“The nightmare and...”

Now that the dust has hopefully settled over the much-talked-and-written-about Maloo-D’Souza navjote episode, let us look at this incident from the Church’s angle. As per the current procedure, explained to me by the parish priest of St Joseph’s Church (RC Church) in Colaba, when a Catholic wants to marry a non-Catholic the former is required to sign a written promise solemnly declaring before God and the Catholic Church that she/he will try to live, to the best of her/his ability, according to the laws and regulations of the Church.

Interestingly, she/he then makes the following solemn promise, again in writing: "I also solemnly promise before God and the Catholic Church that I shall do all in my power to have all the children God may give me, baptized and brought up in the Catholic Church. I fully realize that this is a grave obligation binding me in conscience and I willingly accept this permanent obligation. May God’s grace assist me always to keep my solemn promise.”

This solemn promise is then countersigned by the parish priest who declares: "I hereby declare that the promises made by the Catholic party and their significance have been duly brought to the knowledge of the non-Catholic party. I have ascertained that the non-Catholic party has no objection to the children being baptized and brought up as Catholics.” The priest has given me a copy of the declaration.

Ironically, it was reported in the Press that the nuns of the Church, dedicated women of the cloth, "prayed for the children of a Catholic father who were being initiated into” another faith. An act totally against the solemn promise made before "God and the Catholic Church.” Obviously, one section of the Church has condoned an act which the other section hopes to avoid.

It can be safely presumed that the Catholic party in question has gone through the process of obtaining the sanction and blessings of the Church through his parish priest. What has then, made the Catholic father, who had realized the grave and permanent obligation binding him in conscience, go against his solemn promise made before God and the Catholic Church, and allowed his children to be initiated into the Zoroastrian fold? Further, what made the non-Catholic mother change her mind after assuring the parish priest that she has "no objection to the children being baptized and brought up as Catholics?”

Was their desire intrinsically spiritual or were there any other considerations? And more importantly, has there been any concern for the spiritual well being of the two innocent children? Not having been baptized into the Roman Catholic fold they will not be Christians and having been initiated into the Zoroastrian community under such controversial circumstances will they be accepted in the community? What religion are they going to follow? And, in later years, what will happen to their children?

Cmdr MEDIOMA BHADA (Retd)

mrbhada@hotmail.com

The editors reply

The procedure for Christians varies from church to church, denomination to denomination and place to place.

• • •

Parsiana is taking sides without having any personal knowledge about matters. Merely on hearsay you have had the audacity of naming the undersigned in the disruption of the Maloo-D’Souza navjotes ("The nightmare and the navjotes,” Parsiana, May 7, 2010).

Please desist from using unpleasant phrases such as "don’t think this is Sanjan. This is Bombay” whereby we feel you mean to directly or indirectly threaten us and curb our freedom to express our feelings for our religion. You are openly championing those who are out to hurt the religious feelings and sentiments of our Zoroastrian community which is protected by the Indian Penal Code.

We expect an unconditional apology from you. Next time be very cautious not to make false and malicious accusation with names and thereby escalate matters to vicious battles.

DALI MISTRY

President, Bharatiya Minorities Suraksha Mahasang, founded by late Haji Mastan Mirza

GUSTAD IRANI

VISPI GANDEVIA

The editors reply

Parsiana merely reported the steps taken by the Maloo-D’Souza family to ensure there was no disruption at the navjote. A police complaint had been filed and the aforesaid names were mentioned. The phrase "don’t think this is Sanjan. This is Bombay” was a quote from one of the family’s well-wishers. If all parties had endeavored to respect the right of the family to perform the navjotes, no one’s religious sentiments would have been offended.