3SEPTEMBER 2013
Bishop Camillo Ballin dodges correspondence on pastoral issues
Bishop Camillo Ballin is the Apostolic Vicar of Kuwait of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. He refuses to respond to this ministry on two serious issues. The gravity of the matter is not that he did not respond to our letters but that he responds selectively,avoiding particularissues as our record shows.
The Bishop has a question and answer column in which he responds to those who write to him; these Q&As are reproduced in over a dozen of my articles and reports.
I thought that a very good thing and consequently I had a very positive opinion of the Bishop until the time that I had to contact him myself and discovered another side of him.
The two issues on which I contacted Bishop Camillo Ballin without any success are found below:
I. Bishop Camillo Ballin's support for the Dominic Dixon/MoreLove-Aneel Aranha/HolySpiritInteractive ministry combine.
I reproduce here an extract from
“Dom [Dominic Dixon] has authored two major books on Psychology and Sociology. "The Beautiful Christian Mind", approved by Vatican officials*and released by Archbishop Bernard Moras, Bangalore Archdiocese & "I'm a Teenager, pls understand me" and has produced an Audio Album on his series "Purpose of Life's Events" and a book on Christian character titled, "Living for the Audience of One", endorsed by Archbishop Ignatius Pinto, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore and released by BishopCamillo Ballin, Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait.”
This ministry wrote to Bishop Camillo Ballin without any result:
From:Michael PrabhuTo: ; ;
Cc:Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2013 1:45 PM
Subject:REPORT ON MR. ANEEL ARANHA/HOLYSPIRITINTERACTIVE AND MR. DOMINIC DIXON/MORELOVE MINISTRIES{sent to the Bishop onministry masthead. No response was received}
Kind Attention:
Most Rev. Camillo Ballin, MCCJ,
Vicar ApostolicofKuwait
Dear Bishop Camillo Ballin,
My name is Michael Prabhu andI am a Catholic apologist who operates an Internetministry from Chennai, India.
At the request of a very senior leader of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal from Mumbai, and later from the Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies [PMS], Bangalore, India, I initiated an inquiry into theHolySpiritInteractive/MoreLove ministry combinewhich developed into a report that I submitted to Fr. Faustine Lobo, Director, PMS.
When its contents became public, this ministry and its associates were deluged with intimidatorythreats at our homes and our workplaces. These intimidations came from Mr. Dominic Dixon of Bangalore, whose MoreLove ministry is integrated with that of Mr. Aneel Aranha of HolySpiritInteractive.
Accordingly, I sent a copy of the report to the Archbishop of Bangalore.
Since the Vicar Apostolic of Southern Arabia has "officially recognized Holy Spirit Interactive (HSI) as an Association of Faith and Outreach of the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia", as per the HSI web site, I am now writing to you.
The updated [as of today] report is attached herewith for your perusal. You might want to read the letter thatI received yesterday from Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, concerning Mr. Aneel Aranha.
A terse response to this reportreceived earlier today from Mr. Aneel Aranhamay be also found towards the end of the report.
The title and link to the report at this ministry's web site are
MORELOVE-HOLYSPIRITINTERACTIVE-SOUL TIES AND ETHOS INSTITUTE
Yours obediently, Michael Prabhu
Copy to:Fr. Antony Lopez, OFM Cap., Chancellor
*Dominic Dixon's claim that his book was "approved by Vatican officials" is an absolute lie as exposed by us in the following reports:
DOMINIC DIXON AND MORELOVE-MORE UNHOLINESS
HOLYSPIRITINTERACTIVE ANEEL ARANHA AND NEW AGE
HOLYSPIRITINTERACTIVE-WARNING ALERT ISSUED BY CATHOLICCULTURE.ORG
THE PRAKASH LASRADOS, THE JOHNSON SEQUEIRAS AND THE DOMINIC DIXONS
II. Bishop Camillo Ballin's unsteady position on yoga which is a Hindu meditation that Catholics are warned against in two Vatican documents as well as in the Youth Catechism [YouCat]:
One Prakash Lasrado writes to Bishop Camillo Ballin who responds to him. On receiving copies of the exchange of letters, I write to the Bishop. The contents of the relevant emails are reproduced below:
On 3 July 2013 20:08, prakash lasrado> wrote:
Rev. Bishop Camillo,
Reiki as an alternative therapy has been banned by the USCCB below officially.
Is there an official ban by the Catholic church on Christian yoga?
If it is banned, please email me the concerned document.Regards,Prakash
From:prakash lasradoTo:around 100 recipients including Cardinals and BishopsSent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 8:56 PM
Subject:Bishop Camillo says Christian yoga OK
------Forwarded message ------
From:Bishop CamilloDate: Wed, Jul 3, 2013 at 11:44 PM
Subject: Re: Query on whether Christian yoga is acceptable or not?To: prakash lasrado <
As far as I know, the Christian yoga is not banned.
