BHUBANESHWAR (AsiaNews) – A Hindu activist was killed by three individuals in the village of Kumharigaon, Kandhamal district (Orissa). The victim, Dhanu Pradhan, was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu fundamentalist group that is part of the Sangh Parivar and that has been responsible for anti-Christian violence that broke out two months ago in the same district.
At the time of his death the small time contractor was visiting the almost entirely Christian village to inspect a school under construction when three men shot and killed him. According to police Dhanu Pradhan was on a Maoist hit list.
In the state the latest wave in anti-Christian violence began with the death of Swami Laxamananada Saraswati, a radical Hindu leader who was killed last 23 August. He too was assassinated by a group of Maoist militants but the Sangh Parivar immediately blamed Christians, thus provoking what amounts to an actual pogrom. Christians now fear that the new murder will lead to a new wave of violence.
Fr Dibya Singh, a spokesman for the diocese of Cuttack- Bhubaneshwar, spoke to AsiaNews about his concerns. He explained that a “curfew has been imposed again and panic is spreading across the district. Our only hope is that vested interests and outside elements do not foment trouble for the vulnerable Christian community in Kandhamal district. The situation is so volatile that they may use any occasions to create havoc in the area given their focused goal of eliminating Christianity from Kandhamal.”
Dhanu Pradhan was one of the leaders who spearheaded violence by Hindu radicals in Kandhamal district last December when, on Christmas Eve, Sangha Parivar extremist groups attacked and set on fire 13 churches, hundreds of Christian-owned homes and killed three people.
Orissa is a state where Hindu nationalist fundamentalism is very strong. In 1968 the state legislature adopted an anti-conversion law that blocks Christian missions. In 1999 Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two children were burnt to death in their car. Also in 1999 a Catholic priest, Fr Arul Doss, was killed in the same state.
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p/s: I strongly urge all members pray for our brothers and sisters there. Let's us offer our rosary prayer or any prayers to them.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Why Do Roman Catholics Pray to Saints?
Shallom,
Like all Christians, Catholics believe in life after death, but they also believe that our relationship with other Christians does not end with death. Catholic prayer to saints is a recognition of this communion.
-Do Catholics believe that saints should be worshiped?
-Why do they pray to saints?
-Is there a difference between prayer and worship?
Answer:
The Communion of Saints
Like all Christians, Catholics believe in life after death. Those who have lived good lives and died in the faith of Christ will, as the Bible tells us, share in his resurrection.
While we live together on earth as Christians, we are in communion, or unity, with one another. But that communion doesn’t end when one of us dies. We believe that Christians in heaven, the saints, remain in communion with those of us on earth.
So, just as we might ask a friend or family member to pray for us, we can approach a saint with our prayers, too.
The Difference Between Prayer and Worship
Many non-Catholic Christians believe that it is wrong to pray to the saints, claiming that our prayers should be directed to God alone. Some Catholics, responding to this criticism, have argued that we do not pray to the saints but with them.
Both groups, however, are confusing prayer with worship. True worship (as opposed to veneration or honor) does indeed belong to God alone, and we should never worship man or any other creature as we worship God. But while worship may take the form of prayer, as in the Mass and other liturgies of the Church, not all prayer is worship. When we pray to the saints, we’re simply asking them to help us, by praying to God on our behalf, or thanking them for having already done so.
Like all Christians, Catholics believe in life after death, but they also believe that our relationship with other Christians does not end with death. Catholic prayer to saints is a recognition of this communion.
-Do Catholics believe that saints should be worshiped?
-Why do they pray to saints?
-Is there a difference between prayer and worship?
Answer:
The Communion of Saints
Like all Christians, Catholics believe in life after death. Those who have lived good lives and died in the faith of Christ will, as the Bible tells us, share in his resurrection.
While we live together on earth as Christians, we are in communion, or unity, with one another. But that communion doesn’t end when one of us dies. We believe that Christians in heaven, the saints, remain in communion with those of us on earth.
So, just as we might ask a friend or family member to pray for us, we can approach a saint with our prayers, too.
The Difference Between Prayer and Worship
Many non-Catholic Christians believe that it is wrong to pray to the saints, claiming that our prayers should be directed to God alone. Some Catholics, responding to this criticism, have argued that we do not pray to the saints but with them.
Both groups, however, are confusing prayer with worship. True worship (as opposed to veneration or honor) does indeed belong to God alone, and we should never worship man or any other creature as we worship God. But while worship may take the form of prayer, as in the Mass and other liturgies of the Church, not all prayer is worship. When we pray to the saints, we’re simply asking them to help us, by praying to God on our behalf, or thanking them for having already done so.
With CMO
Shallom,
Sorry guys, I know our blog is soooo dead. Well, can't help it since it's exam month. Anyway, here is some pictures during the recent visit of our CMO from Penang, Ezekiel. Thanks for coming and visited us here.
We went makan-makan at KFC that night. We were really having fun spent time with you guys.
Then, after the game. We were talking about how's our life in campus. Some said, stressful, enjoyable, full of discrimination, and so on. Anyway, it's life. Life is colourful. Imagine if life only black and white. Kinda boring right?
But remember guys, what we going to experience in university life will shape our personality once we step out from university. Outside world is different. How we going to blend into bigger society after we enter the working life. Working life is more challenging, guys. Prepare for it, ya?
Sorry guys, I know our blog is soooo dead. Well, can't help it since it's exam month. Anyway, here is some pictures during the recent visit of our CMO from Penang, Ezekiel. Thanks for coming and visited us here.
We went makan-makan at KFC that night. We were really having fun spent time with you guys.
So, next morning, there was a session conducted by Ezekiel at the church compound with some of our members. Eventhough it was only one hour session, but I guess everyone appreciated it. First, before we started the session, we were warmed up by playing a game, they called it as Penguin Walking? I don't know. But anyway, the game more or less revealed who we are. The characters of ourselves. But some of them really, I mean, really having fun. Some even fell from the chair. Just grabbed any chances that were available. Ganas ohh...if you saw how they played. Emm.....
Then, after the game. We were talking about how's our life in campus. Some said, stressful, enjoyable, full of discrimination, and so on. Anyway, it's life. Life is colourful. Imagine if life only black and white. Kinda boring right?
But remember guys, what we going to experience in university life will shape our personality once we step out from university. Outside world is different. How we going to blend into bigger society after we enter the working life. Working life is more challenging, guys. Prepare for it, ya?
Remember, God always with us. Have faith in Him. I'm sure faith will make our journey easier.
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