Inside This Newsletter

HAF CAUTIOUS ON ELECTION OF CARDINAL RATZINGER TO POPE BENEDICT XV

HAF MEETS RELIGIOUS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN SRI LANKA

HAF HINDU AWARENESS CAMPAIGN REACHES NEW YORK, ORLANDO, AND TAMPA
 

The Hindu American Foundation recognizes and celebrates Ramnavami (April 18), Hari (Swaminarayan) Jayanti (April 18), Mahavir Jayanti (April 22) and Hanuman Jayanti (April 24). Greetings, blessings and best wishes from HAF on these auspicious occasions!

HAF Cautious on Election of Cardinal Ratzinger to Pope Benedict XV

Date: April 21, 2005
Location: Tampa, Florida, U. S. A.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) (www.hinduamericanfoundation.org) greeted the election of Cardinal Ratzinger to the papacy with a degree of caution and concern. While HAF congratulated the Roman Catholic Church on electing a new leader, many members expressed apprehension over some of the most influential and widely quoted statements given by Cardinal Ratzinger prior to his papal election.

As head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger was the primary impetus behind the Vatican document Dominus Jesus, released in 2000. This document is uncompromising in its declaration of the Roman Catholic religion as the only true path to salvation and describes other religions, including other Christian denominations, as “gravely deficient” and misguided pursuits.

HAF noted with strong concern that the authors of Dominus Jesus called for a new evangelism while disparaging pluralism as "indifferentism" and "relativism." In a widely quoted interview given in 1997, it was Cardinal Ratzinger who outraged many people when he denigrated Hinduism as a religion of “false hope” that guaranteed salvation based on a “morally cruel” concept of reincarnation resembling a “continuous circle of hell” and Buddhism as “autoerotic spirituality.”

“While we felicitate Pope Benedict XVI as he assumes the leadership of Roman Catholics throughout the world,” said Mihir Meghani, M.D., President of HAF, “We sincerely hope that the pope will reconsider his prior unfortunate reflections on other faiths that are followed by billions throughout the world, specifically his unequivocal rejection of religious pluralism—a concept central to the Hindu ethos.”

The new Pope Benedict XVI was a close confidant of the late Pope John Paul II. HAF members were hopeful, that though Pope John Paul II had issued an unfortunate call for the “harvest of souls” to Christianity in India in 1999, the new pope would further the spirit of Pope John Paul II’s statement in Colombo, Sri Lanka on January 21, 1995: “Interreligious dialogue is a precious means by which the followers of the various religions discover shared points of contact in the spiritual life, while acknowledging the differences which exist between them. The church respects the freedom of individuals to seek the truth and to embrace it according to the dictates of conscience, and in this light she firmly rejects proselytism and the use of unethical means to gain conversions.”

HAF called on the new papacy to consider seriously the global repercussions that occur when religious institutions exert claims of an exclusive hold on truth. “Much conflict and suffering results when religious leaders or traditions claim a monopoly on Truth while denigrating other faiths,” said Pawan Deshpande, member of the HAF Executive Council. “It is difficult to uphold world peace and the brotherhood of all human beings if our religions divide us into hostile camps of believers and non-believers. As Hindus, we ask that Pope Benedict XVI lead his Church to an enduring relationship with Hinduism predicated on mutual respect and the precepts of understanding, tolerance and pluralism.”

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF Meets Religious and Community Leaders in Sri Lanka

Members of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Board of Directors met with Hindu and Buddhist leaders in the months following the December 26, 2004 tsunami that devastated the country.  The HAF leadership heard concerns from Hindu and Buddhist leaders over tsunami relief from non-governmental organizations being tied to affected victims converting to Christianity.  In a groundbreaking new project, HAF also announced that it would look into the flow of money for tsunami relief to investigate claims that a disproportionate amount of money was being utilized by non-pluralist groups.

HAF leaders heard additional concerns from Hindu and Buddhist leaders about the lack of unity among Indic religions, and the need for pluralistic traditions to join together against exclusive ideologies that threatened the tolerant and pluralistic nature of Sri Lankan society.  The Sri Lankan spiritual leadership felt that a law was needed to protect Sri Lankans from fraudulent and coerced conversions, much like what was in place in some states of India, such as Gujarat, and hoped that the proposed “Freedom of Religion Act” would pass.

