Catholics demand play ‘Agnes of God’ be withheld

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Sep 29, 2015:  Prominent Christian organisations raised strong objections to scheduled staging of a play ‘Agnes of God’ on grounds that it mocks God and hurts religious sentiments of the community and out side.

The play, directed by Kaizaad Kotwal with the lead role played by Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, will premiere on October 4 at Mumbai’s Sophia Bhabha Auditorium.  The posters of the play mentions how “Agnes, a young nun, gives birth and insists that the child was the result of an immaculate conception” and poses the question – “Do you believe in miracles?”  Martha Livingstone, a psychiatrist, and the head of the Roman Catholic convent Mother Superior Miriam clash during the resulting investigations of the incident said to be based on a true story in which reason and faith are at loggerheads.

Dias said the play by John Pielmeier — which was later adapted into a film in 1985 starring Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly — is expected to have multiple shows in Mumbai, and later across India and abroad.

“Miracles are believed to be unexplainable phenomena bordering on divine concept in all religions. So why mock religion, which helps the majority of the people and why target the Christian community. Even if it is based on a true story, there are similar exceptions in other religions, too, but the Christian clergy is being picked out for the insult.

Dias contended that something like this happening to some ‘maulvi’ or ‘muni’ or the women clergy of any other religion would not have been tolerated and would have led to violent reactions.  The law of the land must take its course and apply to all citizens equally. We demand that police should stop the staging of this play immediately and book the director and actors for hurting religious sentiments of the Christians.  The CSF, a Mumbai-based NGO, has in the past protested successfully against movies lampooning Christians and also lodged complaints against individual for hurting religious sentiments.  In a further official FIR said to be filed  it is pointed that :

Serious Cognizable Criminal Issues, Conspiracy & Relations Involved :  

 1. Hurting religious sentiments. The fact that the Catholic faith and nuns (sisters) sexual relationships are controversially portrayed to the public hurts religious sentiments - of a religion that all nations in the world admire.

2. India is religiously sensitive & Christians are persecuted.  A 2015 WIN/Gallup survey found that India has by far the highest population of intensely religious people on earth, with 80 percent of Indians – between 960 million and 1 billion people – describing religion as “very important” in daily life. Christians are persecuted and such a portrayal of nuns, the clergy or members will only be used ammunition against the community and make the situation worse.   3. Discrimination against the Christian minority, needing protection.

If a Muni / Sadhvi / Maulana or any other clergy or religion is involved, there would be violent reactions. Hence, the police / government stops such provocation, but discriminates when it comes to Christians, because though in the world, the community is very large, in India, its a micro-minority. Further, there is no fear by the criminals, as they can be sure of no retaliation. The police / authorities adopt double standards by allowing such plays / films against the Christian religion and peaceful community.

4. Other religions too have "True Stories" which should be allowed?
A few exceptions of religious god-men & women from other faith too exist. Will clergy / female religious of other religions too be allowed to be shown as such next? If all religions are equally respected, why is the government / authorities found lacking when it comes to Christianity but objective material against other religions or the sexcapades of other faiths are not allowed. The laws that exist must be applied and Christians treated as equal citizens.

5. Disturbing social harmony & pubic order in a communally volatile environment.
Pseudo rationalists, liberationists, agnostics, atheists must not be allowed to disturb the peace, which is much missing in Indian society. A few with business interests under the disguise of freedom of expression are ushering in a culture, which is not Indian but brought in from abroad and in the present case is USA, where the director of the play, Kaizaad Kotwal, we are given to understand lives.

6. Wrong portrayal of Catholic clergy and adverse impact on their image.
The nuns and priests are known for their remaining celibate, be sacrificing and serving humankind. Such a portrayal, even if one can find abroad a few exceptions and certainly not in India when highlighted through mass media will have a serious psychological affect on lakhs of nuns and priests. Even worse will the image that non-Christians will carry of the community’s clergy, merely because a few wanted to make a fast buck.

7. Indian secularism & culture is different from that of ANZ, West or Americas.
Our idea of secularism in is different from theirs in that they have no reverence for any religion or no faith is sacred, while India respects all religions. Every country has its own set of morality, culture, decency, social norms. Foreign yardsticks do not apply here. The family, religion, sexuality, etc. in India has a different set of laws, which are different from the west, but need to be observed. Is Indian society ready to open a Pandora’s box and open the floodgates of filth, with the play, Agnes of God being used to set a precedent?

8. No permissions unless religious consulted & publicity material need censorship.
Huge damage has been done by the quarter page Agnes of God advertisement in the Times of India (Bombay Times) which hurt religious sentiments. Many a time those from the government censoring a script in case of a play are not aware of the religious view points of various communities and hence, need for advisers, rather than giving permissions, without a care for consequences. There is no censoring authority for theater, television or advertisements / publicity material and before one knows it, damage is done.

9. A true story gives one no right to insult the faith or hurt religious sentiments.
Even if a true story, can such plays / films on exceptions be shown to negate what the religion actually is? Christians respect all religious beliefs and call upon the authorities / government to be sensitive and consider the impact of such ant-religious material on society. Is this the kind of culture we want to allow in India, which threatens the secular fabric, when there are more serious issues to be dealt with.

10. Christianity is in no danger. In fact, the number of Catholics worldwide is increasing.

This is not about Christianity or any other religion. Its about the kind of youth and future Indian society we are breeding by allowing such material. Its about the government / authorities turning a blind eye when it comes to the Christian micro-minority, whom it can brow-beat or ignore. Its about the truth - such portrayal is not representative of the lifestyle of our clergy.