Priest
admits to idol worship in churches
BANGALORE:
In a revelation that could have widespread ramifications, Father
Joseph Menengis, priest of St James Church in Mariyannapalya,
Bangalore, confessed before the Justice B K Somashekara Commission
of Inquiry on Wednesday that idol worship was being performed in
churches to attract Hindus and convert them to Christianity.
The Commission is inquiring into the recent attacks on churches in
Karnataka.
�Hindus believe in idol worship
. So to attract them to Christianity, idol worship is performed in
churches,� Menengis said.
During cross-examination, the priest said that �despite idol
worship being prohibited in Bible, we have idol worship in
churches.� �The duty of every Christian is to convert
non-Christians to Christianity by any means,� the priest told the
commission.
St James Church was attacked by miscreants on September 21,
2008.
The church is running co-education institutions, with classes from
first to eight standard.
During cross-examination the priest confessed that �no girl
students are permitted to use kumkum, bangles and wear flowers. In
our institution, we have moral science textbook.
But it does not contain texts regarding Holy Bible and Jesus,�
the priest added.
The commission has requested the priest to submit the textbook to
it.