I don’t believe you…It is not on Google!
Once upon a time (when there was no “Google”), if you heard something that was hard to believe you had two options: 1] to believe the person from whom you heard it or 2] to go to the library in the hope (that) you can find a source to validate it
These days of course, we have “Google”!*
Unfortunately that also means if something cannot be “googled“, it may as well not exist (or be untrue). Now read on…
Earlier this week, alert reader Dheeraj sent me a report about Father Menengis’ confession before the Justice Somashekhara Commission of Inquiry in Bangalore. The Commission has been set up to investigate recent attacks on churches in Karnataka.
The confession went largely un-noticed by the media…and even when it was noticed, it was reported selectively.
Here is what the New Indian Express reported** (online):
In a revelation that could have widespread ramifications, Father Joseph Menengis, priest of St James Church in Mariyannapalya, Bangalore, confessed before the Justice B K Somashekara Commission…that idol worship was being performed in churches to attract Hindus and convert them to Christianity.
…During cross-examination, the priest said that “despite idol worship being prohibited in Bible, we have idol worship in churches.†“The duty of every Christian is to convert non-Christians to Christianity by any means,†the priest told the commission.
…During cross-examination the priest confessed that “no girl students are permitted to use kumkum, bangles and wear flowers.”
This is what the online edition conveniently forgot to mention…(from the Hubli edition of The Indian Express, courtesy Dheeraj):
…The priest (said) “I am not blaming the CM, BJP and Bajrang Dal for the attack on our church”
“The Hindu” did one better…It had a report with the title: “Dog did not lead to Congress office” that made no mention of the confession.
Is this part of some sinister conspiracy? I doubt it…
But it does nothing to restore my confidence in mainstream media…and makes me feel good that there are alternatives today…Thank God for Google!
It is unlikely that you will find the whole confession online (and the Hubli edition story was edited in the online version) but Dheeraj did take a snapshot of the front page…(below; pl. click to enlarge).
The rest is self-evident.
In the meantime, a rebuttal has been quick in coming (Thanks again, Dheeraj):
…Former Member of Parliament H.T. Sangliana has lashed out at the priest, who deposed before the Justice B.K. Somashekhara Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday and alleged that the priest was lying and should be prosecuted for the lie.
…Retorting to media reports about Father Joseph’s confession before the Inquiry Commission, Mr. Sangliana said the priest was “lying.†“If what he says is right, then he should be prosecuted. He is not fit to be a priest in a church. No idols of Hindu deities are kept in the churches to attract Hindus to Christianity. I am 65 years old and have been to several churches across India; nowhere have I seen this practice. I don’t know under which circumstance the priest has made this statement,†said Mr Sangliana. He added that he was “shocked†to read about Fr Menengis statement in newspapers. “I will personally make an inquiry to find out if what he is saying is true,†said the former cop.
Also read:
Related Posts:
On Kandhamal, Conversions and ProselytizationÂ
“Why have Missionaries chosen to attack India?â€Â
“Why are Christian Missions targetting India?†– II Â
Why are Christian Missionaries targeting India – IIIÂ Â
Also read: “The great joke that is Indian Media†series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9 and Part 10.
See also: Mangalore’s real shame – Talibanization of National MediaÂ
* Disclaimer: I own a tiny completely insignificant amount of shares in Google..(and I believe it is a great company!).
** Thanks to “Ot” for pointing out that the news-report is actually from the New Indian Express and not The Indian Express (comment # 12)
The msm will forget the truth and broadcasts unnecessary things non-related issues and then forgets.
Oh Well!
Oh Well!
I had read this news in New IE (and posted the link about the same n this blog) few days back and at that time the online edition had *exact* text as in the print edition!
These (p-sec) media people have habit of editing the news items to suit their convenience and ‘faiths’. This has happened before in nun’s case (M’lore) and in 26/11 case when one news paper site first reported that it was “Salaskar who retaliated the fire at 2 terr0rists when they attacked their vehicle” (unfortunately I don’t have snapshot of that page).
Hemant: That is interesting! I did not see the highlighted “portion” when I went online later that day…It had already been “edited”.
No use of kumkum, bangles and flowers for girls, but idol worship is being performed in a church? Is there a logic to that?
Syrian Catholicism, a prime example of Hinduism as a way of life than a religion.
Dear Shantanu
I’m making this comment based on the assumption that what you have posted is based ultimately on primary sources.
“The duty of every Christian is to convert non-Christians to Christianity by any means,†the priest told the commission.
