Posted on 05/17/2006 9:36:31 AM PDT by The Ghost of JG
Bowing to pressure from Christian groups, the Indian government has decided to review federal censors' permission for the screening of The Da Vinci Code movie in India.
The controversial film was set to hit Indian cinemas on May 19, but three days before its release, a federal minister said the government would give the nod only if Catholic Church officials give their approval.
(Excerpt) Read more at speroforum.com ...
Freedom of speech always seems to take a back seat to religious sensitivity in India. The Satanic Verses - written by Bombay native Salman Rushdie - was banned for a while because Muslims demanded it and now this. Given the violence which usually accompanies religious disagreements in India, maybe banning the movie will save some lives, but it's still very discouraging to see one of the most populous nations in the world considering censorship.
I am never in favor of government telling people (adults) what they can watch. India seems to be a strange country.
Good grief is right! It's a movie, for crying out loud! It's not social policy. Personally, I'm tired of hearing about it. People are not stupid and know how to differentiate fact from fiction.
I'm sure the Indian government will take your suggestion under advisement.
It does, unless you're Hindu. Please correct me if I am wrong. From this American's perspective, it appears to be true.
Excellent point. It would be a good propaganda opportunity. It could also be noted that not a single Christian has declared a fatwa against the producers or actors in the movie, no one will be kidnapped, no heads will be cut off and no threats have been made against audiences.
You're wrong there. An Indian catholic bishop or some member of the clergy put a bounty on Dan Brown's head.
Just a clarification I would like to make to this comment that you have made.
I have been reading on various web sites and forums what has been happening as regards "The Da Vinci Code" in various Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, The United States, etc.
I hav even been reading what has been reading in some Muslim Countries and even in some Asian Countries as regards this Movie and this Book too.
I believe you have made a mistake. The Person in question who made this statement is neither a Catholic Bishop nor a Catholic Priest at all.
He is rather a Politician from the City of Bombay.
His name is "Nicholas Almeida". I can send you the Link to this person who made this statement.
Btw, The Catholic Bishops Conference of India condemned his statement.
It is very wrong to say that he was a Catholic Bishop or Priest when he is neither.
This News is on a number of web sites.
Just wanted to clarify that.
This is the link that explains it well. I was surfing and found this Link.
This incidentally was published in the Print Edition of a leading Melbourne based Catholic Newspaper as well as a Secular Newspaper.
The person who made that outrageous claim to get "Dan Brown" dead or alive was a Christian by the name of Nicholas Almeida.
He is neither a Catholic Priest nor a Catholic Bishop.
Here is the Article in full.
http://www.theindiancatholic.com/news_read.asp?nid=1700
May 15, 2006
CBCI condemns call to get Dan Brown dead or alive
New Delhi (ICNS) -- A top Catholic Church official in India has condemned a reward announcement that a Christian made to get "dead or alive" Dan Brown, author of the controversial novel Da Vinci Code.
The Catholic Church "condemns such calls. We are totally against any form of protest that manifests traits of violence," said Father Donald De Souza, Deputy Secretary General of Catholic Bishops Conference of India told Indian Catholic.
He was referring to a reported call given by Nicholas Almeida, a former corporator of Mumbai in early May. Almeida reportedly announced a reward of Rupees 11 lakh for anyone who "brings the author dead or alive before him."
The call came amid Mumbai Catholics' protest against the Dan Vinci Code and another movie --Tickle My Funny Bone--that they said denigrated their faith and offended Christians.
The Da Vinci Code movie is based on Dan Brown's best-selling novel by the same name. Although a fiction, it twists and interprets historical facts to propose that Church is engaged in a 2,000-year-old cover-up.
The novel says the Church suppressed women. It also raises the possibility that Jesus had a child by Mary Magdalene, that she fled to France and that Christ's bloodline survives to this day.
Father De Souza said the Bishops and the Church in India cannot "agree or support violent calls that seeks the blood of others or the bounty from others. We are totally opposed to any such move," he said.
However, in a democratic nation like India, Christians and people of other religions are free to protest statements and media works that deliberately wound their religious sentiments, he said.
"Christian protests should follow the principles of democracy and respect secular fabric of the nation, without discarding the greatest teaching of Christianity--love," the CBCI Deputy Secretary General added.
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