Author: Ananthakrishnan G
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 6, 2009
The Catholic Church in Kerala has called on
its flock to keep away from some of the new mass prayer movements that promise
miracles. The warning issued in the form of a pastoral letter also blames
these sects of spreading abhorrence for Hinduism.
"They teach that evil spirits would come
to us if we use some kinds of flowers, pictures of elephants or peacock, lamps
or 'mangalsutra'. They are spreading the message that by using things which
other religions consider sacred, the sins would also come to the user.
All this show only their abhorrence for Hindu
religion,'' says the letter signed among others by Kerala Catholic Bishop
Council president Daniel Acharuparambil and president of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of India Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil.
It says though the Catholic Church preaches
only Jesus, it does not disregard what is true or divine in other religions.
The Bible even teaches to treat other religions with respect, the letter adds.
The Catholic Church has its own mass prayer
movements and these had played a significant role in reviving faith in the
Bible, it said.
However, the new groups were flouting all
prescribed rules on interpreting the Bible, the state council charged.
