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Lepers protest Gujarat (India) decision to stop Catholic sisters from running hospital
Asia News ^ | March 21, 2006

Posted on 03/21/2006 10:38:57 AM PST by NYer

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1 posted on 03/21/2006 10:39:01 AM PST by NYer
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To: american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; ...
Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 03/21/2006 10:39:30 AM PST by NYer (Discover the beauty of the Eastern Catholic Churches - freepmail me for more information.)
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To: NYer

Compared to Islam, Hinduism is much less of a threat. For one thing, it's basically limited to India and has no expansionist ambitions.

But the Hindu religion is not pretty. The caste system makes any of the western class systems, no matter how obnoxious, look tame by comparison. Hindu literature is fascinating, but I would not want to live under a Hindu regime.


3 posted on 03/21/2006 10:43:55 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: NYer
“They are everything for us,” Babban Sitapur. "Not even our family members take such care of us."

Christ's love at work. We will know the believers by their fruit.
4 posted on 03/21/2006 10:47:16 AM PST by JamesP81
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To: Cicero
My daughter is hoping to go to India later this year to work at an orphanage run by a Christian organization. She tells me that two of the leaders of the organization, Hopegivers, were recently arrested there. One has since been released. Without these orphanages, the children would be on the street. Perhaps it is also a case of the Hindu government wanting the land. It is terribly sad, though. Wonder what Human Rights Watch is going to do about it? Or the UN?
5 posted on 03/21/2006 10:53:44 AM PST by mlc9852
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To: NYer
Fr Prakash said the decision to send the sisters away came from the state Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Ashok Bhatt, both known for their anti-Christian stance.

So that's the reason.

Those nuns are saints, in my opinion. Christians of whom we can all be very proud. You can bet this won't make the MSM news.

6 posted on 03/21/2006 11:07:56 AM PST by American Quilter
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To: NYer

We can be sure God is watching. "For whatever you did or didn't do to the least of my people, you did to me."


7 posted on 03/21/2006 11:21:57 AM PST by Integrityrocks
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To: Cicero

The caste system isn't a part of the Hindu religion. It is a cultural issue.


8 posted on 03/21/2006 11:30:46 AM PST by iPod Shuffle
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To: iPod Shuffle; Cicero

If the caste system isn't part of the Hindu religion, then how does a slave of the culture escape such oppression...without having to be an illegal alien?


9 posted on 03/21/2006 11:57:46 AM PST by SaltyJoe (A mother's sorrowful heart and personal sacrifice redeems her lost child's soul.)
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To: SaltyJoe

Caste discrimination in India is, like racial discrimination in the US, against the law. India also has a quota system for employment and university spots for the "untouchables."


10 posted on 03/21/2006 12:01:23 PM PST by iPod Shuffle
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To: iPod Shuffle

Sounds like time must heal this wound and it will disappear only through generations of "equal opportunity".


11 posted on 03/21/2006 12:18:51 PM PST by SaltyJoe (A mother's sorrowful heart and personal sacrifice redeems her lost child's soul.)
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To: iPod Shuffle

The caste system was inextricable from Indian religion in earlier days. The castes were connected with the divine order of things and with reincarnation. The Brits managed to cut back on some of the established customs, like suttee. And Ghandi's movement led to freeing the Untouchables.

But the strict, fanatical Hindus who go around murdering Christians and burning churches would pretty certainly like to restore the caste system if they had the power to do so. And probably burn widows, too. The question is, do they have the power to turn back the clock on things like that? Hopefully not. The leaders of Hindu nationalism are pretty ruthless, but they just don't have the kind of following any more that the Muslim leaders have.


12 posted on 03/21/2006 12:33:49 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: iPod Shuffle
The caste system isn't a part of the Hindu religion. It is a cultural issue.

Well, if it's a cultural issue (as you claim), how do you explain that their society--stratified by cast--fairly well mimics the Hindu relgion (Eastern Pantheistic Monism) in which life (Atman/Brahman) is reincarnated--get this--8.4M times before reaching Braham?

Stratifed social structure...stratified reincarnative religion...go figure. I can see the connection.

Sauron

13 posted on 03/21/2006 12:43:00 PM PST by sauron ("Truth is hate to those who hate Truth" --unknown)
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To: iPod Shuffle; NYer; Cicero; SaltyJoe; All
Dear Friends in Christ and Fellow Freepers,

I find this very strange and unbelievable what iPod Shuffle had to say about the Caste System in India -- that it is not part of Hinduism and that there is reservation for Low Caste Hindus/Untouchables in Government Jobs as well as at State Universities.

There may be reservation in Government jobs and in State Universities for Low Caste Hindus but often "Upper Caste Hindus" take advantage of these reservations fraudulently by declaring themselves as "Low Caste Hindus" -- thus these unfortunate folks are prevented from taking advantage of reservations meant for them in the first place.

