Anti Conversion Law to be adopted in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Nuns evicted from leprosarium

Here is the link. (link)

Anti-Christian violence has been growing in this area of India over the past few years. A quote:


Although different in nature, the second episode is even more disquieting and violent. It concerns the confiscation by the state of Gujarat of a leprosarium in Ahmadabad and the sacking of six Catholic nuns in charge of the institution and their eviction from the Ave Maria Convent which was their home for the past 60 years.

The nuns’ link to the place dates back to 1949 shortly after independence when Bombay authorities invited a Jesuit clergyman, Father Villalonga, to help stop leprosy in the city of Ahmadabad. With the help of Franciscan sisters from Kumbakonam, led by Sister Naemi, he set out building the facility. The authorities and the local bishop signed a five-year, renewable agreement, setting up a government-funded leprosy hospital.

After 60 years, the nuns’ work has become legendary and in all of this time the agreement was always renewed without problems . . . until last month that is.

Dayal explains that whilst the sisters had no reason to suspect anything untoward when the local Health Commission requested a review of the permit, they knew something was really wrong when the government sent them a letter informing them that a lay doctor would take over the management of the facility giving them two days to vacate the convent. In a letter formally announcing that the permit was not being renewed, the Health Commission said that the decision had come from a higher authority.

Even though the “victims are not the nuns, but the hapless patients,” writes Dayal, “it is clear why they were sacked, dispossessed of their home and thrown out of the hospital. For their religion! [. . .] A leprosarium is hardly the place for evangelization.”

These women have done such great work, but now it seems that they will not be allowed to assist these poor individuals anymore. The letter from John Dayal sums it all up:

In concluding his appeal, Dayal writes: “Dear Prime Minister, the time has come for a serious look at this pattern of hate against Christians. This is not the average communal riot or victimization which sporadically bursts out, and then dies out. This is a sustained terror campaign against our community, even if each incident is separated from the next in space and time. May I request [. . .] that the Union Government [. . .] consider comprehensive political and administrative measures that send out the correct signals to the guilty, and extend assurances to the victims.”

My thoughts on the Paris Hilton/Mother Teresa thing, after getting over my shock

I was thinking, why am I shocked? Am I worried that if they cast Paris Hilton in a movie as mother Teresa that her works would be cast into doubt? No, her works are the works of God done by the hands of His loving creation. They are, the works of Christ. Can they be cast into a bad light by Paris Hilton? No, not in the least.

So what shocked me. What worried me? It was protecting her image. Her image. Well, we've learned alot about protecting images in the last few months. The image of mother Teresa is the image of one who does what God wills. Who loves all they come into contact with. It is the image of Christ. So, if I defend an image...what Image should I defend? The image of God? Indeed...but what is the image of God?

We are. We are made in the image of God. We are called to be a more perfect image by following His will and the love of the teaching and example of Christ. The highest defense of an image is to defend the dignity and lives of our fellow human beings as images of God.

I had to laugh. God does things in ways I never expect.

If I say that anyone is not worthy to play mother Teresa in a movie, how are they worthy to imitate her works: The works of Christ in the world. Christ has deemed us all worthy of these works. More than worthy...we are called to them. So in defense of an image (or rather the perception of a person) you can undermine the fundamental value of them as an image of God.

So I ask all Catholics (and others who were shocked by the proposal of Paris Hilton as mother Teresa) who would want to write someone, or raise their voices in protest of such a movie....to stop for a second.

Do a web search on Coptic persecution, Christians in the Middle East, homes for those who are homeless, care for those who suffer or any such issue.

Then tell me that Paris Hilton as mother Teresa is nearly as important as what you read there.

If we wish to defend an image. Defend your fellow human beings as created in the image of God. Defend the immeasurable dignity of human life that suffers daily.

God is giving us a chance to put into practice a lesson very relevant to today.

If you want to write a letter, write to Congress about the suffering of our brothers and sisters all over the world who are persecuted for being Christian. Write to get funding for the homeless and the hungry. Be, as mother Teresa said:

I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. We are all pencils in the hand of God.

Let what your actions write be a defense of your brothers and sisters. Defend the image of God in each other.

Some quotes from Mother Teresa for Lent

I've always love these quotes. My pervious post made me think of some of her writings and her wonderful love for others:

• I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.

• If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

• If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

• It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.

• Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.

• I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. We are all pencils in the hand of God.

• We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

• Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.

• God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.

• What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.

She was a great woman. In my life, I have had two great global examples from my faith. John Paul II and Mother Teresa. What they have shown me is a better image of the face of Christ than I would have been able to se on my own.

