From: "Frederick Noronha" <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2010 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Goanet] "Padri Pulitikent Kityak Poddtat?"
Dear Fr Ivo,
There are many aspects to this debate, perhaps some have missed your scan.
**I have given principles of the Catholic Church about the involvement of
priests in politics.
What is politics? How can the Church influence the political life for the
sake of a better human existence and dignity?
(1) While I agree that men of religion have a right to take a stand on
social (and even political) issues, what do you have to say about
particular priests being misused for party propaganda by politicians
in parts of Goa today? On what is this based? Some deeper concern
about the issues involved? Or just the closeness/bias of a particular
priest with a certain politician? I'm sure many who live/have lived in
Goa would know of the latter cases, which are certainly a matter for
concern. The wider principles you have spoke about (the need for
non-divisive politics, etc) are fine, but what is the reality at the
grassroots?
**It is difficult to judge the behaviour of particular persons in relation
to some political persons.
If the party respects the principles of human dignity, rights, good
programmes, healthy points,
whereas other parties are violating the human rights, human religious
dignity, the balance will go to the best one. If all are equally good, then
each person should choose his/her own.
If there is a choice of a lesser evil, then conscience will direct the
persons. If all are bad, there should be prophetic action
so as to cleanse politics from dirt. Individuals should have the right not
to vote, with due adjustments by the judiciary body or government.
(2) Isn't it a fact that the Vatican itself promoted a certain kind of
politics, and opposed others? David Willey's book *God's Politician*
is a good analysis of the politics of John Paul II.
**John Paul II influenced politics with his principles. He himself had
suffered under the atheistic regime, he showed the way to be out of slavery.
There is nothing wrong to influence politics for good, since politics has
become dirty...
<<If Vatican Council II promoted a certain kind of social democratic
politics, Benedict XVI
comes not without his own background and biases. Should these be
imposed on the entire Church, without any debate, discussion or free
speech in the oldest surviving organisation existing today? We have
examples of Tissa Balasuriya, and others not far from home.
**Benedict XVI is not imposing his political views on others. Let there be a
think-thank
so as to help the common man choose what is right. When the Holy Father
speaks of Love,
he means that there cannot be love without justice and truth. Believers are
not children,
they should learn to find out truth in love.
Tissa Balasurya is a theologian. He had problems with the Church
authorities,
because he was overdoing the political dimension of Mary's life.
Theologians also should learn to work in harmony with the Church at whose
service they are working.
We know several theologians who were "dissenting", but then they humbly
collaborated with others.
One of them was my Professor, who humbly accepted to be debarred from
teaching.
But then he was accepted as a true authority in the field. He was consulted
by the Vatican authorities.
(3) You say Christ was a revolutionary of love. These are fine
sentiments. Fact is, those claiming to speak in the name of Christ
have also used his brand -- if you like it -- to promote a whole lot
of contentious enterprises. From the Roman Empire, to colonialism and
capitalism (not to forget Liberation Theology, for as long as it was
tolerated by the Vatican). In his times, I think Christ was
revolutionary enough to take on The Empire, and pay the price for
that. That was politics, but not of the dirty, party kind we see
today. FN
**Jesus would have been revolutionary even today.
Theology of Liberation is a genuine theology, if it avoids the extremes of
Marxism, atheism, secularism, humanism...
Regards.
Fr.Ivo
(Frederick Noronha :: +91-9822122436 :: +91-832-2409490)
On 28 September 2010 22:18, Ivo <[email protected]> wrote:
Aychea kallar, jen'na itli maramari vosta, yadnikamni xanticho rosto
dakhouncho. Toch rosto Jezun dhorlolo. Jezu krantikar (revolutionary),
hoy, ponn kosli kranti tannem suru kelya zayt? Mogachi kranti
(revolution of love)! Mahatma Gandhin, Jezuchim Bhagyam ani Bhagvad-gita
vachun, toch sovostkayecho rosto dhorlo: ahim’sa ani satyagraha....
