CHOICE IN ELECTION!!!

This election, perhaps poses the biggest challenge of choice for American Catholics. It is like being caught between the devil and the deep sea. Many Catholics, knowing that I have no voting rights in this country, asked my counsel in choosing a candidate. I would not, of course, like to propose any candidate, although I am one who followed the campaigns very closely.

On the one hand we have a candidate who calls himself a maverick, having many years of experience, fought for the country, suffered permanent injuries to his physique, and who of course, professes to be pro-life. If elected he will be the oldest first term president of the U.S. But he has picked a running mate who is totally ignorant and inexperienced of world affairs and economy, unprepared and under-prepared in case of an eventuality of assuming the office of the president and by default the leadership of the world.

On the other hand we have a candidate, who is young, energetic and vivacious, excellent in debates, creating history as the first African-American candidate, whose slogan is ‘change we can’. However, his pro-choice posture poses problems in the minds of so many Catholics. His running mate, a Catholic and tested politician, does not even know or pretends not to know when life begins in a fetus! The liberal agenda of this team makes them the untouchables for many.

Many Church leaders have appeared on the scene, calling for choosing the candidate with pro-life stand. According to them, choosing a candidate who supports abortion, which is an intrinsically evil action, is equal to bartering your salvation, inviting hell fire on you.

In this scenario, it is important to see what the issues of LIFE are. Abortion, an intrinsically evil action, nothing short of murder, of course is the most important issue here, but not the only issue. There are other killers like war, tobacco, guns, etc. which are equally lethal and dangerous. War in Iraq under the present president has not only killed millions so far, injured and maimed many more, permanently handicapped a nation, destroying its infrastructure, food supply, and financial recourses. This is done in the name of fighting Al Qaida, which is obviously non-existent in Iraq, but rooted in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan. Which candidate supports and gets campaign money from tobacco lobby which is another big killer in this country? Which candidate supports and protects the gun lobby, making deadly guns available to school children and criminals?

So where do we stand on issues of LIFE? The unborn is the most precious, yet vulnerable and innocent human being who needs our protection. But what about the millions of vulnerable, innocent and unarmed Iraqis and over 5000 US soldiers who lost their lives? Aren't they precious too? I am waiting to hear the views of the leaders of the Church on this issue. The Holy Father, of course, had spoken very strongly against Iraq war on many occasions. So if voting for abortion, which is equal to murder, is inviting judgment and hell fire, what about all those who voted four years ago for the present administration which happens to be one of the most destructive, murderous and intrinsically evil in history?

I am not in any way proposing or advising a choice between two candidates, but only posing some questions which many people have shared with me. My only advice to them is to follow your conscience in voting. Please pray, and reflect and follow your conscience and do not feel guilty for it. The voice of your conscience is the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Proclamation, Persecution and Growth

Catholic Church teaches that there is truth in every religion and we, through our missionary activity, help people first of all to live good and morally upright lives, following the tenets of their religion, which is but coming from the same God. We are also duty-bound to bring them the good news of Jesus, our only Savior. Making people accept Christ is not our job, but it is the work of the Spirit of God. If and when the Holy Spirit touches them and transforms them, they accept Jesus. Our duty is to proclaim the good news by our words and our witnessing. Persecution is part of Church's growth, as Christ himslef had told us: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours" (Jn 15:18-20).

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Not a drop of blood shed by the simple, unknown Christans, the world over, even that of the unborn victims, will go unfruitful and unproductive. Wherever there is struggle, persecution and martyrdom, Church grows in leaps and bounds as the victims demonstrate their faith in the most powerful and courageous manner and as the Holy Spirti works there in miraculous ways. Let us keep praying so that their sufferings may be reduced, that they may have the courage to bear witness to Christ, and most importantly, that we may change our own lives and become better Christians, being inspired by them.

SAINT ALPHONSA
First Woman Saint from India

Blessed Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception from Kottayam, Kerala, India, was canonized on Oct. 12, 2008 at St. Peter’s Square, by Pope Benedict XVI.

Alphonsa, who was religious of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) is the first Indian woman to be canonized.

Born to Ouseph and Mariam on 19 August 1910, in Kerala, India.
She was Baptized as Anna, but her mother died when was only three months old. She was brought up by her aunt (mother’s sister).

Followed the example of Theresa of Lisieux and dedicated her entire life to Jesus.
Joined the Franciscan Calrist Congregation in 1928. Received the name Alphonsa at her first profession. Made her perpetual commitment on 12 August 1936.

She had many physical and spiritual sufferings, considered her entire life as living holocaust to God. Each suffering she offered as a beautiful flower in the wounds of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the end of her life, she was overwhelmed with great pain and frailty of the body, but in the midst of the excruciating pain she committed her soul to the heavenly bridegroom, peacefully reciting the names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on 28 July 1946, at the age of 36.

Pope John Paul II had beatified Sister Alphonsa on February 8, 1986.

The first Indian saint is a Franciscan Brother, St Gonzalo Garcia, Born in Vasai, near Mumbai and canonized in 1862. He died a martyr’s death in 1597 at Nagasaki, Japan, along with St Paul Miki and other Jesuits.

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The other three canonized on 12 October 2008 at St. Peter’s Square are:

1. Blessed Fr. Gaetano Errico, Italian priest and founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1791-1860).

2. Blessed Maria Bernarda Butler, Swiss foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (1848-1924).

3. Blessed Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran, Ecuadorian lay woman (1833-1869)