Posted on 05/19/2006 6:12:50 PM PDT by nickcarraway
India has responded with diplomatic equanimity to Pope Benedict XVI's seemingly provocative remarks condemning attempts to ban religious conversion in certain states.
The pope had told India’s new ambassador to the Vatican, Amitava Tripathi, on Thursday that the country should "firmly reject" attempts "to legislate clearly discriminatory restrictions on the fundamental right to religious freedom". He had also taken note of the "disturbing signs of religious intolerance which had troubled some regions of the nation".
New Delhi responded on Friday with a statement, reiterating the constitutional "freedom of conscience" and the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion. "It is acknowledged universally that India is a secular and democratic country where adherents of all faiths enjoy equal rights," said a foreign ministry spokesperson.
It was the pope's second declaration this week in defence of religious freedom in countries where Christians are a minority. In India, the statement comes in the backdrop of Rajasthan planning to become the sixth state to enact the anti-conversion law the pope was referring to. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa already have laws that bar conversions but allow re-conversions to Hinduism. Jharkhand has declared its intention to enact a similar law.
The BJP-ruled Rajasthan, however, has not been able to convince Governor Pratibha Patil to give her assent to the Religious Conversion Bill. She returned the bill making a point similar to the one made by the pope -- that its provisions would affect the right to freedom of religion.
The BJP has often attributed attacks on Christian missionaries, including the murder of Graham Staines in Orissa, as reactions to their proselytising. During his recent Bharat Suraksha Yatra, BJP president Rajnath Singh had described proselytising "dangerous" and asked all BJP-ruled states to enact a similar law.
Given that many western missionaries have indulged in paedophilism in india, it is perfectly OK for the indian government to guard its children and refuse visas for these priests. The visas aren't refused -- there are quite a few priests given religious visas.
Numbers? Can you please tell me how many priests you see pounding the streets with Gitas in hand? A few temples in N.America get priests for performing temple rites. The Vedanta Society - for example - cant import missionaries to preach here in the US.
I am calling the hare krishnas a cult. I regard them as a cult because they destroy peoples lives by pulling them away from society and a productive existence. I dont know how much this cult is popular in india. I am sure many hindus would regard this as a cult.
And I am surprised that you seem to regard Christianity as a cult.
lol. your technique of putting words in other peoples mouth (comments) is funny. never saw ridgerunner say that. he is opposed to conversion through bribes, lies and coercion.
Good. Looks like you support the anti conversion arguments then. We are all agred on that point. Nice to see you understand our point of view. It did take some time. But arguments by Gengis and AR are effective. Welcome to the club and thanks for your support.
I do not. I do see the Bajrang Dal is hated by the media.
When Christianity and Islam and Buddhism stop being negative, then you might have an opening:-) Until then, you don't.
...that it is not Christianity, it is NOT Buddhism, it is NOT Islam etc. etc.
None of these religions claim to be Hinduism. The very idea is totally absurd.
Yes, but I am also opposed to the blind leading the blind.
"right. Chanting of vedic hymns is a popular profession for illegal immigrants. sarc. "
You surely are not that dense are you? How many times someone comes in a cultural touring group or dance group to visit the US , then disappear in to the country and stay after the visas are expired and work illegally in some restaurant or gas station etc?
There are millions of illegal immigrants who come through the visa route and run away, the consular officer of the US embassy in India or other developing nations are very hard on visas that is not in your usual student, H1, family visit categories. So many visa applications are declined because of a lot of reasons and mainly because the consular officer is worried that the applicant would migrate to the US and overstay their short term visas, that would the most likely reason.
You made the allegation that Hindu priests are denied visas because of religious reasons ( even though many are given visas)- do you have any proof to back up your allegation? '
"Building a temple in the deep south in the 60s or 70s was unthinkable"
How many Hindus were there in the deep south in the 60's or 70's? Dont many of them reside in the east or west coast.