+ Camillo Ballin
Bishop Camillo Ballin, mccj
Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia
(Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia)
Bishop's House
P. O. Box 25362
Road 4603, House 137 / 125
Block 946
AWALI (Bahrain)
(+973) 3950-4488 (Mobile Bahrain)
(+973) 1749-0929 (Bishop's Fax and Land Line)
(+965) 9711-9772 (Mobile Kuwait)
(+965) 2242-0297 (Bishop's Fax Kuwait)
(+966) 53 651-3330 (Mobile Saudi Arabia)
(+974) 5580-0907 (Mobile Qatar)
(+39) 333935-1972 (Mobile Italy)
Website:
From:Michael PrabhuTo: ; ;
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 12:42 AM Subject: "CHRISTIAN YOGA"?
Dear Bishop Camillo Ballin,
I am a Catholic apologist and a long-time crusader against New Age. My researchreports and articles arewelcomed worldwide, including by some EWTN preachers and by prayer group leaders and priests in your Vicariate.
Yoga, and especially "Christian yoga", is one of the issues that I expose as spiritually dangerous for Catholics. "Christian yoga", in my opinion, is an oxymoron.
I have published almost one thousand pages of information on yoga, inaround three score reports, articles and testimonies of former yoga exponents,much of itcollated from reputed Catholic sources globally. I ampresently about half-way through another such [approximately] 500-page compilation of information to be published in a couple of weeks.
Mr. Lasrado has been writing to bishops around the world, hoping to find someone who will endorse his stand, which you did. Now he has circulated your response to the Church hierarchy in India.
Bishop Julian Porteous of Sydney, an exorcist,wrote in fair detail toLasrado, saying"I have had to deal with people who have got deeply involved with Yoga and have come under demonic affliction...
I advise people to develop forms of prayer that have been part of the Catholic tradition. This is the safer way."
Lasrado has been able to now emphasise to his mailing listthat the "Clergy is heavily divided on this issue".
The Vatican Documents of October 15, 1989 ["Letter the Bishops..."]and February 3, 2003["...on New Age"] say enough both explicitly and implicitly about the spiritual pitfalls of Christians' practising yogic and otherEasternmeditations and Christian prayer systems based on their philosophies. The YouCat -- a catechism -- condemns yoga.
Several Bishops' Conferences, a couple of Theological Commissions, and not a few exorcists have pronounced scathing condemnations on yoga/"Christian yoga".
Any discussion that addresses "Christian yoga" needs to be accompanied by so many caveats that the discerning and faithfulCatholic will know exactly what to do: avoid yoga.
Your single-line response to Lasrado can be interpreted to mean many things.
People like Lasrado are looking for that little excuse to practise yoga, and there is no one and no definitive Catholic guidance easily available to teach them the nuances of this grave issue that involves spirit, soul and body [I Thessalonians 5:23, I Timothy 4: 7, 8 NAB] or toseparate fact from fiction.
The IndianChurch has largelymetamorphosed intoa HinduizedChurch that has virtually institutionalized yoga.
I have had great confidence in your lucid Internet responses to Catholics over the years and I have used them in my ministry to teach apologetics while fighting error.
I request you to review the statement that you gave Lasrado as it, along with any clarifications that you may add,will be an important inclusion in the to-be-released compilation that I have half-completed.
If it will help you in any way, I could provide you with the three dozen documents that I have already published.
Yours obediently,
Michael Prabhu
From:prakash lasrado
To:NEARLY ONE HUNDRED+ ADDRESSEES INCLUDING CARDINALS, BISHOPS, CBCI OFFICES
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 8:56 PM
Subject:Bishop Camillo says Christian yoga OK
------Forwarded message ------
From:Bishop CamilloDate: Wed, Jul 3, 2013 at 11:44 PM
Subject: Re: Query on whether Christian yoga is acceptable or not?
To: prakash lasrado <
As far as I know, the Christian yoga is not banned.
+ Camillo Ballin
From:Bishop CamilloTo:Prakash Lasrado ; prakash lasradoSent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 12:50 AM
Subject: Christian Yoga
Dear Mr. Lasrado,
A deeper reflection on Christian Yoga made me to revise my opinion on that subject. Until I don't reach a more clear stand to be taken, please, don't circulate my answer to your question about Christian yoga. It was just a personal answer to you only.
Thanks.
+ Camillo Ballin
From:Michael PrabhuTo:Bishop CamilloSent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 2:54 AM Subject: Re: Christian Yoga
Dear Bishop Camillo,
I thank you very much for your prompt pastoral response to Mr. Lasrado under bcc to me, and I find it heartening to know that there are bishops like you working on in the late hours of the night for the good of souls. Also, it takes a great man to do what you just did.
