Swami Sachidananda Reacts to Garland of $$$$ or Rupees for Cardinal Alencherry and his Bishops

Swami Sachidananda Reacts to Garland of $$$$ or  Rupees for Cardinal Alencherry and his Bishops

My dear Dr. James,

Consumerism and materialism are cancerous growths eating into the soul of humanity today. The Church of Christ which is called to counter these cancerous maladies with the power of the Holy Spirit  is herself enslaved by them.

The garlands of Dollars or Rupees worn by our Cardinal and Bishops show how deep this moral cancer has spread into the soul of the Church. I was deeply pained when I saw our Cardinal Alencherry wearing such a Garland. I thought he was a good follower of Pope Francis. I have been nurturing great appreciation for him. In fact, I had written a letter to him only last month appreciating some of his values and statements.

A spiritual regeneration of the Church, beginning with the Syro-Malabar Church, the richest Church in the world, is the crying need of the hour. For this, we need dedicated and courageous disciples of Christ from that background. The Syro Malabar Church needs an Integral Revolution to spiritualise the religious, social, political and economic dimensions of its life. 'Disciples of Christ for Peace' is called by the Holy Spirit for this very purpose.

I will be visiting our 'Dharma Bharathi Ashram' at Mulanthuruthy near Kochi during the last week of December. I wish to meet you and few other really interested persons from the Syro-Malbar Church in the Ashram during one of those days. 

I will be grateful if you could serve as a Convener of this first meeting to plan out an Integral Revolution for the spiritual regeneration of the Syro Malabar Church. 

The day can be any day between 23rd Dec 2016 to  02 Jan 2017 and time can be from 3PM to 6 PM. You are free to chose the day as it is convenient to you and let me know at your earliest.

George Moolechalil, Mathew Tharakunnel and Joseph Mattapally are to be included in the team. All four of you should also speak out your heart on this subject.We will thereafter work out a plan of action as to how to proceed with this divine mission.

Looking forward to your response and with much love

Yours in Christ Jesus our Sadguru

Swami Sachidananda


Comments:

Greetings!

Dear James Kottor,

I am in receipt of your mail and the pictures of the bishops with garlands of currencies. While I appreciate your probable goodwill, I would exhort you to examine and verify the facts objectively.

It is clear from the picture that the bishops are garlanded with Indian Rupees and not with dollars. This garlanding was done during their recent trip to North India. This is a common cultural practice very intimate to the ordinary folk in several of the North Indian States. It is loaded with a lot many symbolisms. The currencies of Rs. 10 used for the religious leaders of particular meaning. Refusing to accept this garland would be tantamount to insult to the hosts. 

Any practice should be understood and appropriated within a context. Cultural sensitivity is fundamental to mature religiosity. Your aggressive tactic seem to have stretched out the meaning and blown up the issue out of every constructive proportions. While the priorities and Value system of the Church and Church leaders need to be reoriented in several respects, there are gentler ways for the faithful to keep the leadership in focus. Constructive criticism should emerge out of the love for the Church. 

Sincerely

Fr Augustine Pamplany <apamplany@gmail.com>


James Kottoor,  21/10/16

Dear Fr. Augustine,

Greeting and many thanks for your well-meaning, timely  and constructive reaction on the whole.

CCV  first received the report from a trusted source in Chicago and so the assumption was that it happened there. Photos never lie and  photos were of Prelates parading themselves with garlands of money, which is atrocious to say the least and counter witness to a poor Jesus made naked and crowned with thorns. But on closer look we too wondered how Rupee Garlands migrated to Chicago. On continued search CCV now  stands corrected on it, that is, on the location where it was paraded.

We respect fully your view that traditional folklore practices should be respected. But we beg to disagree just a 100 % that they should be approved and sanctified with the blessings of the Church. That precisely is the reason why Casteism is still practised even by bishops in India, after centuries of respecting that tradition. Recall many articles we wrote about the kidnap and torture of Kadppa bishop for being a Dalit and that by his subordinate Reddy priests. Only Cardinal Oswald Gracious of Bombay reacted immediately and publicly condemning the act, but not even CBCI president Baselios Cleemis even after so many concerned persons wrote letters to him.