'The British Government regularly donates to prosleytising church groups to convert poor hindus.'
Any proof? Not from some nutcase loony site but a genuine news site?.
'The US and British Governments care more for Christianity than the Indian Government could care for Hinduism.'
Not sure about the Indian Government and its attitude towards Hindus, since it is officially secular maybe thats the case. In the US, Britain ACLU and its associated grouos, many sections of Media, Democrats are not very friendly towards Christians . So really dont know what you are on about, if you have ever been in the US freedom of religion is widely prevalent, the anti-American posts from you is widely off the mark. America even though a Christian nation, does not legislate to restrict religious rights of others, dont think Indian Govts have the same attitude, even the Indian society is open-minded in its attitude.
The Muslims gave an attitude that you either convert or die, it is not new to Indian society which has seen it in its past with the invasion from the north. The VHP, RSS and other fringe loonies dont have a clue..they seem to be bothered by Christians who really contribute to Indias development, glad that these clowns in the bjp movement dont have a big political influence.
The Muslims ( particulary the most religious among them) have an attitude that you either convert or die, it is not new to Indian society which has seen it in its past with the invasion from the north. The VHP, RSS and other fringe loonies dont have a clue..they seem to be bothered by Christians who really contribute to Indias development, glad that these clowns in the bjp movement dont have a big political influence.
Yeah it could be.. I admit i dont know much in this area. Popular theories propose the foreign invasion/native born which could be behind the caste differences in Indian society.
How are cultural or dance groups relevant to the discussion? We are talking about PRIESTS. There have been lots of instances where western missionaries have abused kids in India. Is that reason enough to throw out ALL western missionaries?? How many Hindus were there in the deep south in the 60's or 70's?
How many Hindus does it take to build a temple?? If there was religious freedom then even one hindu should be able to practise his faith. Any proof? Not from some nutcase loony site but a genuine news site?.
Could you use that same yardstick for hindu bashing posts. So really dont know what you are on about, if you have ever been in the US freedom of religion is widely prevalent, the anti-American posts from you is widely off the mark.
I am American and as my posts indicate - I am patriotic. In this case I happen to disagree with you and so would a lot of conservative americans.
'How are cultural or dance groups relevant to the discussion? '
There are relevant to the discussion about granting visas, where the policy is to not give visas to people who overstay. So more lkely economic reasons are behind visa refusal decisions for priests, rather than a tendency to protect Christian values.
'We are talking about PRIESTS. There have been lots of instances where western missionaries have abused kids in India. Is that reason enough to throw out ALL western missionaries?? '
Any proof for that allegation. Either put up or shut, you cant make blanket allegations without any proof.
'How many Hindus does it take to build a temple?? If there was religious freedom then even one hindu should be able to practise his faith'
Temples are built where there is a congregation, just like Churches are, so why build any where there are hardly any Hindus( deep south).
Even then why do places like Texas have a number of temples. THey represent the Christian south, and according to you should not allow such constructions.
'I am American and as my posts indicate - I am patriotic'
You may be or may notbe, but you sound a paronoid Lib from DU land who dislikes American Christian values and you post lots of allegations without any fact or credibility.
Any proof of a hindu PRIEST doig that?? Borrowing a quote from you: "Any proof for that allegation. Either put up or shut, you cant make blanket allegations without any proof".
really? So, you think it's ok for educated Hindus to convert?
If you cannot provide the proof for a paeophilic allegation, then shut the F up.
It is a serious allegation and if you are going to make that hate ridden attack on a conservative American board then you back the allegations with some facts. You are not in DU(democratic underground)to spew that kind of hatred, this is a pro-American board.
As for priests overstaying, in case your mind failed to comprehend , I said it was a line of reasoning followed by US consular officials( not an allegation against the priests) behind not granting visas to some Indians(who are from a third world nation) to visit the economically developed USA, when you made the original allegation that they were not given visas for religious reasons- again a rubbish allegation without any back up facts.
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