Thank you
Pharyngula for once again keeping us all informed when it is time to speak up
and let our voices be heard. The Catholic Church is up to its bullying again,
not that I can say that I’m surprised. The stream of crap that’s coming from
the Vatican
is never-ceasing, and now we can add this little nugget to the mess
Sanal Edamaruku, President of the Indian Rationalist Association, has
for decades been a tireless campaigner for science and against superstition. He
is widely known for his exposure of the tricks used by self-professed ‘God-Men’
and gurus and has often been on Indian television explaining the everyday
science behind supposed miracles.
After one such exposure – he pointed out that the “blood” oozing from a
statue of Christ at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Velan kanni in Vile
Parle, Mumbai was in fact water from a leaky pipe – the Catholic Church of
Mumbai made a formal complaint about him to the Mumbai police. He stands
accused of “deliberately hurting religious feelings and attempting malicious
acts intended to outrage the religious sentiments of any class or community”,
an offence under Section 295(a) of the Indian Penal Code. No arrest warrant has
been issued but the case is "cognisable" meaning the police can
arrest without warrant at any time. He is being harassed daily by the Mumbai
authorities who, under pressure from Catholic groups, are insisting that he
turn himself in. His petition for “anticipatory bail” was turned down on 3 June
2012 on the bizarre grounds that he would be safer in custody. If he is
arrested he will therefore most likely be detained in jail until court
proceedings are concluded, which could take several years. Fearing arrest, he
dares not stay long at home or work.
Sign the petition, and do not let the self-righteous robed bullying cowards to get away
with this anymore.
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