses please excuse).  Interested parties may please respond to

seemasijin@... with  full details and recent full size

photograph of the Girl



Matrimonial; Code # 055/06

***************************

Jacobite parents from Mumbai invite proposals for their son 40,

medium complexion, divorcee, B.Sc. working in an MNC Pharmaceutical

company. Interested parties may please reply to rcmemts@...



Matrimonial; Code # 054/06

***************************

Mumbai based Jacobite parents invite proposals for their son, 35 yrs,

165 cms, B.Com., Inter CA, working in Mumbai as Project Manager for

USA/UK based MNC, from parents of BSc Nurses working in USA/UK or

CGFNS passed nurses working in India/Gulf. Interested parties may

please reply to rcmemts@...



Matrimonial; Code # 052/06

**************************

Religious Jacobite Syrian Orthodox parents hailing from Kothamangalam

[Angamally Diocese] invite marriage proposals for their son, 29

Years, Height: 180 Inches, Wheatish complexion, handsome and God

fearing[Serve the Holy Altar] with clean habits. He has his PG

Diploma in Business Mgmt and works for a leading International Denim

Casual Apparel Brand,handling its Retail Operations in Bangalore. He

has one younger brother who has just completed his Graduation in

Commerce.



We are looking for a God-fearing, caring, family oriented, pleasant

girl from a good Jacobite family with high moral and ethical values,

preferably working.  Those interested, you may please contact

joyvalethu@... or paul.live@...  Res:0485-2571060



Matrimonial; Code # 050/06

***************************

Jacobite Christian boy from Ernakulam District, 30 yrs, M. Tech(

Software Systems ) , very spiritual with clean habits and employed

as Techcnical Consultant having a gross salary of 10.5 lakhs per

annum . Medium complexion,160cm.Looking for qualified, God fearing

girl (Nurses/Software professionals preferred) from middle class

families. Father expired, mom house wife ,one sister working in

UK and younger brother in Kerala. Please respond if interested with

full details and recent photographs to rajesh_s_george@...

or contact on  0485 3297772/ 91 9840119568



Matrimonial; Code # 046/06

***************************

NRI Syrian Orthodox parents from a reputed family invite proposal

for a Smart, Very Loving & Caring Son, 27, 179cm, athletic,

healthy,  broad-minded, medium complexion, Hotel Management Degree,

Immigrated to Canada and decently employed.



Need a Very Loving and Fair girl of any denominations, above 165

cm,  has interest in Nature & Pets and has Professional

Qualifications - preferably Medical/Teaching field- and caliber to

adjust to life in  Canada. Tel: 0481-2582025//2518569/ 2517056/+9663-

5331674 pulickaparamb@... / pulickaparamb@...



Matrimonial; Code # 042/06

***************************

Jacobite Christian boy 29 yrs, MCA ( Master of Computer

Application) ,very spiritual with clean habits and employed in

Kuwait as Product Manager for Microsoft products.Fair,170cm.Looking

for qualified, God fearing girls from middle class families. Parents

in Qatar with one sister married and settled in Bangalore. Please

respond if interested with full details and recent photographs to

jacobp@... or parayiljacob@...   or contact on  +974

4326859 or +974 5412443



Matrimonial; Code # 030/06

***************************

Suitable alliance invited for a God-fearing Jacobite boy from

Chelad  Kothamangalam], working with a leading Fashion brand,

managing  Retail Operations in Mumbai. Age:28y Complexion: Wheatish

Height:180cms or 5ft 11inches Weight:73kgs Family: Moderate. His

father is working as a Dy. Manager with a MNC in Cochin. Mother, a

house-wife. Younger brother pursuing his graduation from Mor

Athanasius College, Kothamangalam.  Interested parents may contact

paul.live@...



Matrimonial; Code # 029/05

***************************

Proposals invited for a well settled Jacobite boy belonging to an

ancient family. The proposed boy is a Mechanical Engineer working

in  a leading Multinational trading company. The boy is

27years,175cms,  fair, God- fearing and with clean habits.



We are looking for a fair, good looking, homely God-fearing girl

from a good Jacobite family.  If interested please contact : email :

tioman_78@...



Matrimonial; Code # 024/05

***************************

Suitable alliance invited for a God fearing Jacobite boy, B.Sc

Computer Science, 29,5'8",63 kg, fair, working in Riyadh, Saudi

Arabia. The boy hails from a well-known family at Kundara, Kollam.

