Church Cautioned on Pope Benedict's Anti-Hindu Views

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"The wise man beholds all beings in the Self and the Self in all

beings; for that reason he does not dislike anyone." - Isa

Upanishad, 6

 

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On April 20, 2005, Navya Shastra, a global Hindu organization of

scholars, practitioners and priests, congratulated the Church for

selecting Joseph Ratzinger to be its new Pope. However, the

organization expressed concern over Ratzinger's stance towards

Hinduism.

 

Vikram Masson, a co-chairperson of Navya Shastra, wrote:

 

"Ratzinger has described Hindu meditative practices as 'auto-erotic'

and has stated that the Hindu doctrine of karma is 'morally cruel.'

Clearly he is misinformed about the central practices and tenets

which bind the world's 800 million Hindus."

 

The news release continued:

 

"At a time when religions must work together to spiritually

regenerate an increasingly secular planet, such doctrinal narrowness

and lack of understanding of other traditions will only serve a

divisive function."

 

Dr. Jaishree Gopal, is co-chairperson of Navya Shastra. She wrote:

 

"What is needed now is ecumenism and mutual trust. We hope that the

new Pope comes to understand this, because religious difference and

competition is causing mounting global conflict."

 

SOURCE: ReligiousTolerance.org

URL: http://www.religioustolerance.org/rcc_othe.htm