Category: Church Reform
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MULLALLY OR MULAKKAL?
Other than similar sounding surnames, is there anything in common between these two? They are as different as chalk and cheese. Former bishop of Jalandhar diocese, Franco Mulakkal, nicknamed Frightening Franco, is a familiar name to Indian Catholics. A lower court in Kerala has acquitted him of charges of multiple rape of a religious sister…
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DID JESUS SPEAK LATIN?
Readers will pardon me for asking another audacious question. They will also note that I often write in response to current issues. This time it is a riposte to an article “Reviving the Old Latin Mass would be a colossal mistake” published in Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) on 26th September, written by Robert…
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THE TRINITY IS NOT A MYSTERY
(A presentation at Bishop’s College, Kolkata to commemorate 1700 years of the Nicean Creed, organised by the various Theological colleges of Bengal) This paper has an audacious title, considering the oft repeated experience of St Augustine on the seashore, and bearing in mind that our present Pope Leo is a follower of that same spirituality….
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THE POWER OF 2X2
Most roadways buses have a 2×3 seat configuration; that is, 5 seats in a row. Since that is cramped, luxury buses are 2×2 giving long distance travellers enough leg space. I am writing this after attending Mass on Sunday 20th July. The first reading (Gen 18:1-10) and the gospel (Lk 10:38-42) both had two principal…
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HONEYMOON CHEATERS
Till recently we used to hear about wife beaters – aggressive male chauvinists beating up their spouses. Have things turned full circle? Are women the new aggressors – chopping up their husbands and sealing them in blue cement drums? Or the latest shocker from Shillong where Sonam Kushwaha of Indore went for an outdoor honeymoon…
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WHEN DID GOD DIE?
Another startling headline? It isn’t about Holy Friday. It was occasioned by a Special Edition (100 pages) of Time magazine totally dedicated to Pope Francis, on his death. Strangely, there was no mention of this in the Catholic media. A soft copy was sent to me by a young Methodist pastor, to whom I am…
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LEO – IRON FIST – VELVET GLOVES
When writing on an unfolding story one runs the risk of being overtaken by developments if its publication is delayed. Despite that we journos must be like the fools that enter where angels fear to tread. Five years ago I had made a prediction about Pope Francis’ successor in my book “The Jerusalem Code”. I…
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WHITE SMOKE, DARK CLOUDS, SILVER LINING
At 21:47 IST on 8th May I received a message from a priest friend in Rome that white smoke could be seen emanating from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. So we had a new Pope. Frankly, I was surprised at such a short conclave. Secondly, I was shocked that an American had been elected….
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PEDESTALIZING POPE FRANCIS
No buses or biryani for poor Pope Francis! Does this shock you? It should. From whatever I saw or heard around me it seemed like business as usual – jubilees being celebrated, board results being celebrated, even during the official 9 day mourning period. Familiar excuses, as at the wedding feast; “Come to the wedding,…