His father is a retired Supt. in Court, mother Rtd.  State

Coordinator in Rural Dept. One elder brother doing Business and one

elder sister got married. Interested parents may contact

joby007in@... or Thomas Abraham, +966 1 4885339 or

+9660507432962



Matrimonial; Code # 017/05

***************************

Suitable alliance is invited for a Jacobite deacon, age 31, 5ft

5inch  B.A.,B.Ed.,B.D., M.Th., at present doing research work in

university  of Toronto, Canada) teaching in the seminary. family

background:  father, senior Corepiscopa in the church. mother house

wife. one  elder sister, lecturer, got married and one younger

brother advocate. for more information, mail to me

kjpunnachalil@...



Matrimonial; Code # 016/05

***************************

Suitable alliance invited for a God fearing Jacobite boy, B.E.

(Electrical & Electronics), 26, presently employed in Bangalore as

Electrical Engineer in a Consultancy firm. The boy hails from a well-

Known family at Kumarakom, Kottayam.



His father is a retired KSEB Sub Engineer, mother is Govt. UP

school  headmistress and got one younger sister, who is married. The

girl  should be God fearing, caring, having good manners and

preferably  with B.Sc Nursing, employed (In India or abroad).

Interested parties  may please contact the boy's uncle at

monthiruvanchoor@...



Matrimonial; Code # 014/05

***************************

Retired PWD Contractor's family (Jacobite, Middle Class, Ernakulam

District) invites suitable proposal from middle class Jacobite

parents of God fearing girls under 28, 5'1', 48 Kg, employed or

qualified to be employed (prefer teachers or lecturers) in or

around  Ernakulam Dist. She has to look after home affairs as the

brother and sister of the boy to be working overseas.



Their son (32, 5'3" 55 Kg) is a Vet. surgeon in Kerala Government

Service, posted within few kilometers from home, fair, clean

habits,  soft spoken, thin built and God fearing. His has an elder

brother and younger sister, both married. Genuine enquiries may be

posted to varkod@...



Matrimonial; code # 012/04

***************************

Proposals invited from parents of god fearing BSc nurses for a

handsome Jacobite boy, hailing from Kolencherry, 29/168 Graduate,

only son, working as Marketing Executive for a reputed Co. in

Kuwait, active in church matters and having family visa status. He

has two sisters and both of them are well settled. The girl will

have good job prospects in Kuwait. Interested please respond to:

yeljoseph@...



Matrimonial; Code # 006/04

***************************

Jacobite Parents from Kottayam Diocese invites proposals for their

second son PDC /30/168 working in MRF Kottayam. Father doing

business  in Kottayam. Mother Gazzetted officer in govt. One elder

brother  married (Working) and younger sister studying. Graduates in

any  discipline or diploma holders in Nursing (GNM) prefered. Please

respond to moderator_socm@... with code # MP-006/04

shlom lekh bthoolto maryam.

malyath taiybootho.

moran `amekh.

mbarakhto at bneshey wambarakhoo feero dabkarsekh yeshu`,

o qadeeshto maryam

yoldath aloho

saloy hlofain hatoyeh hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.

Amin.





Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.

Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,

nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.

Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!

Thampurante amme!

Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum

dheivam thampuranodu

nee apekshichu kollename.

Amen.



Hail O Virgin Mary

full of grace

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy

womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of our death

Amen

"One type of watchfulness consists in closely scrutinizing every mental image or

provocation; for only by means of a mental image can Satan fabricate an evil

thought and insinuate this into the intellect in order to lead it astray. A

second type of watchfulness consists in freeing the heart from all thoughts,

keeping it profoundly silent and still, and in praying. A third type consists in

continually and humbly calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ for help. A fourth

type is always to have the thought of death in one's mind. These types of

watchfulness, my child, act like doorkeepers and bar entry to evil thoughts."





St. Hesychios the Priest.



--------------------------------------------------------------



"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How

unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"  Romans 11:33

Dear Abin,

There are two churches in Chennai. One at Perambur and the other at Anna Nagar.

The one at Anna Nagar is behind the KM Cherian hospital on the way to Moogapair.



regards

Nainan

=================================================================

From the desk of the Moderator:



Please sign your messages with member ID. If not having a member

ID, please send your details including contact number to moderators

(SOCM-FORUM-owner@yahoogroups.com) and obtain a member ID before

posting any more messages in SOCM. Thank you for your cooperation.

Dear All,



The temporary consecration of new Jacobite church at Pathanamthitta is scheduled

for 14th and 15th of this month. This would be the first church in

Pathanamthitta town. This is also attached with Bishop house and office of

Thumpamon dioceses.



With regards

Abhilash Raj

St. Mary's Jacobite Church Vazhamuttom

# 2903

Dear Issac,



Chain Feast (CHANGALA PERUNNAL) is celebrated on August 1 for the remembrance of

St.Peter's escape from Herod Agrippa's jail. This mentioned in Acts 12 and is

attached below. This Perunnal is celebrated by Catholics and Jacobites. Perunnal

started from 5th Century after the recovery of Chain and installation in

St.Peter's Bassalica, Rome.



