austraLasia 1424

Civil and Religious leaders discuss how to bring better harmony to Pakistan

LAHORE: 2nd February 2006 -- Religious tolerance in Pakistan is an evil to monitor and eradicate, according to religious leaders who gathered in Lahore for a recent seminar organised by the 'Commission for Peace and Human Development'.  Prominent speakers were the Muslim leader Abdul Khabir Azad, from Lahore and Archbishop Lawrence Saldhana of the same city.  The leaders agreed that they share common responsibility for identifying causes and remedies for the phenomenon of religious intolerance which exists at many levels in Pakastani society. 
    Our own Salesians, few in number but responsible for the education of many hundreds of Pakistani youngsters, agree wholeheartedly with movements of this kind to promote peace and harmony.  Only last week a prominent past pupil, a young Catholic, was arrested by intelligence forces and eventually accused by police of 'snatching a car' - but he doesn't drive!  Some quick footwork by the local Salesian school principal and an explanation that this just couldn't be, the lad had graduated with honours last year, was the best young man in the school and was about to return to take up a position teaching welding had due effect and the young man was immediately released to do just that, and in time to celebrate Don Bosco's Feast day as well.  It gave the opportunity of the Salesian concerned to tell the boys the following morning that 'you are not alone.  Thousands of Salesians around the world all love you'.
    It is but one more example of religious intolerance.  At the Lahore meeting, the Muslim leader quoted above said that Islam has the duty of pluralism, dialogue and mutual respect for other religions.  He pointed out that when Muslim fanatics attacked Christian communities in Sangra Hill last year, Islamic leaders were amongst the first to visit the communities and urge others to act responsibly.  That's all very fine.
    In view of positive action, the Salesian community in Pakistan stands tall.  Fr Miguel reports recently that in publishing the contributions of the Christian community to earthquake victims, the Salesians of Don Bosco are prominent on the list, with the help of donors and benefactors from all over the world, and the close cooperation of other religious communities and the hierarchy in Pakistan.  20 tonnes of food and clothing are being distributed monthly by Don Bosco in Pakistan, and the first 70 homes for about a thousand people have been approved and construction has begun.  It will be May or June before they are all completed.  The process has been long and hard. As we write, Fr Miguel travels to Islamabad to pick up 4 tonnes of food donated by the Spanish soldiers who are leaving the country.  Next weekend Fr Julio comes down from Quetta to accompany the fourth expedition into the mountains with 3 trucks worth of relief aid.

Footnote to question raised in #1422 re the 'Christian Nestorian flag' in Sri Lanka: a correspondent has this to say, as yet unverified but probably true: "I am told that it is the ecclesiastical flag adopted by the Church in Sri Lanka. It has the yellow and white colours of the Vatican flag with a Nestorian Cross on it. The Nestorian Cross is believed to have been found in a Buddhist monastery in Anuradhapura, an ancient Buddhist centre in Sri Lanka, and testifies to the presence of Christianity in the Island from near apostolic times. Hence, its inclusion in the ecclesiastical flag".  And what exactly is the Nestorian Cross?  This early Christian group, recall, had separated the two natures in Christ. Their representation of the cross - it is not a crucifix - highlights the glory of the Risen Lord rather than the suffering man.  It is of wider interest to austraLasia readers because the historical evidence is clear that it was Nestorians who first brought Christianity to China.  Marco Polo already found Christian churches there.  The famous 'Nestorian stone' has since been found attesting Christianity of that variety in China as far back as the 7th century
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