This is because for more than a 1000 years, the Caste system has existed in India. The Caste System definitely existed in India prior to the advent of Christianity and Islam in India.

Christianity did not bring the caste system to India at all.

In many states of India, Low Caste Hindus specially in many parts of South India cannot draw water from Public wells, neither can they eat a meal at a Public Restaurant and most importantly most of them are Landless Laborers throughout the Length and Breadth of India.

"Inter Caste Marriages" are still frowned upon by Upper Caste Hindus and they often end up in the murder of Low Caste Hindus if they marry someone from an Upper Caste Hindu Family specially in backward Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan etc.

This is still happening in the 21st Century and has happened on a regular basis for the last 20-30 years or more.

With the most recent incident having taken place in December 2005, January 2006, and February 2006 respectively in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and two towns in Haryana.

Over the last 20-40 years and more large numbers of "Low Caste Hindus" who are Landless Labourers have been brutally murdered by Upper Caste Hindu LandLords in the States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, etc.

No one can ever forget the regular massacres of Dalits or Low Caste Hindus which have taken place on a regular basis in Patna, Jehanabad, Gaya, Nalanda and other districts in Central and North Bihar.

Now, when Catholic and other Christian Missionaries have tried to liberate these unfortunate folks from all kinds of bondage they have got a terrible kick in the pants.

It is indeed shameful that in 21st Century India the Caste System still exists.

It is my ardent and earnest Prayer that some day Upper Caste Hindus will be inspired to know that what they are doing is wrong and oppressive and what their forefathers did before them was also wrong.

They can change and must change if India is to call itself a Progressive Democracy in the 21st Century.

At least, they can give these unfortunate folks some kind of basic dignity.

This is a Big reason why Extremist Hindu Groups resent and have a deep hatred against Catholic Missionaries as they are well aware of the Humanitarian work that has been undertaken in the past by all Christian Missionaries as well as what is being done at present.

That is why Dr. Ambedkar-- one of the Leaders that was responsible for writing the Indian Constitution mass converted to Buddhism in the 1930's along with Hundreds and Hundreds of Low Caste Hindus.

He was totally fed up with the oppression that Low Caste Hindus were being subjected to in villages in Marathawada and Vidharba in Maharashtra. So, he took the final step of leaving Hinduism and joining Buddhism.

Even, now in the 21st Century there are Mass Conversions to Buddhism every year in the interiors of the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, etc.

It is my prayer that an Indian Version of "Martin Luther King" will rise up from the midst of these oppressed Low Caste Hindus and start a peaceful and non violent movement for their emancipation and basic human rights as well as dignity.
14 posted on 03/21/2006 12:52:33 PM PST by MILESJESU
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To: iPod Shuffle

Poligamy is against the law in Utah, too....


15 posted on 03/21/2006 12:55:38 PM PST by Theo
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To: SOLDIEROFJESUSCHRIST
"...that an Indian Version of "Martin Luther King" will rise up..."

Or an Emperor Constantine be converted to Christianity. I see conversion of hearts from the head of leadership more likely when they sniff the wind of change. Although the real Constantine had a difficult time grasping the Dual Nature of Christ, Son of Man and Son of God, he did a greater good for history by accepting the Authority of Jesus Christ over his temporal rule (a mighty deed for an emperor of a culture who sometimes grants the "living god" status to successful dictators...at the same time the Church was fighting the very deadly Aryan heresy of Jesus "becoming a god" rather than the Reality that He's Begotten, not made).
16 posted on 03/21/2006 2:39:52 PM PST by SaltyJoe (A mother's sorrowful heart and personal sacrifice redeems her lost child's soul.)
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To: Cicero

I am sorry but your post is inaccurate. India has the largest affirmative action programs in the world. A religion that gave rise to pacifist movements like buddhism, jainism and that survived 800 years of islamic and i dare say christian aggression probably has some good points to it.


17 posted on 03/21/2006 4:17:47 PM PST by The Lion Roars
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To: Cicero
The caste system was inextricable from Indian religion in earlier days. The castes were connected with the divine order of things and with reincarnation. The Brits managed to cut back on some of the established customs, like suttee. And Ghandi's movement led to freeing the Untouchables.

The Indian religion does have caste. But it isnt hierarchical. For example the greatest epic of hinduism the ramayana was written by Valmiki a so called lower caste. The Hindu god Krishna was born a cow herd another lower (and one of the most powerful castes in india today) Most of india's saints and its religious leaders today come from the so called lower castes.

