Holy Cross dismayed at BJP photo showing Catholic nun: Nagaland

[CAD]

Dimapur, June 6 (EMN): The Catholic community of Holy Cross has taken strong exception to what it alleged was the use of the church premises as well as church personnel “as a propaganda tool for political mileage.”

Fr. PJ Thomas, chairman of the Holy Cross Church Council, issued a press release on Tuesday noting a photograph showing BJP leaders and a Catholic nun.

“The Catholic community of Holy Cross Church was happy with the visit of Ms. Yogita Singh, the national secretary of BJMM, in charge of Nagaland,” the press release stated.

“But we are dismayed at the manner in which the BJP leadership of Nagaland used the occasion by using a casual photograph with a Catholic Nun in religious habit published in local dailies on 4th June 2017 for public consumption.”

The press release stated that the content of the article was on the executive meeting of the state BJMM which was held elsewhere in Dimapur.

“So we fail to understand why a photograph of this nature should be part of such a report. We feel that the state BJP has abused our hospitality to take political mileage out of it. By publishing the photograph of a nun in religious habit along with the BJP members has sent wrong signal to the Christians of Nagaland that the Catholic church of Nagaland is endorsing the policies of BJP,” the press release stated. It stated that the Catholic church is not for or against any political party.

“Therefore the Catholic community of Holy Cross take strong exception to using the church premises as well as church personnel as a propaganda tool for political mileage. So we ask the BJP or any other political party leadership in Nagaland to keep priests and nuns out of political dimension,” the press release added.

http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/holy-cross-dismayed-at-bjp-photo-showing-catholic-nun/

 

[MagicMarker]

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http://www.oneindia.com/2013/02/07/how-churches-control-election-voting-in-nagaland-1144775.html

How churches control election, voting in Nagaland

In christian dominated Nagaland, churches play a major role during election times. As Nagaland Assembly Elections 2013 is slated on Feb 23, churches have once again jumped into the election fray.

Colourful posters issued by various churches can be seen adorned across Nagaland. The posters plea both the voters and politicians to uphold their "moral values". Churches have instructed voters and candidates to abstain from feasts, immoral sexual and other acts and substance abuse.

In fact, Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), one of the most powerful christian bodies in the state has asked everyone to make Feb 23 a "clean elections". There are 1,600 churches under NBCC. This makes the NBCC the most powerful body in the state.

As the reach of NBCC is too huge, thus voters are directly or indirectly influenced by instructions issued by the religious body. "Honour individual right and freedom of choice and exercise his/her God-given wisdom to vote for God-fearing, principled and capable candidates. Abstain from indulging in election feasts, substance abuse, sexual immorality and other forms of corrupt practices which are not in tune with Christian principles," NBCC guidelines said. "It will be more of a spiritual war. We have no agenda and are supporting none. Our sole motto is to tell the truth, stand up for the truth and bring about a positive change," the church has explained.

Dr Hukashe Zhimoni, the director NBCC's development wing - the Nagaland Development Outreach (NDO), said, "We are telling the people and politicians that if you sell your vote, you sell your birthright and identity. We are going to reach out to politicians and rebel groups across the state in a week's time."

However, many feel churches should not interfere in politics. "The domination of churches is too much in Nagaland. I am a christian. But, I don't want religion to interfere with politics," said George Ao, an entrepreneur-based in Kohima.