Prayers

Gigi P Thomas

Member ID # 1046





Acts 12



Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison



1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the

church, intending to persecute them.

2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This

happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by

four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public

trial after the Passover.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for

him.

6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between

two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck

Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell

off Peter's wrists.

8 Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did

so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him.

9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel

was doing was really happening; he thought he was

seeing a vision.

10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to

the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had

walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the

Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the

Jewish people were anticipating."

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John,

also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter

knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the

door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back

without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"

15 "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was

so, they said, "It must be his angel."

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they

were astonished.

17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord

had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he

said, and then he left for another place.

18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what

had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did

not find him, he cross-examined the guards and

ordered that they be executed.



--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Issac K Joseph wrote:

>

> Dear All

> During my childhood, we do celebrate "CHANGALA PERUNNAL" (Chain

Feast)on August 5 in our parish.

>

> Is still our church celebrating this feast? If so can anyone

explain the base of this feast?

>

> In Christ

> Issac K Joseph

> Mar Thoman Church

> Mulanthuruthi

> # 0917

>

SUPREME COURT'S NEW RULING ON PROSELYTISATION



By Joseph Gathia



New Delhi (Monday, 7 Aug, 2006): In a political hum drum prevailing in the

capital of India over leakage of a report connected with oil stamp scam the

media and the Church in seems to have missed a judgement of far reaching

consequences. The Supreme Court of India gave ruling last week that police can

arrest those indulging in proselytisation. Till date prior sanction either from

t he central government, state government or the district magistrate was

required to lodge FIRS and arrest those indulging in such activity.



The Supreme Court of India on Friday drew an important distinction between

courts taking cognisance of the offence pertaining to proselytisation and police

lodging FIRs and arresting the erring religious figures. The Apex Court of India

gave ruling in a case involving Karnataka Government and one pastor P Raju. The

Apex Court set aside an order of the high Court, which had quashed a case of

proselytisation lodged against him under Section 153 - B of Indian Penal Code

(IPC) .The complaint accused pastor Raju of appealing to a Hindu congregation on

January 14, 2005 to convert to Christianity. The common practice so far had been

to follow Section 191(1-A) which says "no court shall take cognisance "of an

offence involving inducement for conversion unless the prosecution has obtained

previous sanction of the "Central Government or the state government or the

district magistrate."



The Supreme Court of India has changed the situation now. The new ruling gives

power to the police.



As the Court explained that absence of prior sanction, a mandatory pre requisite

for a court to take cognisance of such offence, would not prevent a magistrate

from remanding to police of judicial custody of an accused arrested by the

police for the offence of proselytisation.



It further explained that there is no bar against registration of a criminal

case or investigation by the police agency or submission of a charge sheet

against the accused in such cases. A bench comprising Justice G P Mathur and

Dalveer Bhandari said police do not require prior sanction of anybody in lodging

FIR or arresting religious leaders if there is a complaint of proselytisation

against them. In a way the Apex Court has indicated that organised attempts at

mass conversion or re-conversion has the potential to undermine public order.



The Christians in India run large number of humanitarian aid programmes. The CRS

runs food for work, Caritas supports women's self help programme, CASA dugs well

in drought prone areas, Don Bosco fathers help street children through

vocational training schools, and diocese are engaged in health and education

programmes. All such activities may face hurdles from the hostile provincial

governments that may use technique of imitating false cases against priests,

nuns and even bishops.



Mahatma Gandhi once stated that: "proselytising under the cloak of humanitarian

work is unhealthy, to say the least. It is most resented by people here". The

resentment that Gandhi alluded to has increased in India over the years. And the

new ruling may further add fuel to the fire.



Many who were educated in Christian schools have only delightful memories of

those years. Attempts at proselytisation, if any, were benign, and except the

rather comical classes on moral science. Christian educational institutions are

considered to be torchbearers of liberal education.



But today, for those who believe that Christian missionaries have had deep

contempt for India's traditional culture and that their charitable activities

provide only a cover for their programme of conversion, this judgement will

provide playing field.



Large number of new generation Indian despite being educated in Christian

schools hold the view that whilst freedom of religion is a basic human right,

proselytism is to be condemned. In the popular perception proselytism is

understood as the use of unscrupulous methods of persuasion such as material

inducements, psychological pressure or spiritual threats to compel a person to

change his or her religion.