You'll never guess who they want to play mother Teresa

I'll tell you, I read this and still have not had a reaction other than disbelief. Here's the story (link).


But who do they want...Paris Hilton.

I kid you not.

A quote:

"Her features resemble Mother Teresa," he said.

Rajeevnath said Hilton was on his shortlist after a computer-generated image showed a close facial match between the hotel heiress and the Albanian-born nun.

Man...I...I mean. I...I don't even have a reaction other than: Are you kidding me.

I'm surprised I was able to create the picture above without my computer destructing in some quantum event as contradictions collided. Yes, even comparing those two for a second created a collision of reality that has lessened the effect of my cold medicine, but perhaps created an alternate world where this is not a story.

For my reaction after thinking about this read this post. (link)

St Mary Appears at the Archangel’s church in Asuit, Egypt

Take a look at the post over at free copts new site (link). For all who know of Zietun, may this be verified as true as well. May the blessings of Christ and the love of his mother, be with the people of Egypt.

Emmanuel, A title for Lent as well

Emmanuel. It means "God with us." We hear the title mainly during the Advent and Christmas seasons as we await the remembrance of Christ's birth. The name has been special to me during Lent as well.

It is during Lent that we get to see the heart of our faith.

Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Easter

Christ giving us our spiritual food.
The suffering and death of our Lord for the love of us all. It is the great example of Love.
The fear of the apostles without Him, and our building anticipation of the miraculous.
He has conquered death.

It is in Lent that we see why there is Emmanuel. Why there is "God with us". And it is Love.

Christmas to Lent takes maybe four months. He is born and, in a liturgical sense, gone so soon.

But not gone. He is never gone. That is why Lent will blossom into Easter. Because once around two thousand years ago, Emmanuel. And we remember an event that never ended.

God with Us at Advent and Christmas
God for Us at Lent and Easter
God in Us Forever after
God with Us Always

For all the seasons. For all the times. One word. Emmanuel, God with us.

Italian Child who was kidnapped is killed.

Young Tommaso Onofri's body has been found. There had been little new news in the month since his abduction. This story has struck to the heart of Italy.

May the Lord comfort all those who mourn. May He take the soul of this child to His loving heart.

May Mary, the Mother of God hold his hand as she did her own percious child and with her loving spouse Joseph and her Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, comfort the hearts of those who love him.

This is a link to the story (link). A warning, the details are just horrible.

John Paul II, we still love you

All of my life, I had known only one Pope. Our faith tells us that we are never separated from those who are with God. The One Body in Christ is stronger than death. We believe that they join us in our prayers and help us to know God better.

Still, I find it hard to believe that John Paul II died a year ago today. It was a fast year...it seems that only yesterday that my wife woke me up (I had fallen asleep watching the news constantly) and told me that he had died.

One of the things that amazes me about the life of John Paul II is how I do not doubt that he loves me. And that brings even closer the unshakable knowledge that Christ loves me.

If a normal human can demonstrate to me that kind of love, it strengthens my faith in Christ to even greater levels.

This is what the examples and lives of the saintly do.

John Paul II was a Pope for the young and the old. But he had a special effect with the young. This man who preached a hard road and lived a hard life under Nazi and Communist rule, appealed to a generation and an age group that everyone thought didn't care about or want the difficult things.

They call us Generation X (at least the first generation of young people he inspired). The "x" stands for many things. It means we have no set identity. It means we don't believe in much. It means we are cynical of the world around us.

I never felt like an X.
I've always had an identity.
I am a Christian. I am a Catholic. I am loved, as are we all, by Christ.

I never felt like an X, in part, because there was always a man telling me that he loved us...and even more so, and with a greater love, Christ loves us.

A man, who didn't know me, loves me. And I'm sure of it. And he preaches about how much more Christ, who knows us better than anyone, loves the entire world.

John Paul II strove for unity. He helped open the channels of communication between faiths. John Paul II had a dialogue partner very similar in Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic faith. In many ways they are brothers who worked toward the will of the Holy Spirit.

Benedict XVI has continued the work of God that John Paul II worked so much to accomplish.

When he died, I worried that the Church would not strive as hard for unity. But I remembered that the first words he said to us as Pope were, "Be not afraid."

I wear a wristband that has those words on it. John Paul II was a great force for unity. But the force that guided him is the force that guides us all, the HolySpirit. The comforter who does not leave us.

I am not afraid.
The Holy Spirit is with us all.
We are one Body.