UK SIKHS OFFER CONDOLENCES TO THE VATICAN

[Singh_Shiromani]

UK SIKHS OFFER CONDOLENCES TO THE VATICAN

Towards the end of last week the Sikh Federation (UK), the National Council of Gurdwaras and associated Sikh organisations faxed Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope's deputy in the Vatican, saying the Pope and the one billion Roman Catholics were in their prayers. Following the Pope's death a second fax was sent offering condolences from the British Sikh community.

The first faxed letter from Bhai Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) and Daljit Singh Shergill, of the National Council of Gurdwaras said: "We are deeply saddened to learn Pope John Paul II has received the last rites, our thoughts and prayers are with the Pope and Roman Catholics throughout the world".

Both letters referred to the Pope being "a brave man who had been fighting Parkinson's Disease for nearly a decade". The letters also referred to "many being saddened by the end of one of the longest papal reigns" and the Pope living a "very full life" and learning much from his "experience of living through the Nazi occupation in World War II".

Mention was also made of the Pope's vocal support of the Sikh community over the last 20 or so years for which the Sikhs were grateful. In June 1984, referring to the Indian army assault on the Golden Temple Complex, the Pope expressed his "great sadness" of an attack on a place of worship and the "tragic death" of so many innocent pilgrims. Later the same year he expressed the "universal horror and dismay" with the anti-Sikh pogroms in November 1984. More recently the Pope had been very supportive of the "inalienable right" of Sikhs in France to practice and propagate their faith and said "no government should interfere with the inner core of any religion."

A Federation spokesman speaking to the BBC about the Pope's life contrasted his reaction and that of one billion Roman Catholics after he was shot and seriously wounded in 1981 by Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turkish fanatic; and the anti-Sikh pogroms that took the lives of over 20,000 innocent Sikhs in November 1984 after Indira Gandhi was killed by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

The Federation spokesman reminded the BBC that the new incumbent in the Vatican and other faith community leaders should remain highly vigilant of right wing Hindu fanatics. A spokesman for the Federation said "In our view right wing Hindu fanatics in India, who are being heavily financed by supporters abroad, pose one of the biggest dangers to stability and world peace, especially as the eyes of the world are focussed on Muslim extremists. Many may need reminding that right wing Hindus shamelessly described the Pope as the "Mafia Godman" when the Pope mentioned in India that "democracy means freedom of religion".

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[Singh_Shiromani]

British Sikhs pay homage to Pope John Paul II

Agence France-Presse

London, April 6, 2005|03:49 IST

The Sikh Federation of Britain paid tribute on Tuesday to Pope John Paul II, signalling its gratitude for his support of Sikhs during the past 20 years.

The pope's expression of "great sadness" at the Indian army assault on the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984, was an example of the late pope's support, the federation said in a statement.

The pontiff also voiced his "universal horror and dismay" at the massacres of up to 20,000 Sikhs in November 1984 after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

The group said contrast that bloodbath with his own reaction and that of one billion Roman Catholics after he was shot and seriously wounded in 1981 by Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turkish fanatic whom the pontiff later publicly forgave.

More recently the pope had intervened in the French debate about the wearing of religious symbols in schools saying it was an "inalienable right" of Sikhs in France to practice and propagate their faith and said "no government should interfere with the inner core of any religion."

Several Sikh organisations sent a letter to the Vatican last week saying that its faithful were praying for the pope and the Catholics of the world, the statement said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1308584,00050003.htm

Sikhs in Britain pay tribute to the pope

AFP

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

LONDON (AFP) - The Sikh Federation of Britain paid tribute yesterday to Pope John Paul II, signalling its gratitude for his support of Sikhs during the past 20 years.

The pope's expression of "great sadness" at the Indian army assault on the Golden Temple in the northern Indian city of Amritsar in 1984, was an example of the late pope's support, the federation said in a statement.

The pontiff also voiced his "universal horror and dismay" at the massacres of up to 20,000 Sikhs in November 1984 after the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

More recently the pope had intervened in the French debate about the wearing of religious symbols in schools saying it was an "inalienable right" of Sikhs in France to practise and propagate their faith and said "no government should interfere with the inner core of any religion".

Several Sikh organisations sent a letter to the Vatican last week saying that its faithful were praying for the pope and the Catholics of the world, the statement said.

[gupt_paapi]

thanx for the info veer ji keep it up

[Taksali Singh]

WJKKWJKP!

Thats wickedd...thanks to the organisations that did that seva...i was hoping that some Sikh Orgs would do something like that...recently, i've seen muslim, jews and other religions pay homage to the Pope and was hoping the Singhs would too.. Thanks Piaario for repping our true Guroo!

WJKKWJKP!

[rKr]

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/news/tm...-name_page.html

This was picked up on by a Sunday newspaper.

[*PO$H_ Da_PO$HY*]

I NEVER KNEW SIKHS WERE SO TOLERANT

BUT I DO NOW :TH:

[Guest Akaal108]

I NEVER KNEW SIKHS WERE SO TOLERANT

BUT I DO NOW  :TH:

92291[/snapback]

As people say, Don't judge book by it's cover but it's contents :e:

btw, welcome to the forum <_<

[*PO$H_ Da_PO$HY*]

LOL YEH YEH YEH TRUE SAY !!!!!

THANKZ 4 THE WELCUM

<_<

[gupt_paapi]

FATEH!

I NEVER KNEW SIKHS WERE SO TOLERANT

BUT I DO NOW

Sorry t get into detail but what made u fink sikhs were intolerable <_<

just wondering ji

FATEH!!

[*PO$H_ Da_PO$HY*]

LOL

I THINK I USED THE WRONG WORD

ANYWAYS DONT WORRY !!!