MUMBAI MIRROR 17 APRIL 2012:
FIR against rationalist for questioning ‘miracle’

Man files complaint against Sanal Edamaruku who dismissed water dripping from Jesus statue as due to capillary action, saying he had made statements against the Church

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2012041720120417220221187efd41360/FIR-against-rationalist-for-questioning-%E2%80%98miracle%E2%80%99.html

Mumbai was the birthplace of the Indian Rationalist Association (IRA), founded in 1930 by Mumbaikar R P Paranjpe. Almost a century later, it has also become the first city to have an FIR filed against the President of the IRA.

The FIR has been filed by another Mumbaikar, Agnelo Fernandes, President of the Maharashtra Christian Youth Forum.

CR 61/2012, Juhu Police Station, has been filed against miracle-buster Sanal Edamaruku, who is also founder-president of the Rationalist International, which has scientists such as Richard Dawkins in it.

The FIR has been filed under IPC Sec 295A: Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. The offence is cognizable and non-bailable.

The whole story began on March 5, when during a TV programme in Delhi, Sanal dismissed reports that the “dripping cross” outside Vile Parle’s Velankanni church was a miracle. TV-9 asked him to investigate and flew him down on March 10. Sanal visited the spot and took pictures.

Born to rationalist parents, Sanal has, for the last 30 years, travelled across the country demonstrating the science behind supposed miracles. He has exposed the man-made nature of the ‘divine flame’ at Sabarimala, and successfully challenged Hindu godmen on TV.

Later on March 10, Sanal attributed the water dripping from the Jesus statue to capillary action of underground water near the cross. His photographs, displayed on TV-9, showed seepage on the wall behind the cross and on the ground near its base. “I removed one of the stones covering a canal for dirty water nearby, and found that water had been blocked there. Once water is blocked, it will find an outlet, if not downwards, then upwards. Every student knows that trees get water through capillary action.’’

Sanal said that when he reached the spot, a priest was leading a prayer on the road near the cross; water from the cross had been collected in a bucket and was being distributed to those gathered there. He was given a photograph of the statue dripping water with the word ‘miracle’ written on it. He said he was not allowed to take a sample of the water for chemical analysis.

During the subsequent TV discussions in Delhi and Mumbai, Sanal accused the Catholic Church of “miracle mongering’’. Interestingly, in Mumbai, Archbishop Agnelo Gracias, who joined the discussion, categorically stated that the Church had not described the event as a miracle and would do so only after conducting investigations. The Archbishop also claimed that the Church was not anti-science and, in fact, it had established the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, of which Galileo had been a member.

At that point, Sanal pointed out that the Church had imprisoned Galileo, and burnt scientist Giordano Bruno at the stake, and Pope John Paul II had even apologised for it. He also asked the Archbishop what he had to say about the Vatican indulging in exorcism, to which the Archbishop replied that though he had not come across any case of ``possession’’, he could not rule it out.

All through the discussion, the other panelists kept warning Sanal that they would file FIRs against him if he didn’t apologise for his allegations against the Church.

The discussion ended with Sanal declaring that the Church’s intolerance had resulted in the Dark Ages in Europe. “Don’t try to bring the Dark Ages to India,” he said.

Fernandes lodged a complaint against Sanal at Juhu Police Station on April 10. Another complaint was lodged at the MIDC Police Station. In his complaint, Fernandes states that statements made against the Church and the Pope by Sanal had hurt his religious feelings.

Sanal, who lives in Delhi, said, “The Indian Constitution enjoins me to develop scientific temper. Let them arrest me, I’m not going to stop doing my fundamental duty.’’

A Sanal Edamuruku Defence Committee has been convened by lawyer N D Pancholi. Meanwhile, Mumbai police have called him here for questioning.

Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee
Rationalist International has formed a Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committe. The convener is the well known Human Rights Lawyer and activist Mr. N.D.Pancholi.


If you wish to support us now, you can do it in two ways.
- Spread the videos and the information about the cases where ever you can.
- Support the Defence Fund with a donation. [Click here]

Save Sanal Edamaruku

Report on Paul Kurtz's site:

"Paul Kurtz is a friend of Edamaruku, and defends his right to closely examine paranormal and religious claims."


PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR THREATENED WITH ARREST IN INDIA


On March 10th, Sanal Edamaruku, President of the Rationalist International, headquartered in India, investigated a reported miracle of a religious nature in Mumbai. Droplets of water were found trickling from the feet of Jesus on a crucifix in front of the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni. Hundreds of people had come to the site to place some of the supposed holy water in bottles and other vessels.


According to Edamaruku, there was no miracle. He said that the water was drained from a source near a washing room, and that the water arrived at Jesus’ feet via a tube. Local church leaders that observed the investigation were angered by Edamaruku’s findings.


Edamaruku explained his findings on a live television program and said that Catholic Church officials were guilty of miracle mongering for claiming that a miracle had occurred. Some religious leaders demanded an apology from Edamaruku for his remarks. The rationalist declined, and some religious leaders brought a blasphemy case against him. The Mumbai police have threatened to arrest him for allegedly offending the religious sensibilities of a religious community.


The Institute for Science and Human Values (ISHV) joins rationalists, humanists, freethinkers and others worldwide in condemning calls for the arrest of Edamaruku. India has a long history of promoting rationalism, good science and secular values. No one should be dissuaded from investigating extraordinary truth claims, especially when such claims could be used to take unfair advantage of poor, desperate and defenseless citizens.


According to Norm Allen Jr., Director of International Outreach for ISHV, “The Institute for Science and Human Values staunchly defends freedom of expression and freedom of inquiry. How can democracy thrive or even survive if these values are trampled underfoot?”


Paul Kurtz,chairman of ISHV, has a positive view of the future. He believes that, despite religious superstition such as that found in India and throughout the globe, human beings will one day be “liberated from the constraints of ancient fears and cowardice….” Kurtz is a friend of Edamaruku, and defends his right to closely examine paranormal and religious claims.


Supporters of Edamaruku have written letters opposing police action against the rationalist to the Home Minister at the Maharastra government in Mumbai, India, and to the Central Minister in Delhi, India. “Together, we can take a stand for reason and true liberty,” Allen said. “We must not allow honest investigations to be hindered by fears of offending people’s religious sensibilities.”

Sanal Edamaruku under attack for exposing Catholic "miracle"

Report in Spanish:  http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/es_1.html


Report in French: http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/fr_1.html


Report in Polish: http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/pl_1.html


Report in Finnish: http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/fi_1.html


Report in Russian: http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/ru_1.html

La Iglesia católica india demanda por blasfemia al descubridor del truco de un Cristo del que manaba agua


2012 ABRIL 16
tags: blasfemia, fraudes, milagros, Sanal Edamaruku

por Luis Alfonso Gámez
La Iglesia católica india ha denunciado al activista escéptico Sanal Edamaruku como autor de un delito de blasfemia por haber acusado a la jerarquía local de estar implicada en el fraude milagrero de un Cristo sangrante. Creyentes a los que se enfrentó en un debate hace unas semanas en el canal TV-9 amenazaron con demandarle por blasfemo si no se retractaba de sus acusaciones y, el martes pasado, la Policía de Bombay le comunicó por teléfono que había sido denunciado.

Edamaruku, presidente de la Asociación Racionalista India, viajó el 10 de marzo a Bombay para investigar por encargo de TV-9 el presunto milagro de un Cristo crucificado uno de cuyos pies goteaba agua. Cientos de feligreses acudían cada día hasta la iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Velankanni, en un subsurbio de Bombay, para rezar ante la estatua y recoger el agua que manaba de ella. El investigador descubrió, como era de esperar, que todo era un fraude. “En pocos minutos, identificó claramente la fuente del agua (una fuga de un baño cercano) y la forma en que llegaba hasta un pie de Jesús (por capilaridad). Las autoridades eclesiásticas locales, presentes durante la investigación, no parecían nada contentas”, se explica en la web de la International Racionalista.