Contrast this with the Circumcision issue of pagans who become Christian in Acts. The Apostles never relented even one bit and Paul had to protest violently in the face of Peter publicly on the issue. Why go that far. Just take the reaction of Jesus himself to the sanctified traditions of Scribes, High priests and Phaarisees in the whole of Mat.23. Recall also the cleansing of the temple. Didn’t the “Sweet Jesus, meek and mild” become “bitter Jesus rough and wild?” Didn’t he, after resorting to: Samam, Danam, Fedam, take up the whip(Dendam) and overturn the cash tables of worshipers of money in the temple? How will you reconcile Jesus’ use of this physical violence with the popular presentation of Him as the paragon  of Non-violence? In short, whom are we to follow, Jesus of history, the crazy Christ (who made mess, as Francis exhorts the young to do) or thousands of tradition crazy divided and fighting Churches?

CCV’s unwavering view is that practice of Caste and Constantanian pomp should be whipped out lock stock and barrel, from all churches, starting with the Syromalabar Church  which has become notorious as a Church of Pomp, show, exhibition and worshipers of tradition – St.Thomas tradition.

Cardinal Alencherry is a very good friend of mine who phones me back when I fail to connect with him.  Wise men disagree in an agreeable way and fools disagree with ranker and ill will. So dear friend, no ill will is implied in CCV’s 100% disagreement with you.  Many thanks once again for your reaction and God bless. james kottoor  

Fr. Vincent Pereppadan <pereppadan@gmail.com>

Dear Fr Pamplany,

Thank you for the very apt objective response.

I hope Shri James Kottoor will respond to it. As an honest Christian, he is obliged to apologize for this hyper action without any objective basis. Thank you for that brotherly Christian correction.

Love, vincent pereppadan


Almayasabdam

This photograph is widely circulated among social media the world over, followed by very hitting comments. However, it is not clear if this parade happened in Delhi or Kerala or Chicago. Also it is nt clear that the bills are fake or original. In Delhi, currency garlands are a sign of respectful welcome according to some and Cardinal Alenchery might have been surrendering to their choices. However, unlike his predecessors, Mar Alenchery has no reservation in receiving any volume of luxury he is showered upon. In Ahmedabad a collection of 17 lakhs Rs were spent to arrange a reception for him. Very recently he was part of an imperial coronation at Preston. On the one side he advocates simplicity and on the other isde it is he who blesses all the luxury temples built on the name of Jesus and Christianity. It is this controversy that the general public basically questions.


Bens

It is not a procession that happened in US. it is a photo of the reception at a meeting in Jalandhar on this Monday.

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3 Responses

  1. almayasabdam says:
    From: Jerome D'Costa
    Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2016 4:47 AM
    To: isaac gomes
    Subject: Re: Cardinal Alencherry with a splash of money

     
    Dear Mr. Gomes:
     

    Thank you for your reply with inputs from others. Now it is clear to me what has actually happened.
     

    I am all for reminding our Church leaders if they fall short on Christ's and Church's teachings. The priests, bishops, cardinals and pope are for serving the laity and not the other way round. The pope calls himself Servus Servorum Dei (Servant of the Servants of God) — which should not be in words only but in action and lifestyle,too. According to the Bible, God created the laity (Adam and Eve) first, not the priestly class, that came much later to serve the laity religiously and otherwise.
     

    Bishops and cardinals should do away with past ostentations that still are flaunted today. Pope Francis is trying to persuade them by his own words and examples.
     

    May God bless you.
     

    Jerome D'Costa

  2. almayasabdam says:

    From: Jerome D'Costa
    Sent: Friday, October 21, 2016 6:03 PM

    To: Isaac Gomes
    Subject: Cardinal Alencherry with a splash of money
     
    Dear Mr. Gomes:

    Greetings from Canada!

    I just received your notification on Cardinal Alencherry. You mentioned that the photo was sent from the USA and the cardinal and other priests(?)/bishops(?) are pinned with dollars by the Catholics there.

    I have some questions about the photo:
    The road shown with the cardinal does not look like a road in the USA. It must be in India somewhere in Kerala or South India. I can see a motor scooter and the houses and electric posts and some people there — which look like being on a road in India. Moreover, the paper money bills pinned on them look like Indian money to me. US dollars are blackish in colour, not reddish or brownish as in the photo.

