AUGUST 8, 2016
Cardinal Oswald Gracias: Catholics may not chant “Om”
Prakash Lasrado, a proponent of Hindu yoga, asks Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) whether Catholics may chant the Hindu mantra “Om” while doing yoga. The Cardinal informs him that we may not do so.
How do I know? Because Lasrado emailed the Cardinal’s response to his 50+ mailing list, including me.
Note that Lasrado does not ask the Cardinal if Catholics may practice yoga or not. That is because he (Lasrado) has been spewing pro-yoga emails for the past more than three years.
And because he is aware that Cardinal Oswald Gracias too endorses yoga.
See the list of articles and reports at the end of the present file.
Funny that Hindu “Om” is “not appropriate for Catholics” while Hindu yoga is institutionalized in the Indian Church!
From: Prakash Lasrado <
To and CC: As in the following email
Subject: Query for Cardinal Oswald Gracias regarding the use of the word "OM" in yoga
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2016 13:22:56 +0000 (UTC)
Rev. Cardinal Gracias,
The Oxford dictionary considers the word "OM" as a sacred mantra of Hinduism which refers to 3 Hindu deities.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/om
NOUN
A mysticsyllable, considered the mostsacredmantrainHinduismandTibetan Buddhism. It appears at thebeginningand end of mostSanskritrecitations,prayers, and texts.
Origin
Sanskrit, sometimes regarded as three sounds,a-u-m, symbolic of the three major Hindu deities.
Hence in my opinion, Christians should not say "OM" while doing yoga.
According to you, can Christians say "OM" while doing yoga?
Please reply with supporting evidence with cc to all.
On Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 11:00 AM, Archbishop Bombay <> wrote:
Dear Mr. Lasrado,
I have your email of August 2, 2016. My personal opinion is that it is not appropriate for Catholics to say OM during any service. Some argue that it expresses the inexpressible and therefore signifies God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I am not comfortable with this argument. Besides, there is the question of scandal which has to be kept in mind.
With kind regards and best wishes,
Yours sincerely in Christ,
+Oswald Cardinal Gracias
Archbishop of Bombay
From: Prakash Lasrado <>
To: Archbishop Bombay <>, <>, <>, <>, <>, Fr Conrad Saldanha <>, <>
CC: Baselios Cleemis <>, Baselios Cleemis <>, <>, Archbishop Madras <>, Catholic Bishops conference of India <>, Catholic Bishops conference of India <>, Catholic Bishops conference of India Catholic Bishops conference of India <>,
<>, <>, Agnelo Gracias <>, Sadhana Institute LNL <>, Victor Edwin SJ <>, Bishop of Vasai <>, <>, Stanislaus Fernandes <>, Archbishop Filip Neri <>, <>, Fr. Augustine Vallooran VC <>, <>, <>, Bishop Ferdie Fonseca <>, Robert Monteiro <>, Aloysius Paul D' Souza <>, Percival Fernandez <>, Telsphor P Toppo <>, <>, <>, Fr Salu Rodrigues <>, Francis Serrao <>, <>, John Baptist Saldanha <>, <>, kallarangatt Joseph <>, George Pattery S.J. <>, <>, <>, Mariojoseph <>, <>, Pronuncio <>, <>, Prashanth D'Souza <>, PRASHANT Centre <>, <>, Terence Monteiro <>, <>, <>
Subject: Thank you Cardinal Gracias for your reply regarding the word "OM"
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2016 11:12:27 +0530
Rev. Cardinal Gracias,
Thank you for clearing a major theological confusion regarding the word "OM".
Many Catholics say "OM" during yoga which is not acceptable.
I agree with you that it should not be used since it refers to Hindu deities specifically and does not refer to God Almighty.
Thank you and best wishes for replying my query promptly despite your busy schedule.
Regards, Prakash
By the way, I wonder what will happen to the one-week ultimatum (to answer the same question) given by Lasrado to Bishop Albert D’Souza of Agra (my guess is “nothing” because the email address is incorrect):
To: CC: As in the above email
On Sat, Jul 30, 2016 at 7:20 PM, Prakash Lasradorote:
Rev. Bishop Albert D'Souza,
Since you know about yoga, I would like to ask you
Can a Christian say the word "OM" while doing yoga?
Subject: Reminder: Query for Cardinal Oswald Gracias & Archbishop Albert D'Souza regarding the use of the word "OM" in yoga
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2016 06:15:18 +0000 (UTC) CC: As in the above email
Rev. Albert D'Souza, Oswald Gracias,
Kindly answer my query below with cc to all.
