Dear Emilo Dias, I have received your article on the Vatican and Racism. I do agree that there are many more saints from Italy, Spain and Europe than anywhere else in the world. The reason is because of their proximity and influence in church matters till barely 75 years ago - when the Vatican state was created, conceding power and prestige to the newly formed democracies all over Europe (cf. Lateran Pact of 1929)
Metaphorically speaking, yes, there are more Italian saints than people attending Italian church services. Perhaps, you would be much nearer the mark if you said there are more Italian saints than there are Italian children! But a change has indeed occurred, which your brief article has not taken cognisance of. In just 25 years, John Paul II has changed the mentality of the church of Jesus Christ from one that was very Italian (or European) in outlook to one that embraces the whole world. He is responsible for the beatification and canonisation of more non-Italian saints than any other pope in history out of the 474 new saints he has canonised (474 new saints in all. Between 1588 and 1978, the total number of saints canonized was 296. source CNS). He has left the Vatican more than a hundred times to reach out to people all over the world and to make the public statement that the church of Jesus includes all peoples. His encyclicals and documents that embrace the world speak for themselves. For those who have eyes to see, the Holy Spirit is changing the face of the church - which means changing you and me and making us his people less prejudiced, less closed in on our cultures and our interests, less 'anti' and more 'pro' peoples wherever the are found... We need to be part of this 'wind-sweep' that is revolutionizing our narrow thinking... (Joseph Vaz left the konkan shores to serve a people of a different culture and disguised as one of those who we consider the lowest even today!) I can understand your anger at the slow process of the canonisation of Joseph Vaz, and I do feel it myself. But your article expresses more than just your anger � it reveals, sadly, a type of irresponsible sensationalism that could well be accredited to anti-christian fundamentalistic diatribe. You have written about faith in Joseph Vaz with an attitude that negates all he ever stood for - faith in the Holy Spirit that has power over bureaucracy - something that exists in our sometimes all too human church. The truth is much more subtle and difficult to recognize as it is much more diffult to accept. If the church were perfect, Emelia, you and I would not belong! Let's stop the venom of divisive thinking. Now more than ever we need to be united in promoting the cause of Joseph Vaz with patience and solidarity with those who may not understand our urgency - even if they be at the Vatican. We need to be more united in contributing towards the defraying the huge costs involved in the making of a saint. We need to be united in praying for that one important miracle that will help Joseph Vaz make that leap to sainthood. We need to keep hoping that his documents, lost somewhere in the thousands of files from a sea of one billion believers that look forward to the making of their own saints, may be moved ahead so that sometime soon, the whole church will have St. Joseph Vaz. Peter Gonsalves, SDB www.sdb.org _______________________________________________________ Hi Goanetters, Indian and African priests treated as doormats? who said that! A doormat will always be a doormat. As they say in Indian Culture, beating a donkey will not make it a horse. In the same way, if the Indian priests in Rome are not going to fight for us from the inside, then we have to fight from the outside. Fr Agnelo and Pr Jose Vaz has given us faith and Filomena says 'stop it ', NO we can't. and we will not, Those who tell us to stop, HAVE THEY READ THE LIFE OF Fr JOSE VAZ? Lobbying the Vatican is not going to help. Sri Lankas and Goans should boycot the church. (which will never happen I know - just a thought). That will soon make the Vatican make a U turn. Look at Europe, the pews are empty, churches are turned into Taverns, but the saints are full, they are every where and more and more white saints are created WHY? No money coming in. There are so many white saints they THEY are now praying to the people to fill the pews in chuches. 39 Married Popes. Julius the third collected a Male prostitute from the street and mad him a Cardinal. Pious the III and Inocent the VI having illegitimate Children. Just to mention a few, of the atrocities. Vatican Stincks. There was a time when only Italians could become a Pope. Pio who was refused priesthood cos he was a dim witt who put acid on his hands to immitate Jesus is made a Saint, ITALIAN!!!!! Will an Indian ever become a Pope? Never! Why? Cos he will not agree to being stripped naked in front of Cardinals, before the white smoke goes up. Why are popes stripped naked before, being declared Pope, (Ask ur Cardinal, if he will talk to u!). Emilo Joe Dias. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