    Now, kindly contact your friend who sent you the photo and get confirmation of the things I mentioned above. Try to know exactly the following:

    WHO: who are in the photo, from left to right, their names and positions. Are others shown there are priests or bishops? Who are the people who pinned money on them?

    WHAT: what are they doing in the photo? What is happening in the photo? For what occasion this was done?

    WHEN: on what date the event took place?

    WHERE: exactly in which city/town and country the event took place?

    WHY?: why were they given the paper money in such a way? Is it a local custom/tradition? If so, whose custom/tradition? Keralan or some other South Indian custom? Why this custom? [I remember seeing a long time ago, pinning of money in the same manner on politicians, I think, had happened in Sri Lanka]

    As a journalist, you always must be ready to have the answers to the 5Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and 1 H (how — that is, how did it happen? How was it done? etc. etc.)

    These are journalistic questions you should always ask before writing for newspapers or for posting anything on the Internet, otherwise your writing may be immediately contradicted by others or even you may face libel case in the court. The rule is: be ACCURATE

    If you get the answers to the questions I asked above, kindly send them to me immediately, so that I can give a writing on the money-minded prelates in my blog: Bangladesh Canada and Beyond –http://bangladeshcanadaandbeyond.blogspot.ca/

    In your spare time, you may also read my website for some important articles, books and documents: Jerome D'Costa's Documents — https://issuu.com/jeromedcosta

    Jerome D'Costa – issuu
    issuu.com

    Jerome D'Costa Toronto, Canada. A blogger, author, translator and former Information Officer of Caritas Bangladesh, editor of the 'Pratibeshi' (the national Catholic …

     

    • almayasabdam says:

      Dear Mr Jerome,

      Greetings from Kolkata!

      To be honest,  I sent the article on Cardinal Alencherry and his bishops wearing garlands of dollars to Fr Sunil Rosario who must have forwarded it to you.

      Secondly, it was not my article – it was by my Editor-in-Chief Dr James Kottoor who asked me to post it to Church Citizens. Voice portal. He takes responsibility for what he does and it is for him to contact his USA friend who sent him the photo and get confirmation on its correctness and of the matter which was published.

      Your advice to journalists to always be ready to have the answers to the 5Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and 1 H (how) is absolutely sound and I always pay heed to follow these guidelines.  Thank you for reminding me on this basic tenets including your earlier advice to put a caption to every photo and to avoid abbreviations.

      Whether the Cardinal and his Bishops or priests in the photo were wearing garlands of dollars or Indian Rupees is immaterial. Their act is symbolic of something  diabolical – the church day by day being mesmerised to the charms of money power under these cardinals / bishops, who are neglecting their main duty which is to look after their sheep, the laity.  No wonder  so many Catholics in Germany have left the Church when they discovered that the money which they paid as Church Tax was being squandered in lavish lifestyle by some Bishops / Cardinals. Also the fact remains they were proudly wearing garlands of monetary instruments – clearly exhibiting that they have no shame in worshiping the Mammon challenging the Bible "You cannot serve both God and mammon".  They were proudly parading to brashly state you can serve both!

      Just look at one of the comments give below on how a priest tries to justify the abhorrent act of Cardinal Alencherry and his fellow priests!

      Please keep writing to Church Citizens' Voice (which is an international portal) to enrich it with your expertise.

      Regards

      Isaac

       

      PS:  The comments below will further clarify the pointed questions which you have rightly asked: 

      Augustine Pamplany      

       21/10/16

      To: James Kottoor

       

       

      Dear James Kottoor,

      Greetings!

      I am in receipt of your mail and the pictures of the bishops with garlands of currencies. While I appreciate your probable goodwill, I would exhort you to examine and verify the facts objectively.

      It is clear from the picture that the bishops are garlanded with Indian Ruppees and not with dollars. This garlanding was done during their recent trip to North India. This is a common cultural practice very intimate to the ordinary folk in several of the North Indian States. It is loaded with a lot many symbolisms. The currencies of Rs. 10 used for the religious leaders of particular meaning.  Refusing to accept this garland would be tantamount to insult to the hosts.