If you don't answer me, I will presume that I am right and that Christians cannot say "OM" while doing yoga.
As theologians you are supposed to answer queries and not remain silent.
If you are silent, it means you are incompetent.
If I were a priest or bishop I would have answered queries especially theological queries PROMPTLY.
Even as a lay Catholic, I try to answer queries from Muslims and fellow Catholics promptly.
If I needed more time, I would request the questioner for more time in order to get back to him with a proper answer.
Please answer my query by 9th Aug, 2016 (one week from now)
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS INFORMS PRAKASH LASRADO THAT HE USES YOGA TO PRAY 2 JUNE 2016
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_INFORMS_PRAKASH_LASRADO_THAT_HE_USES_YOGA_TO_PRAY.doc
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA FOR CATHOLICS 25 FEBRUARY/9 APRIL 2013
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_ENDORSES_YOGA_FOR_CATHOLICS.doc
PAPAL CANDIDATEOSWALD CARDINALGRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA 2 MARCH/9 APRIL 2013
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/PAPAL_CANDIDATE_OSWALD_CARDINAL_GRACIAS_ENDORSES_YOGA.doc
SHOULD OSWALD CARDINAL GRACIAS HAVE RESIGNED AS CARDINAL OBRIEN DID 14 MARCH 2013
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/SHOULD_OSWALD_CARDINAL_GRACIAS_HAVE_RESIGNED_AS_CARDINAL_OBRIEN_DID.doc
THE SALESIANS, OSWALD CARDINAL GRACIAS AND NEW AGE PSYCHOLOGIST CARL ROGERS MARCH 2012/APRIL 2013
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/THE_SALESIANS_OSWALD_CARDINAL_GRACIAS_AND_NEW_AGE_PSYCHOLOGIST_CARL_ROGERS.doc
HINDU RELIGIOUS MARK ON THE FOREHEAD 16-CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS WEARS APRIL 2013
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/HINDU_RELIGIOUS_MARK_ON_THE_FOREHEAD_16-CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_WEARS.doc
NEW COMMUNITY BIBLE 20-HALF-TRUTHS FROM CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS 28 JUNE 2013
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/NEW_COMMUNITY_BIBLE_20-HALF-TRUTHS_FROM_CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS.doc
NEW COMMUNITY BIBLE 27-CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS STILL IN DENIAL OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS ERRORS MARCH 2015
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/NEW_COMMUNITY_BIBLE_27-CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_STILL_IN_DENIAL_OF_RESPONSIBILITY_FOR_ITS_ERRORS.doc
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS INTERPRETS POPE FRANCIS PERSONAL REMARK ON HOMOSEXUALS AS CHURCH TEACHING 20 AUGUST 2015
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_INTERPRETS_POPE_FRANCIS_PERSONAL_REMARK_ON_HOMOSEXUALS_AS_CHURCH_TEACHING.doc
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS CHAMPIONS LGBT CAUSE AT THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY 20/22/23 OCTOBER 2015
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_CHAMPIONS_LGBT_CAUSE_AT_THE_SYNOD_ON_THE_FAMILY.doc
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS CHAMPIONS LGBT CAUSE AT HOME 4 NOVEMBER 2015
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_CHAMPIONS_LGBT_CAUSE_AT_HOME.doc
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS IS ONE OF POPE FRANCIS’ LIBERAL-MINDED PRELATES 10 APRIL 2016
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CARDINAL_OSWALD_GRACIAS_IS_ONE_OF_POPE_FRANCIS_LIBERAL-MINDED_PRELATES.doc
PRAKASH LASRADO
THE PRAKASH LASRADOS, THE JOHNSON SEQUEIRAS AND THE DOMINIC DIXONS 28 JULY 2013
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/THE_PRAKASH_LASRADOS_THE_JOHNSON_SEQUEIRAS_AND_THE_DOMINIC_DIXONS.doc
DISTORTED CRUCIFIX LITURGICAL ABUSES AT ST MARYS DUBAI-PRAKASH LASRADOS FALSE CLAIMS EXPOSED 10/12/13 NOVEMBER 2014
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/DISTORTED_CRUCIFIX_LITURGICAL_ABUSES_AT_ST_MARYS_DUBAI-PRAKASH_LASRADOS_FALSE_CLAIMS_EXPOSED.doc
INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE 03-THE FALSE KIND MARCH 2015
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/INTERRELIGIOUS_DIALOGUE_03-THE_FALSE_KIND.doc
FR JOE PEREIRA-PLANS YOGA EVENT SPARKS DEBATE 16 JUNE/23 JULY 2015
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_JOE_PEREIRA-PLANS_YOGA_EVENT_SPARKS_DEBATE.doc
PRAKASH LASRADO RECOMMENDS TO INDIAN BISHOPS THE NEW AGE YOGIC MEDITATION OF A FAKE BISHOP WHO GATECRASHED A VATICAN CONCLAVE AND PROMOTES SEX TOYS 11 AUGUST 2015
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/PRAKASH_LASRADO_RECOMMENDS_TO_INDIAN_BISHOPS_THE_NEW_AGE_YOGIC_MEDITATION_OF_A_FAKE_BISHOP_WHO_GATECRASHED_A_VATICAN_CONCLAVE_AND_PROMOTES_SEX_TOYS.doc
FR ADRIAN MASCARENHAS AND PRAKASH LASRADO YOGA ADVOCATES SHORT-LIVED HONEYMOON 11/12 AUGUST 2015
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/FR_ADRIAN_MASCARENHAS_AND_PRAKASH_LASRADO_YOGA_ADVOCATES_SHORT-LIVED_HONEYMOON.doc
CONCERNING MANTRAS AND “OM”
MANTRAS AND “OM”
CHANTING OF MANTRAS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/CHANTING_OF_MANTRAS.doc
EXORCISTS WARN AGAINST USE OF YOGA MANTRAS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/EXORCISTS_WARN_AGAINST_USE_OF_YOGA_MANTRAS.doc
MANTRAS, 'OM' OR 'AUM' AND THE GAYATRI MANTRA
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/MANTRAS_OM_OR_AUM_AND_THE_GAYATRI_MANTRA.doc
MANTRAS YOGA WCCM CHRISTIAN MEDITATION ETC-EDDIE RUSSELL
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/MANTRAS_YOGA_WCCM_CHRISTIAN_MEDITATION_ETC-EDDIE_RUSSELL.doc
ARATI IN THE LITURGY-INDIAN OR HINDU
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/ARATI_IN_THE_LITURGY-INDIAN_OR_HINDU.doc
NEW COMMUNITY BIBLE 26-RESPONSES TO REVISED EDITION NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CATHOLICS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/NEW_COMMUNITY_BIBLE_26-RESPONSES_TO_REVISED_EDITION_NOT_RECOMMENDED_FOR_CATHOLICS.doc
A SELECTION OF THE DOZENS OF FILES ON YOGA AT OUR SITE
ROME WARNS CATHOLICS ABOUT YOGA AND ZEN MEDITATION SYSTEMS
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/ROME_WARNS_CATHOLICS_ABOUT_YOGA_AND_ZEN_MEDITATION_SYSTEMS.doc
THE TRUE STORY OF A CATHOLIC VICTIM OF YOGA
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/THE_TRUE_STORY_OF_A_CATHOLIC_VICTIM_OF_YOGA.doc
TRUTH, LIES AND YOGA-ERROL FERNANDES
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TRUTH_LIES_AND_YOGA-ERROL_FERNANDES.rtf
YOGA AND CHRISTIANITY-ARE THEY COMPATIBLE?
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_AND_CHRISTIANITY-ARE_THEY_COMPATIBLE.doc
YOGA AND DELIVERANCE
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_AND_DELIVERANCE.doc
YOGA IS SATANIC-EXORCIST FR GABRIELE AMORTH
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA_IS_SATANIC-EXORCIST_FR_GABRIELE_AMORTH.doc
YOGA-BRO IGNATIUS MARY
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-BRO_IGNATIUS_MARY.doc
YOGA-ERIKA GIBELLO
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-ERIKA_GIBELLO.doc
YOGA-FR EZRA SULLIVAN
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-FR_EZRA_SULLIVAN.doc
YOGA-THE DECEPTION-FR CONRAD SALDANHA
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-THE_DECEPTION-FR_CONRAD_SALDANHA.doc
YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM SAY ABOUT IT
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-WHAT_DOES_THE_CATHOLIC_CATECHISM_SAY_ABOUT_IT.doc
YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAY ABOUT IT?
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/YOGA-WHAT_DOES_THE_CATHOLIC_CHURCH_SAY_ABOUT_IT.doc
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-21 FR. PARESH PARMAR, CATHOLIC PRIEST
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-21.doc
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-26 REV. DR. ED HIRD, ANGLICAN CHARISMATIC PASTOR
http://ephesians-511.net/docs/TESTIMONY_OF_A_FORMER_YOGI-26.doc