isupportaap
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2015
- Messages
- 427
- Reaction score
- -7
- Country
- Location
KOCHI: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) is upset with the Centre for not granting visas to bishops from the Vatican.
Archbishop Arthur Roche and archbishop Portase Rugambwa were invited as speakers at a CCBI gathering in Bengaluru on 'liturgy and life.'
Roche is secretary, congregation for divine worship and discipline of the sacraments (from the Vatican) and Rugambwa is president, pontifical mission societies and adjunct secretary to the congregation for the evangelization of people.
Fr Stephen Alathara, deputy secretary general, CCBI, on Wednesday said the bishops were denied visa on technical grounds. "They were to leave the Vatican on Monday. They had applied for visa in December 2014," Alathara said.
Sources in the ministry of external affairs said the bishops did not have the Vatican passports. "All others coming as representatives of the Vatican were issued visas. The two had applied like any other passport holders. The MEA denied them visas on the advice of the home ministry," said a source.
Karnataka state home department denied any knowledge of 'blacklisting' the bishops. Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Bengaluru said there were no adverse remarks against the bishops.
Alathara said CCBI would take up the matter with the Centre. "In the backdrop of incidents like Ghar Wapsi, the denial of visas could affect India's secular status in the Vatican and in international circles."
Fr William Nellikkal of Vatican Radio told TOI from Rome that a discussion on liturgy and life is happening after 50 years. "The bishops' presence would have helped the church in India to take the discussions to the next level. Moreover, they are part of the Pope's congregation," Nellikkal said.
For the past two weeks, Nellikkal said there were discussions in the Vatican on the issuance of visas. "It could be because of the delay in the non-resident ambassador to the Vatican not taking official charge by presenting the credentials before the Holy See," he said.
TOI READERS COMMENTS : tup!d BJP government has no foresight. They have no idea of the power & influence of the Vatican on all the governments of the civilized world. They who were responsible for the fall of communism all over Europe. Don't mess with them if you want to continue with progress and development of the country.
What did they do? Even the butcher of Gujarat can go to US.
Baba Ramdev wants to Go Briton to spread Yoga & Hinuism. Its OK
Modi wants to go to US & Australia to strengthen RSS & Hinduis. Its OK.
How come Bishop not allowed to come to India to attend religious meeting???
Archbishop Arthur Roche and archbishop Portase Rugambwa were invited as speakers at a CCBI gathering in Bengaluru on 'liturgy and life.'
Roche is secretary, congregation for divine worship and discipline of the sacraments (from the Vatican) and Rugambwa is president, pontifical mission societies and adjunct secretary to the congregation for the evangelization of people.
Fr Stephen Alathara, deputy secretary general, CCBI, on Wednesday said the bishops were denied visa on technical grounds. "They were to leave the Vatican on Monday. They had applied for visa in December 2014," Alathara said.
Sources in the ministry of external affairs said the bishops did not have the Vatican passports. "All others coming as representatives of the Vatican were issued visas. The two had applied like any other passport holders. The MEA denied them visas on the advice of the home ministry," said a source.
Karnataka state home department denied any knowledge of 'blacklisting' the bishops. Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Bengaluru said there were no adverse remarks against the bishops.
Alathara said CCBI would take up the matter with the Centre. "In the backdrop of incidents like Ghar Wapsi, the denial of visas could affect India's secular status in the Vatican and in international circles."
Fr William Nellikkal of Vatican Radio told TOI from Rome that a discussion on liturgy and life is happening after 50 years. "The bishops' presence would have helped the church in India to take the discussions to the next level. Moreover, they are part of the Pope's congregation," Nellikkal said.
For the past two weeks, Nellikkal said there were discussions in the Vatican on the issuance of visas. "It could be because of the delay in the non-resident ambassador to the Vatican not taking official charge by presenting the credentials before the Holy See," he said.
TOI READERS COMMENTS : tup!d BJP government has no foresight. They have no idea of the power & influence of the Vatican on all the governments of the civilized world. They who were responsible for the fall of communism all over Europe. Don't mess with them if you want to continue with progress and development of the country.
What did they do? Even the butcher of Gujarat can go to US.
Baba Ramdev wants to Go Briton to spread Yoga & Hinuism. Its OK
Modi wants to go to US & Australia to strengthen RSS & Hinduis. Its OK.
How come Bishop not allowed to come to India to attend religious meeting???