I find the very thought of a religious priest saying such things this obnoxious in the EXTREME, and such a priest ought to go to the gallows if I could have my way (knowing well that I’d perhaps settle for life imprisonment instead). Sorry, but this simply confirms my belief that (often) Christianity has had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the teachings of Christ, but with sheer political power. It behaves like a political party without any ethics: a Congress (I) party, if I may say so: bent on using crooked means to expand its membership and funding. (I am not singling out Christianity. This is true of other religions as well: and so I stay away from religions, even though I’m happy to read about what Christ actually said or the founders of religions actually said and pick what I like).
If ends and means are not united, how can we possibly have a free society? What is the accountability for such heinous crimes of deceiving people’s deepest emotion (spirituality) deliberately? Justice must prevail and such an unethical criminal punished.
I would ask: is there any self-regulation in the Church to prevent such imposters? If not I’d like to see a very strong law to imprison such crooks for life the moment there is the slightest evidence of doing such unethical things.
I suggest FTI offer the people a policy outlining what self-regulation religions must exercise to expel any unethical member – else I would like to INSIST on state regulation of all conversions through a judicial process.
There is a world of difference between honest conversions and one where non-Christians are converted “to Christianity by any means”. The former must be allowed. The latter is poisonous and must be weeded out.
Regards
Sanjeev
Nice post, Shantanu.
Dr. Sabhlok/Shantanu,
policy outlining what self-regulation religions must exercise to expel any unethical member – else I would like to INSIST on state regulation of all conversions through a judicial process.
Could you please elaborate more on these ideas if you have already given it some thought? I’m interested to hear more on how such regulation can be implemented without significantly burdening the state.
-HA
Yes, Shantanu, they don’t even update the date/time of the article edition!
Ah, the media! Probably, the press’ no longer believes that its duty is to inform and to hold the “authorities” to the highest standard – it has moved to a higher duty – to entertain!
But then, who is to blame for this sorry state of affairs? Would that not be, uh, the consumers? Every single day, you can vote with your wallet, I suggest that we use it more effectively.
RE: the confession of the priest – the last part is amazing, but not really surprising to me – one of the principles of christianity has been proselytisation – apparently, the church draws its moral authority from Christ’s injunction to his disciples to spread his message of love and universal brotherhood – but, when you take this to its logical end game, it becomes a case of who has more bodies in his church. And, we should remember, while discussing this issue, that the church is not a singular entity …. christianity has splintered into many sects/churches, who now fight for bodies wherever they can get them (India/Asia are the latest battlegrounds, I guess).
It all boils down to the fact that the moment religion moves beyond the home/beyond your personal devotion/prayers, it becomes a business. And, if it becomes a business, there needs to be a proper regulatory and taxation framework for it.
Cheers
There’s Indian Express and there’s New Indian Express. After Ramnath Goenka’s death the business split with Vivek Goenka getting the North Indian part of it and Manoj Sonthalia getting the southern. The southern version is called “New Indian Express” and isn’t half as much a Congress butt-kisser as the northern one edited by Padma Bhushan Shekhar Gupta is. Please remember to attribute your story to the right Indian Express.
Thanks Ot…Have made the change…
*** COMMENT EDITED ***
Christianity is in the same league as Islam. They want to convert everyone…Once a person is converted, his/her progeny will become natural followers of Christianity. The Cross, Dec 25, Xman tree, many verses in the Bible etc were borrowed from pre-Christian pagan religions….
*** NOTE by MODERATOR ***
I have edited your comment to keep it within the guidelines of the comment moderation policy. Thanks.
See this web site a huge one by Swami Devananda Saraswathi , a Canadian by birth.
http://www.hamsa.org/
Jesme said in her book
“As a young woman I was curious to see a male body that I have never seenâ€.
LOL
@7 (Sanjeev) —
“The duty of every Christian is to convert non-Christians to Christianity by any means,†the priest told the commission.
Why are you so shocked to hear the above ? Christianity’s goal is “spreading the gospel” or the “good news” as it is called.
It is also the goal of most Ponzi schemes. Once you are in, you want more people to be “taken in” 🙂
#17,
> Why are you so shocked to hear the above ?
Shocked because Christian missionaries are EXTREMELY SMART about their conversion techniques. They keep it private. This was the first time it has been said in full glory. Thank god ( ok let it be jesus! )
For full list of (deceptive) techniques please read the below link, everyone of them are in vogue in India.
http://www.crusadewatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=21&Itemid=54
Alert!
The Reality Behind Vandalism of Church Property!
http://indianrealist.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/the-reality-behind-vandalism-of-church-property/