Don Bosco sermon on Rahul Gandhi irks Christians

Rahul Gandhi’s  first address to the AICC session on Sunday in Jaipur after being appointed Vice President of Congress may have been emotional, but it indirectly led to emotions of quite another kind among Mumbai’s Christian community on Monday.

Referring to the Nehru-Gandhi scion’s speech Father Glenford Lowe of the Don Bosco church in Matunga said in his sermon at the 6.30 am mass, “The BJP and others have criticised Rahul Gandhi’s speech. But Our Lord and Saviour too faced criticism when He first began his preachings. History shows us how Jesus’ words have prevailed.”

The 18 strong congregation at the mass seemed surprised and Matunga Labour Camp resident Peter Nandive,31  even recorded the statement. “I’d taken my new smart phone along and was shooting the ceiling and the stations of the cross when I heard father talk about Rahul Gandhi  and began focussing on  him,” he told DNA wondering, “Why should there be any talk of politics in the Lord’s House?”

When DNA spoke to Father Lowe he insisted this was not a political stand he insisted there was nothing wrong with his sermon. “Monday’s Gospel passage speaks about the need to change (“new wine, new wineskins”) and in this context, during my sermon, I used Rahul Gandhi’s acceptance speech, where he talks about a mindset change, as a mere example. There was no intention either to support , promote or downplay any political party or political leader."

He refused to comment on whether he would use a similar political  comparison in the future considering  the reaction to his sermon.

Spokesperson for the Bombay Archdiocese Father Anthony Charanghat expressed shock at what he called “a lapse of judgement,” while reacting. He underlined, “The church never supports the use of the pulpit for the furtherance of any political agenda.”

Others like Gordon Jacob of the Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) also called the sermon regrettable. “This should be condemned by the senior members of the clergy and the community should speak up so that no on ein robes will try to push a political ideology or  person.”

Jacob recounted being hounded in his Kalina  parish, Our Lady of Egypt early last year for opposing the use of Congress leader Kripashankar Singh’s photos on the arches outside the church along side the archbishop’s photos. “I was called an enemy of all Christians openly in church. “

Vice Chairman, State Minorities Commission Abraham Mathai however felt there was nothing wrong in Father Lowe’s comparison. “The comparison of the criticism against Rahul Gandhi with that of Jesus Christ being criticized during His time on earth does not in any way undermine His authority or even negate His divinity or immortality.”