91% Pakistani Christian vote against Sainthood for Shahbaz Bhatti

Image

Islamabad; March 25, 2012. (PCP) Pakistan Christian Post conducted polls on a question “Is Shahbaz Bhatti worthy to Sainthood? Vote very carefully because it’s serious issue: Tell Vatican if you know Shahbaz Bhatti personally”, in which 798 Christian voted who personally worked with Martyred Shahbaz Bhatti or knew him in person from childhood. Shahbaz Bhatti was gunned down in capital Islamabad on March 2, 2011, when he has left his home for a cabinet meeting. Shahbaz Bhatti was serving as Federal Minister for Minorities Affair in government of Pakistan. He was Chairman of All Pakistan Minorities Alliance APMA formed in 2000, while he led Christian Liberation Front CLF earlier. Pakistan Christian Congress PCC was first political party to award title of Martyr to Shahbaz Bhatti after his assassination and Pakistan Christian Post PCP took lead to publish this title which was followed by other organizations and media outlets. Shahbaz Bhatti was a Catholic Christian and owned by Catholic Church of Pakistan during his success as a federal minister in government of Pakistan. There are 75% Catholics among 20 million Pakistani Christians while Anglicans, Protestants, Presbyterians, Evangelicals and Methodists have sizeable presence also. Sainthood in Catholic Church is very unique and very valuable when a Vatican Council headed by Holy Father Pope selects leading Catholic Christians around globe on recommendations of local Catholic Bishops Conferences and scrutinize through very special process to name it as saint. In PCP polls 91% voted “No”, 7% voted “Yes” and 2% reserved their right for proposal of Sainthood for Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti. The issue of Sainthood for Shahbaz Bhatti emerged in limelight of national and international media on first anniversary celebration on March 2, 2012; when Cardinal Keith O’Brien of Scotland called for the Church to consider declaring the murdered Pakistani politician a saint. “The process of canonisation calls for a period of five years to be observed after the death of the individual, in all but a few exceptional cases. However, when that time comes I believe the Church should very seriously examine the question of whether Shahbaz Bhatti might be declared a saint” According to Eurasia Review newsletter “There is no doubt in my mind — the Church should consider declaring Shahbaz Bhatti a saint; his life should be documented,” said Father Bonnie Mendes, Caritas Asia’s former regional coordinator. Father Andrew Nisari, vicar-general of Lahore archdiocese, expressed similar views at a memorial service on Saturday jointly organized with the Protestant Church. On calls from Pakistan and abroad from section of clergy to declare Shahbaz Bhatti to be a Saint, Pakistan Christian Post PCP conducted polls that common Christian in Pakistan who knew Shahbaz Bhatti personally may have a voice which may be conveyed to Holy Father Pope Benedict and Vatican Council on any possible Sainthood process for Shahbaz Bhatti. 91% vote against Sainthood for Shahbaz Bhatti is voice of common Pakistani Christians which might be heard by Vatican. The PCP is sealing this Polls results if ever Vatican Council required for evidence.

You May Also Like

Image

HRFP-TFD Organized Event on Human Rights Documentation, Fact-Finding & Advocacy for the Marginalized-II

Faisalabad: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), in partnership with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), has initiated a project’s acti

Image

President Asif Zardari urged to protect minorities in Pakistan. Report by Khalid Shahzad

Islamabad: Asif Ali Zardari has traditionally greeted Sikh pilgrims, Hindus and other minorities on the occasion of Christmas, Holi and now Baisakh

Image

PEMRA issues show-cause notice to Geo News for broadcasting Indian content following Asha Bhosle’s death

Islamabad: (PPF) On April 12, Geo News received a show-cause notice from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for broadcasts



"Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" By Nazir S Bhatti

On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.

nazirbhattipcc@aol.com , pakistanchristianpost@yahoo.com