Posted on 03/22/2015 5:06:16 PM PDT by ebb tide
The US state of Idaho's Catholic leadership has declared that a state senator's anti-Hindu views run counter to the teachings of the Church and Pope Francis's support for inter-religious dialogue.
When Universal Society of Hinduism President Rajan Zed recited prayers for the state senate's March 3 session in Boise, Senator Sheryl Nuxoll boycotted the invocation and said that she believed the US is a Christian nation and "Hindu is a false faith with false gods". Her opinions "do not represent the opinions or teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, (Boise) Bishop Peter Christensen or even our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who has been an outspoken supporter of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue," a statement from the Boise Diocese said on Friday.
"Nuxoll's comments reflect her own personal opinions," the statement said.
Nuxoll, who is a Catholic, was one of three Republican senators to boycott Zed's prayer, although Republican Senate President Pro-Tem, Brent Hill, had invited Zed to be the guest chaplain. Zed's prayer was non-denominational and Hill said, "it refers to deity supreme".
After the senate prayer, Zed met the Boise Catholic Diocese's Vicar General for Clergy, Monsignor Joseph A. da Silva, and Chancellor Marcella Wilske. Zed said they had "a dialogue on various interfaith issues".
Jewish and other religious leaders have demanded an apology from Nuxoll.
"Being a public official who is expected to represent all citizens, it is highly inappropriate and insensitive for Nuxoll to unnecessarily label a major religion as 'false,' as there are about three million Hindus in US, including some in Idaho," said a letter signed by 28 clergy members and others last week.
According to 'The Jewish Daily Forward', Rabbi Daniel Fink of Boise's Jewish Congregation Ahavatah Beth Israel organised the letter campaign through the Idaho Interfaith Equality Coalition.
Even before the letter was sent, Nuxoll had ruled out any apology and invoked Mother Teresa.
"I said it was a religion with false gods. I'm not going to give an apology," the 'Spokesman-Review' newspaper quoted her as saying earlier this month.
"I felt I had to abstain, because I'm not going to be praying to false gods. I'm a believer like Mother Teresa that everybody should be the best they can," she added.
She also reiterated her belief that the US Constitution is "based on Judeo-Christian principles".
"I'm in a floor session bound to follow the Constitution," the Spokesman-Review quoted her as saying. "It is a Christian nation based on Christian principles."
The US constitution is secular and prohibits the establishment of official religion.
According to the newspaper, Nuxoll said she received many emails "running me down", but also some supporting her. She singled out one email backing her "from a lady who said she had lived with the Hindus".
Nuxoll said that the woman wrote "there was a great amount of infanticide and abortion."
I wonder if the Hindu nationalists in India would have a Christian do the same over there...
The same thing that happens to Catholics; God judges them.
Correct! And the Indians (who are mostly Hindus) are our allies in that fight.
So here's an idea. Let's try to avoid insulting our allies.
Yep, it’s the muzzies who can’t be mellow.
Why didn't he do so? Why doesn't Francis?
In the good ol' days any Bishop or Pope would state the Truth. Why are these guys hiding it under a bushel basket?
Again, I don't know why you are trying to convince me. Sounds like you are in direct contradiction with your own Bishops.
You people get your act straight before you start pontificating (heh, heh. See what I did there?) about which religion offers Salvation and which don't.
It's a modern day term.
________________________________________________________________
Judeo-Christian is a term used since the 1950s to encompass the common ethical standards of Christianity and Judaism, such as the Ten Commandments.
-snip-
The term gained much currency in the 1940s, promoted by groups which evolved into the National Conference of Christians and Jews, to fight antisemitism by expressing a more inclusive idea of American values rather than just Christian or Protestant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judeo-Christian
The same thing struck me as well. Does the Bible used by the Catholics omit John 14:6?
——FWIW, those “seeking religious freedom” were quickly burning witches and chasing out those they didn’t agree with.——
You might want to actually study pre- revolution American history to get a more rounded view of the pilgrims and puritans peoples...
I’ve spent 20 years going such...
Sure the Salem witch trails were a stain upon them, but historically there was well documented cases of witchcraft in Mass at the time...
“Hindu is a false faith with false gods”. Her opinions “do not represent the opinions or teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, ???????
A mad house. A MAD HOUSE!
...and then?
Because, unlike some pre-Columbian Aztec, I think you are vincible.
This mental midget should look up what the founders thought about the Catholic Church, especially Jefferson and Madison.
“Judeo-Christian” is the biggest oxymoron ever coined.
Are you saying they were justified in killing the accused? If not, what exactly are you saying?
The Roman church had NOTHING to do with the founding of our country and in fact was hostile to the founding principles of our nation until the 20th century.
guess the fact that members of the Catholic Carroll family not only signed the declaration of independence but tried to get French Canada to join the colonies doesn’t count.
And most of the anti republic/anti liberal stuff often quoted from “catholic” bishops etc is taken out of context: back then was aimed at the “enlightenment” atheist types who later were behind the French Revolution
as for Jefferson: “free civil government”? Duh. Quick: Name a government in Europe in the 1700’s that was not highly influenced by the local Catholic/Anglican/Lutheran/Orthodox/Islamic clergy. And experience since then suggests a non priest ridden people” are more prone to dictatorships that would make the limited pogroms of the black legend look like amateurs.
So in 1800, all the Mexicans were headed for heaven and all Americans were headed to hell.
That is an interesting take.
When you stand and allow a non Christian to give an invocation, you are respecting them and their beliefs, not affirming that their beliefs are true.
Although most sophisticated Hindus do believe in one God is present behind the millions of gods, which are emanations of the One.
1800? Where did you come with that particular year?
I’d venture to guess that there were more Catholics in Mexico than the U.S at that time. But to answer your question, I do not believe nationality determines one’s sanctification. Why do you?
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