I would appreciate it very much if you would please communicate to me your final verdict.
If there is any way I can contribute, kindly let me know.
God bless you and your Vicariate.
At your service in Jesus' Name,
Michael
From:prakash lasradoTo:around 100 recipientsSent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 10:14 AM
Subject:Bishop Camillo needs time to rethink about Christian yoga. No firm stand yet.
------Forwarded message ------
From:Bishop CamilloDate: Tue, Jul 16, 2013 at 12:20 PMSubject: Christian Yoga
To: Prakash Lasrado <>, prakash lasrado <
Dear Mr. Lasrado,
A deeper reflection on Christian Yoga made me to revise my opinion on that subject. Until I don't reach a more clear stand to be taken, please, don't circulate my answer to your question about Christian yoga. It was just a personal answer to you only.
Thanks.
+ Camillo Ballin
Bishop Camillo Ballin, mccj
Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia
From:Michael PrabhuTo: ; ; Bishop Camillo
Sent: Friday, July 19, 2013 9:35 AM
Subject: Fw: Bishop Camillo needs time to rethink about Christian yoga. No firm stand yet.
Dear Bishop Camillo Ballin,
With reference to your letter to him under Bcc to me, despite your request not to, Prakash Lasrado emailed your reply to his entirelist.
Yours obediently,
Michael
----- Original Message ----- From:prakash lasrado
To:Michael Dsouza ; zezie sodder ; rcanjo sodder ; prabhu ; Christian Reforms ; Cardinal Oswald Gracious(Private) ; Archbishop Oswald Gracias PVT ; Adv.Arthur Dmello ; adv.charmaine ; Catholic Bishops conference of India ; ; agnelo fernandes ; Pronuncio ; ; Archbishop Filip Neri ; ; Bishop Agnelo Gracias ; ; Percival Fernandez ; Galen Bowen ; Bishop Ferdie Fonseca ; Aloysius Paul D' Souza ; ; ; Ronnie Prabhu ; ; ; Fr Clement de Lima ; csf post ; ; ; ; ; Editor ; ; ; Ryan Anthony Fernandes ; ; Fr Adrian ; Fr Tony Mendonca ; Reuben Tellis ; Vincy ; cynthia H west ; Fr Rui Comelo ; ; ; Nobby & Claire ; leona martin ; Fr Ralph Fernandes ; Bishop of Pune ; ; Bishop of Vasai ; ; ; Prashanth D'Souza ; John Baptist Saldanha ; fergus misquitta ; Justice Cell Goregaon ; ; Fr Warner Dsouza ; Fr Salu Rodrigues ; president bcs ; ; ; ; Audry Pinto ; Lucy Dsa ; Andrea Gonsalves ; ; ; ; John Rumao ; Catholic Bishops conference of India ; ; ; John Sequeira ; ; Fr Michael Goveas ; FR Vernon ; Marcus ; ; ; Francis Serrao ; walter monteiro ; Terence Monteiro ; Robert Monteiro ;
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 10:14 AM
Subject: Bishop Camillo needs time to rethink about Christian yoga. No firm stand yet.
From:Bishop CamilloTo:Prakash Lasrado ; prakash lasradoSent: Friday, July 19, 2013 10:51 AM
Subject: My letter
Dear Mr. Lasrado,
I noticed that you continue to spread to many people my answer to you on Christian yoga. I wrote to you to stop to send my answer because I am revising my stand on this matter. I cannot understand why you continue in your campaign in spite of my prohibition. Please, stop before I take other steps against you.
+ Camillo Ballin
From:Bishop CamilloTo:Michael PrabhuSent: Friday, July 19, 2013 10:55 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: Bishop Camillo needs time to rethink about Christian yoga. No firm stand yet.
Dear Mr. Michael,
Thanks for your e-mail. You should have received copy of my new prohibition to Mr. Lasrado. How to stop him? Let me know.
Thanks.
+ Camillo
From:Michael PrabhuTo:Bishop CamilloSent: Monday, July 22, 2013 7:01 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Bishop Camillo needs time to rethink about Christian yoga. No firm stand yet.
Dear Bishop Camillo,
Thank you for your two emails.
Mr. Lasrado respects no one. He has me on two mailing lists and refuses to take me off. I have received over 1,000 emails from him, mostly all rubbish, since the first week of May. He slanders, falsely accuses, intimidatesand threatens those who want off.
