| 8 September 2010 |
| Churches condemn objectionable depiction of Jesus |
BANGALORE, India (APEN) – An apex body of the protestant and orthodox churches has condemned the objectionable picture of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette in one hand and a beer can in another printed in a text book for primary classes.
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The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) in a press release issued by Reverend Asir Ebenezer, officiating general secretary, said that, the publication of the picture is “objectionable and hurts the sentiments of the Christians in the country.”
The NCCI, which represents 29 protestant and orthodox churches, several regional councils, related organizations and agencies, in a letter written by its Vice-President Reverend P B M Basaiawmoit, to the New Delhi-based Skyline publisher demanded that the publication be withdrawn from all over the country.
The letter also demanded an unconditional apology from the publisher through all channels of communication media in the country.
The NCCI urged the human resource development ministry and the ministry for minority affairs of the federal government to take suitable action against the publisher, including the withdrawal of the license of the publishing house, and initiating an enquiry into the background to the mischievous publication and distribution of the book entitled, “Enjoying cursive writing Part I”
“We are shocked and hurt by this act where Jesus Christ has been portrayed in a highly objectionable manner,” said Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya, where the book was distributed.
The Archbishop condemned “the total lack of respect for religions by the publisher.”
The Meghalaya government has confiscated all the copies of the book from the schools and book stores.
There were media reports of Christians in Batala in the north Indian state of Punjab protesting on 20 February against the publication of the objectionable picture of Jesus Christ, prompting authorities to clamp an indefinite curfew.
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