      Any practice should be understood and appropriated within a context. Cultural sensitivity is fundamental to mature religiosity.Your aggressive tactic seem to have stretched out the meaning and blown up the issue out of every constructive proportions. While the priorities and Value system of the Church and Church leaders need to be reoriented in several respects, there are gentler ways for the faithful to keep the leadership in focus. Constructive criticism should emerge out of the love for the Church.

      Sincerely

      Fr Augustine Pamplany

       

      Reply from Dr James Kottoor,  21/10/16

      Dear Fr. Augustine,

                Greeting and many thanks for your well-meaning, timely  and constructive reaction on the whole.

                CCV  first received  the report from a trusted source in Chicago and so the assumption was that it happened there.  Photos never lie and  photos were of Prelates parading themselves with garlands of money, which is atrocious to say the least and counter witness to a poor Jesus made naked and crowned with thorns. But on closer look we too wondered how Rupee Garlands migrated to Chicago. On continued search CCV now stands corrected on it, that is, on the location where it was paraded.

               We respect  fully your view that traditional folklore practices should be respected. But we beg to disagree just a 100 % that they should be approved and sanctified with the blessings of the Church.  That precisely is the reason why Casteism is still practised even by bishops in India, after centuries of respecting that tradition. Recall many articles we wrote about the kidnap and torture of Kadapa bishop for being a Dalit and that by his subordinates Reddy priests. Only Cardinal Oswald Gracious of Bombay reacted immediately and publicly condemning the act, but not even CBCI president Baselios Cleemis even after so many concerned persons wrote letters to him.

              Contrast this with the Circumcision issue of pagans who become Christian in Acts. The Apostles never relented even one bit and Paul had to protest violently in the face of Peter publicly on the issue. Why go that far. Just take the reaction of Jesus himself to the sanctified traditions of Scribes, High priests and Pharisees in the whole of Mat.23. Recall also the cleansing of the temple. Didn’t the “Sweet Jesus, meek and mild”  become “bitter Jesus rough and wild?” Didn’t he, after resorting to: Samam, Danam, Fedam, take up the whip(Dendam) and overturn the cash tables of worshipers of money in the temple? How will you reconcile Jesus’ use of this physical violence with the popular presentation of Him as the paragon  of Non-violence? In short, whom are we to follow, Jesus of history, the crazy Christ (who made mess, as Francis exhorts the young to do) or thousands of tradition crazy divided and fighting Churches?

                 CCV’s unwavering view is that practice of Caste and Constantanian pomp should be whipped out lock stock and barrel, from all churches, starting with the Syromalabar Church  which has become notorious as a Church of Pomp, show, exhibition and worshipers of tradition – St.Thomas tradition.

              Cardinal Alencherry is a very good friend of mine who phones me back when I fail to connect with him.  Wise men disagree in an agreeable way and fools disagree with rancour and ill will. So dear friend, no ill will is implied in CCV’s 100% disagreement with you.  Many thanks once again for your reaction and God bless.

      james kottoor  

               

             

        21/10/16

        Fr. Vincent Pereppadan <pereppadan@gmail.com>

       

       
       

      to Augustine, James Kottoor

      Dear Fr Pamplany,

      Thank you for the very apt objective response.

      I hope Shri James Kottoor will respond to it. As an honest Christian, he is obliged to apologize for this hyper action without any objective basis.

      Thank you for that brotherly Christian correction.

      Love,

      vincent pereppadan

       

      Almayasabdam
       

      This photograph was widely circulated among social media the world over, followed by very hitting comments. However, it is not clear if this parade happened in Delhi or Kerala or Chicago. Also it is nt clear that the bills are fake or original. In Delhi, currency garlands are a sign of respectful welcome according to some and Cardinal Alanchery might have been surrendering to their choices. However, unlike his predecessors, Mar Alanchery has no reservation in receiving any volume of luxury he is showered upon. In Ahmedabad a collection of 17 lakhs Rs were spent to arrange a reception for him. Very recently he was part of an imperial coronation at Preston. On the one side he advocates simplicity and on the other side it is he who blesses all the luxury temples built on the name of Jesus and Christianity. It is this controversy that the general public basically questions.

      Regards

      Isaac Gomes

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