He doesn't know that I have figured out that his real name is Mario Goveia [and that Prakash Lasrado and possibly John Fernandes [are his aliases for eliciting information that he uses. He is an Internet predator and stalker. Maybe you could tryreporting himto the Cardinal Archbishop of Bombay, Oswald Gracias [;; and to the Apostolic Nuncio to India[. I cannot think of anything else.
He has removed the names of about twenty-odd people at their requests, but he is selective and whimsical. He refuses others, and yet demands [see below, reproduced letter no.IV] that others remove HIS name fromtheir blogs.
On July 9, heinforms all thathe is quitting his emailing all, but you can see from his circulation of your emailsthat he did not.
Incidentally, I have only writtenMr. LasradoONE single email ever, a private one, in early May, requesting him to remove my name/address but he did not, although he copied my letter to 120 people in the group and said he would do so "subsequently".
For you to understand this person, I copy below a few selected exchanges with others wherein you see Prakash/Mario refusing to remove people's names from his list [he doesn't get their permission to do so], and the way he answers their requests.
You are free to use any or all of the information that I have given you.
Yours obediently,Michael […]
From:Bishop CamilloTo:Michael PrabhuSent: Monday, July 22, 2013 7:58 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Bishop Camillo needs time to rethink about Christian yoga. No firm stand yet.
Dear Mr.Michael,
Thanks for your e-mail. Pradash wrote to me that from now he will address his questions to Bishops who are more open than I. I thanked God. NeverI will answer to him again.
God bless you.
+ Camillo
With the Prakash Lasrado issue settled, I wrote to Bishop Camillo Ballin on his stand on yoga:
From:Michael PrabhuTo:Bishop CamilloSent: Monday, July 22, 2013 8:44 PM Subject: YOGA
Dear Bishop Camillo,
This is a topic on which I cannot be brief but I shall try. I draw your kind attention to my letter to you of Wednesday, July 17, 2013*.*See page 2
It is my humble but properly informed opinion that your responses to Evelyn, Rickstove and Suzanne** are not completely informed and misleading because the issue of yoga is very complex. **See the following page
Yoga IS a meditation. Period.
"Christian" yoga is an oxymoron. It's like saying "Christian" Hinduism.
There is NO yoga without Hinduism. The postures of yoga, the asanas,are inseparable from their Hindu religious elements.
I can give you a hundred different objections to the practice of asanas, the breathing exercises which is pranayama [the movement of monistic universal energyprana and not air!]AND the meditation itself in parts or as a whole.
Christian meditation is neither yogic meditation nor Zen Buddhist meditation, nor is it "Centering Prayer"orthe "Christian" Meditation of Dom Main. I have been researching/studying, writing and speaking on these subjects for almost fifteen years. Full time.
What you can safelyrecommend is for Catholics to restrict themselves to aerobics, dancing, stretching or to ex-yogi/New Ager Laurette Willis' PraiseMoves.
True Christian meditationis learned from Psalm 119.
Theemphasis on and importance of the body of man must be considered in the wholistic exhortations of St. Paul in I Thessalonians 5:23 [spirit, soul and body -- in that order -- and I believe that God meant it that way for us] and I Timothy 4:7, 8.
The use of theterm "yoga" must be studiously avoided by Catholics. And there is very good reason for that. Regular practising of deep breathing and physical workouts will inevitably result in better metabolism, muscle-tone, blood-circulation,health and vitality, yoga or no yoga. The problem starts in many cases when, having called it "yoga", the adept attributes the improvements to YOGA.
From thereon, it is a tiny slide into the person's deeperinvolvement in the religious/spiritual/occult aspects of yoga if that person has not already been compromised! The compromised individual becomes a mobile advertisement for yoga to other Catholics.
My Catholic talk on yoga varies from 60 to 120 minutes, there's so much to say.
And I have informed you already that I have published more than three score separate reports, articles and testimonies on yoga alone, while the latest compilation is nearing 500 pages with no end in sight. So it has been difficult for me to be briefer than this.
Thank you for being patient with me.
I am attaching six of my shortest documents for your perusal:
YOGA-SUMMARY
YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM SAY ABOUT IT
YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAY ABOUT IT?
YOGA IS SATANIC-EXORCIST FR GABRIELE AMORTH
TRUTH, LIES AND YOGA-ERROL FERNANDES
WAS JESUS A YOGI? SYNCRETISM AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE-ERROL FERNANDES
Yours obediently,
Michael
YOUR QUESTIONS: ANSWERED BY THE BISHOP
Question:I have been invited by friends to join them in a weekly Yoga program. While some priests have told me its perfectly fine to do yoga, some others have informed me it is not accepted by the Catholic Church. Please could you clarify what is the stand of the Catholic Church on this and whether its alright for us catholic to participate in yoga classes. This is an issue affecting the minds of many young Catholics nowadays. Please Clarify.-Evelyn