The Catholic Church condemns proselytising activities. The Second Vatican

Council, whilst defending freedom of religion, denounced proselytism in very

strong terms: "In spreading religious faith and in introducing religious

practices, everyone ought at all times to refrain from any manner of action

which might seem to carry a hint of coercion or a kind of persuasion that would

be dishonourable or unworthy, especially when dealing with poor or uneducated

people. Such a manner of action would have to be considered as abuse of one's

own right and a violation of the right of others".



The Federation of Asian Bishops Conference also supports this view. The issue of

religious conversions has become a major socio-religious and political issue in

India. Under the circumstance there is a need for introspection.



By and large the Christians do not believe in fraudulent methods as it is

against the very basis of change of heart and would welcome measures to check

fraudulent activities. Yet specific legislation such as the anti-conversion laws

passed by some States in India can only promote religious intolerance and

animosity, and at times may be misused by executive authorities and is not

justified from the very limited positive results obtained.



On the question of proselytism the FABC says "a phenomenon which continues to

awaken the most resentment among the peoples of Asia is that of proselytism and

conversion. In the minds of Asians, the Church's primary objective seems to be

to convert as many people as she can so as to increase her little flock. Church

expansion is also seen as a Western extension.



On account of the frequent communal violence incidents resulting from

conversions, the Prime Minister suggested a national debate on the subject.

Though the suggestion invited fierce opposition from the political parties, a

debate is indeed taking place in the print media. Source close to the Rashtriya

Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) say that the Hindus, whether of organised groups such

as the Sangh Parivar or religious leaders like Mahants are not against "true

conversions" as such; but only oppose proselytisation using unfair and

questionable means. They alleged that very often distress conditions like acute

poverty, ill health, severe mental agony arising from various causes and

illiteracy are exploited in effecting conversions. A person who desires to

change his faith on conviction about the suitability of another religion to his

or her spiritual advancement can hardly be persuaded not to convert and none can

find fault with such a person or the religion, which accepts him into its fold.

shlom lekh bthoolto maryam.

malyath taiybootho.

moran `amekh.

mbarakhto at bneshey wambarakhoo feero dabkarsekh yeshu`,

o qadeeshto maryam

yoldath aloho

saloy hlofain hatoyeh hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.

Amin.



Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.

Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,

nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.

Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!

Thampurante amme!

Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum

dheivam thampuranodu

nee apekshichu kollename.

Amen.



Hail O Virgin Mary

full of grace

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy

womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of our death

Amen

"The Lord has ordered us to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, and

to do good to those who persecute us. What danger we are in then, when we hate

one another, when we hate our co-members, one with us, sons of God, branches of

the true vine, sheep of the spiritual flock gathered by the true Shepherd, the

Only-Begotten Son of God, Who offered Himself in sacrifice for us! The Living

Word underwent these sufferings for so great a work, and you, man, hate it

through jealously and vaniglory, or avarice, or contempt - things for which the

enemy has ensnared you, to make you a stranger to God. What defence will you

present before Christ?"





St. Pachomius the Great.



--------------------------------------------------------------



"He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect

in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that

the power of Christ may rest upon me."  2 Corinthians 12:9

I agree with most of what Dr. Paul Samuel said, though his last line needs some

clarification.



"We should be Jacobites first and Christians and Malayalees second."



Now, correct me if I'm wrong doctor, but I believe you meant to say, "We should

be Christians first and Malayalees second."



One problem many people seem to have is to think that Christianity is a category

that encompasses all these different denominations. That may be fine for secular

publications like newspapers or encyclopedias, but it is contrary to the very

idea of Christianity itself.  There can be NO denominations in Christianity.

Denominations are divisions, and this whole idea goes against the very idea of

"Church," (which means an assembly or gathering together).  Christ commanded us

to be ONE, not to split off into all these other denominations.



We tend to want to be politically correct, and the result of this is confusion. 

Take any of those groups listed in the Perth ecumenical community.  At one time,

they were all Syrian Orthodox Christians. They left the ONE HOLY UNIVERSAL AND

APOSTOLIC CHURCH because of different influences over time.



The point I'm getting at (rather briefly) is that being a Christian, means being

Orthodox.  Surely, some Marthomites, Papists, IOs, Pentecostals, etc. will take

great offense to this.  But being a Christian is a real living way and not

simply a "team" we choose to affiliate with.  Being Orthodox is engaging with

God in selfless service every moment of our lives.  It means carrying the

correct teachings from Christ, to His apostles, to their successors in the Holy

Orthodox Church.  So rather than lament the people who split themselves away

from the Holy Orthodox Church, educate the Marthomites about Christianity;

educate the IOs about Christianity; educate the Pentecostals about Christianity;

educate the RCCs/Reeths about Christianity.



And perhaps most importantly, educate our own about Christianity so they can be

tools to educate others, rather than become complacent and fall by the way side

to wolves in sheeps clothing.



Mike Wingert

#0902