The Brits managed to exploit caste divisions and created a theory of lower and upper castes. This helped the british to divide and conquer the natives and i daresay in promoting prosleytisation. This theory of "lower" and "upper" caste has no correlation to political or economic power. For example the brahmins in india are well educated but not economically well off.

As it is india is witnessing a social revolution where it is "advantageous to be a lower caste"!!!! by the way much of the hindu right is also made up of lower castes including the man quoted in this article Mr.Modi.

But the strict, fanatical Hindus who go around murdering Christians and burning churches would pretty certainly like to restore the caste system if they had the power to do so. And probably burn widows, too. The question is, do they have the power to turn back the clock on things like that? Hopefully not. The leaders of Hindu nationalism are pretty ruthless, but they just don't have the kind of following any more that the Muslim leaders have.

If the leaders of hindu nationalism are ruthless they would have made india an extreme right wing dictatorship when they were in power. But they lost an election and exited out of office. As regards to that comment about burning indian widows - i would attribute that to anti hindu propaganda.

With the islamic threat it doesnt make any sense for us to go and keep baiting hindus as some christians extremists are trying to do. We need the buddhists, atheists, hindus, zorastrians on our side and not against us.

18 posted on 03/21/2006 4:31:55 PM PST by The Lion Roars
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To: SOLDIEROFJESUSCHRIST
It is my prayer that an Indian Version of "Martin Luther King" will rise up from the midst of these oppressed Low Caste Hindus and start a peaceful and non violent movement for their emancipation and basic human rights as well as dignity.

From what I understand India reserves upto 70% of its seats in higher education exclusively for the lower castes . By the way parties made of the lower castes have most of the political power anyways. Martin Luther King would be jobless /sarcasm

19 posted on 03/21/2006 4:34:25 PM PST by The Lion Roars
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To: iPod Shuffle
Article from an indian newspaper that shows affirmative action has resulted in quotas of 70%!!!!!

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/08/22/stories/2005082210100400.htm

CHENNAI: The all-party meeting convened by the Centre on August 23 and the Education Ministers' meeting on August 27 in New Delhi may, at best, spark a renewed debate on some critical issues affecting higher education in the private sector. Though political consensus in Tamil Nadu cannot be imagined on any key issue of national or State import, there has always been near unanimity on the two critical issues of higher education and the need to protect reservation for the educationally and socially backward classes. It is not without reason that Tamil Nadu has been in the forefront on these key issues. The State offers the highest percentage of reservation of seats in the whole country — a whopping 69 per cent. This includes the statutory reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and Backward castes, in addition to separate quotas for Most Backward Castes, the physically challenged, sportspersons and wards of freedom fighters, among others. Though there is no constitutional backing for the 69 per cent reservation, successive Governments have ensured that there is no tampering with this percentage. All political parties have urged the Centre to provide constitutional protection for this level of reservation, though there are Supreme Court orders to the effect that it should not exceed 50 per cent. That question is still before the courts, but there is no threat to the 69 per cent reservation. Another reason for Tamil Nadu's leadership in higher education is the proliferation of professional colleges, especially engineering colleges. Over 700 — more than 50 per cent — of the private self-financing engineering colleges function in the four Southern States and the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Tamil Nadu has about 240 of these colleges. The immediate import of the apex court order — providing minority and unaided professional colleges complete freedom in the matter of admissions — is the imminent end to reservation in these colleges. Of the more than 70,000 seats in engineering colleges in the State, about 42,000 were available through the single window system of admissions with a transparent counselling programme; that meant the "quotas" applied to all these seats. But, if the private unaided colleges go out of the single window and the Government cannot insist on its share of seats, hardly 5,000 engineering seats will come under the counselling and quota system. That has been considered the most serious challenge by the political parties here, which are pressing for Central legislation to ensure the quotas and the State Government's say in the matter of admissions and fees. Government sources argue that the private colleges not only want to lower the qualifying mark for admissions, but also do not want to have a merit-based, transparent system of admissions that can stand the scrutiny of law. "They just want to fill up the seats, but you can see the seats going abegging in the single window. Education is on the concurrent list and this Government will not yield its legitimate rights — both in monitoring higher education and supervising admissions, especially in ensuring that the reservation policy is followed," says a senior Government source, adding that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has already expressed her "strong views" on the matter. Administrators expect both the ruling party and the Opposition to take similar views at the all-party meeting and insist that at the Education Ministers' conference, the State will reiterate its commitment to reservation and a free, fair and transparent system of admissions to all professional courses. There will be no compromise on that. A couple of days ago, rumours were rife that the State Government was thinking of taking over a number of professional colleges, including some Deemed Universities. But educationists and officials stoutly denied the speculation and described it as "a plant by vested interests."

20 posted on 03/21/2006 4:41:40 PM PST by The Lion Roars
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