Finally, HAF leaders expressed hope that peace would prevail so that the country could start rebuilding its economy and work to preserve the great pluralistic spiritual traditions that have been present.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF Hindu Awareness Campaign Reaches New York, Orlando, and Tampa

NEW YORK

HAF invites you to the Hindu American Foundation’s Hindu Awareness Campaign presentation in New York!  From May 21-22 in New York, you will have the opportunity to meet with HAF leaders from across the country and other supporters in our community, learn about HAF's achievements and plans, and find out how you can be a part of HAF.

Date: Saturday, May 21, 2005
Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Location: The Hindu Temple Society of North America, 45-57 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11355.  Phone: (718) 460-8484.  Web: http://www.nyganeshtemple.org/.  Please RSVP by May 15 by contacting HAF.

Date: Sunday, May 22, 2005
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, 86-06 101st Ave, Queens, NY 11416.  This is in Ozone Park.  Phone: 718-843-0542.  You must register by May 15 with Pandita Indrani at i_rampersad@yahoo.com or 718-529-3966, Ramesh Kalicharran at 718-291-9090, Pandit Prakash Gossai at 718-843-0542, or Dr. Tara Singh 718-849-0289 or by contacting HAF. 

ORLANDO

HAF’s 1^st Hindu Awareness Campaign presentation in Orlando, Florida was held on April 17, 2005, and was hosted by Braham Aggarwal.  To a highly receptive and professional audience, HAF’s Legal Counsel Suhag Shukla, BOD Member Dr. Aseem Shukla, and President Dr. Mihir Meghani highlighted the achievements and plans of HAF.

Explaining the problems facing the community and the challenges ahead, HAF leaders explained the strategic role HAF is playing by serving the community as a voice for Hindu Americans in dealing with the government, media, academia, and other organizations.  In its two short years of existence, HAF, led by a talented and dedicated professional team, has been able to get Hindu issues heard in national American and ethnic Indian media, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court, and national organizations representing other communities.

HAF’s Orlando Hindu Awareness Campaign included a meeting with faculty of the Hindu University of America and an address to the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir sabha (congregation) about HAF.

TAMPA

On Saturday, April 23, 2005, the Hindu American Foundation conducted a Hindu Awareness Campaign program at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple located in Tampa, Florida.  HAF’s outreach occurred during BAPS’ Mahila Mandal (Ladies Wing) program, which was attended by approximately 100 devotees.  This Mahila Mandal program opened with plays and discourse about Lord Ramachandra’s birth and Lord Swaminarayan’s life.  Thereafter,  Hindu American Foundation representative Adeeti N. Joshi, of Tampa, opened by thanking the Mahila Mandal for the opportunity to speak and the BAPS organization for its continuing support of HAF.  In so doing, Ms. Joshi informed the devotees that HAF has met with and received the auspicious blessings of Shri Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Dr. Swami, and Brahmavihari Swami.  She also explained that HAF has had an important, mutually beneficial relationship with BAPS since HAF’s launch in 2003, beginning with HAF’s strategic assistance in obtaining final approval for the BAPS’ temple in Chino Hills, California.

During the outreach program, Ms. Joshi discussed HAF’s mission and its many ground-breaking accomplishments on behalf of Hindu Americans and invited financial and human resource support from the devotees and the local community.  Ms. Joshi mentioned that two of HAF’s leaders have Tampa roots, including HAF BOD member Nikhil Joshi and HAF Executive Council member Rajan Patel, and that the local community should be proud that a progressive, pro-Hindu organization is based in Tampa. 

In an attempt to actively engage the youth, Ms. Joshi specifically highlighted HAF’s Summer Internship Program to the many high school and college-aged students present.  At the end, HAF’s outreach was greeted with enthusiastic applause. Many in the audience voiced support for HAF’s mission and were interested in learning more about HAF’s efforts and programs.  Jaishree Patel, head of the Tampa Mahila Mandal expressed gratitude for HAF’s work and issued an invitation to HAF to speak at the temple again in front of the full devotional body.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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