Guwahati Archbishop composes Vatican’s prayers

Guwahati: Thomas Menamparampil, Archbishop of Guwahati, has become the first Indian Bishop to write the meditations for the Way of the Cross, the Vatican’s Good Friday prayers, which the Pope Benedict XVI will use on this year’s Good Friday. Mahatma Gandhi‘s concept of Ahimsa and Bhagvad Gita’s essence of Nishkam Karma would also resonate at the Vatican during Good Friday prayers next month as the Indian Archbishop, bestowed with a rare honour by the Pope to prepare the prayers, would incorporate the two messages.

The 72-year-old Archbishop of Guwahati of Salesian Order Thomas Menamparampil has been asked by Pope Benedict XVI to prepare the meditation prayers for Way of the Cross, which the Papal Head himself will lead on Good Friday on April 10 at the Roman Colosseum.

He is the first Indian and second Asian to prepare the meditation prayers for the Way of the Cross, where ’14 stages’ of Jesus Christ are meditated upon.

Archbishop Thomas told UNI that he had incorporated in these prayers the essence of Ahimsa teachings of Gandhiji and the ideal of Nishkama Karma (selfless action and detachment in service) of the 15th century Vaishnavite saint of Assam, Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva.

Ahimsa as a concept is much deeper than non-violence, revealing fullness of its meaning in Jesus as he confronts violence with serenity and strength. Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva’s teachings of Nishkama Karma is also realised best in Jesus. There are several other Indian values like the sense of the sacred, contemplation, silence, spiritual depth, family and community loyalty, spirit of renunciation which stand out in the life of Jesus in the most edifying manner.

They are not only valid for India but also for the whole world, said the Archbishop.

Thomas, a native of Kerala, would give an Indian touch by blending the concepts of Mahatma’s ahimsa and nishkama karma in the prayers for Way of the Cross, which reflects on Christ’s journey to Mount Calvary before his crucifixion.

The Archbishop stated that he tried to choose themes that were genuinely Indian and at the same time Christian, hoping that these could inspire the world community.

Archbishop Thomas belongs to Menamparampil family of Pala, Kottayam district in Kerala. He is the eldest of the 12 children of late Cheriyath (Pappachan) and late Annama Cheriyath Menamparampil. Born on October 22, 1936, Archbishop Thomas came to the Northeast in 1961.

He studied Theology in Shillong. He became a bishop in Dibrugarh in 1981 and was installed as Bishop in Guwahati in 1992. He was appointed the Archbishop of Guwahati in 1995.

So far only two people – Cardinal Zen of Hong Kong and Archbishop of Guwahati – have been asked to compose these prayers beyond the Italian scholars. (UNI)

Source: http://www.theshillongtimes.com/

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Supreme Court rules for Catholic school over student’s beard

JABALPUR, India (UCAN) — A Catholic school in central India has won a legal battle to enforce its policies that went all the way to India’s Supreme Court.

On March 30, the country’s highest court dismissed a Muslim youth’s plea to keep his beard while attending the school. Mohammed Salim, 16, had maintained that wearing a beard was part of his religious identity.

Salim had challenged Nirmala Convent Higher Secondary School’s policy requiring male students to be clean-shaven. The school comes under Sagar diocese in Madhya Pradesh state.

Salim’s lawyer argued his client should be allowed to wear a beard because it is an indispensable part of his religious practice. The state High Court earlier ruled in the school’s favor.

The Supreme Court said the principles of secularism and freedom of religion cannot be overstretched. “We should strike a balance between rights and personal beliefs,” media reports quoted the court as saying.

It also pointed out in its judgment that the Indian Constitution allows institutions managed by minority religions such as Christianity to have their own rules and rights, which cannot be breached by any person.

School manager Father Abhilash Illimoottil said he was happy the court vindicated “our stand.” He described the verdict as “is in tune with the secular credentials of our constitution.”

The youth studied in the school from the first to ninth grades but left while a 10th-grader in 2007, after he was asked to shave his beard, according to school principal Sister Teresa Martin.

The boy then complained to the district authorities against the school regulation. When the education department rejected his plea, Salim filed a case with the High Court, which rejected his plea on Dec. 30, 2008.

Father Illimoottil said the school does not discriminate against any religion but wants to “make sure every student follows school rules and discipline.” The priest pointed out the school’s rule book “explicitly” forbids students from wearing beards. “There was nothing secret about it.”

A day before the Supreme Court verdict, Salim spoke with UCA News, saying he wished to continue in the school, provided it allowed him to wear a beard. The youth insisted this is part of his religious practice, so he cannot compromise on the matter.

His father Mohammed Saleem, a vegetable vendor, said he has no grudge against the school management and went to court because that was the only way left to assert his son’s fundamental rights. He maintained the school’s rule violates the Indian Constitution, which allows a citizen to freely profess and practice his or her religion.

Source: http://www.ucanews.com/2009/03/31/supreme-court-rules-for-catholic-school-over-students-beard/

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