Poco después, Edamaruku mantuvo un acalorado debate televisivo con cinco representantes de la Iglesia católica india, incluido Augustine Palett, párroco de Nuestra Señora de Velankanni, el templo junto al que está la estatua. Este sacerdote y miembros de la Asociación de Católicos Preocupados (AOCC) le exigieron, en un momento dado, que se retractara de las acusaciones de complicidad en el engaño por parte de la Iglesia local, que se había volcado en la publicidad del milagro y había mandado a los medios de fotos que supuestamente lo certificaban. El racionalista indio no lo hizo y ahora se enfrenta a varias demandas por blasfemia.

“Pueden detenerme en cualquier momento. Se han registrado denuncias contra mí en varias comisarías de Bombay, y la Policía ya ha anunciado que va a arrestarme”, ha indicado Edamaruku en un mensaje de correo electrónico dirigido a Richard Dawkins, en el que añade que sólo estaba haciendo ejercicio del derecho fundamental a la libre investigación, consagrado en la Constitución india. “No es nuevo que los obispos traten de sentenciar a sus oponentes a la hoguera cuando se les acaban los argumentos. El caso de Giordano Bruno es un buen ejemplo de ello. Pero, por más que lo intenten, no podrán detenerme en la defensa de la razón, la ciencia y los hechos históricos. Y no estoy solo. La libertad de expresión está bajo ataque ¡y la vamos a defender!”, ha añadido.

La International Racionalista ha abierto un Fondo para la Defensa de Sanal Edamaruku, que les animó a apoyar, así como a difundir este vergonzoso caso de ataque contra la libertad de crítica.

Legislación antiblasfemia, también en España

El artículo 295 del Código Penal indio, al que se han acogido los denunciantes, castiga con prisión a quien ofenda los sentimientos religiosos de otros y forma parte de la abundante legislación antiblasfemia que todavía hay en el mundo, España incluida. En nuestro país, el artículo 525.1 del Código Penal dice que “incurrirán en la pena de multa de ocho a doce meses los que, para ofender los sentimientos de los miembros de una confesión religiosa, hagan públicamente, de palabra, por escrito o mediante cualquier tipo de documento, escarnio de sus dogmas, creencias, ritos o ceremonias, o vejen, también públicamente, a quienes los profesan o practican”. Esta anacrónica norma ha servido a la plataforma integrista HazteOír para denunciar al cantautor Javier Krahe por un cortometraje rodado en 1978 en el que se enseña “cómo cocinar un Cristo”.

Legislaciones antiblasfemia como la india y la española pretenden convertir las creencias religiosas en intocables, inmunes a la crítica, algo impropio de cualquier sociedad democrática. Blasfemar es un derecho; no un pecado ni un delito. Como dice Michael DeDora, director del Center for Inquiry (CfI) en Nueva York, los librepensadores debemos oponernos activamente a este tipo de leyes y presionar a los Gobiernos democráticos para que sean derogadas. Silenciar a las personas para proteger las ideas es medieval, es poner la libertad en manos de los credos. La crítica y la burla de todas las ideas -las nuestras, las primeras- es un derecho al que la sociedad no debe renunciar.

“Las leyes contra la blasfemia y la crítica de las prácticas y dogmas religiosos han tenido a menudo un impacto negativo sobre el progreso social y científico. Esta situación empezó a cambiar con la Ilustración”, dictaminó en junio de 2006 el Consejo de Europa, integrado por 46 países y 800 millones de europeos, para el que la libertad de expresión “no debe restringirse más para responder a la creciente sensibilidad de algunos grupos religiosos”, como sucede en India y España, entre otros países.

Le dejo con el acalorado debate entre los defensores de la Iglesia católica india y Sanal Edamaruku:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfJ6_ftih0s

India: "miracle" unmasked, believers applied


Blasphemy allegations, ads and warrant to disenchantment with apparent surprise in a Catholic temple.

Religion - The Indian civil rights Sanal Edamaruku, president of the Indian Rationalist Association , sees itself now "blasphemy" charges exposed. They say he could be arrested at any moment. The reason: He recently revealed a "miracle" in the supposedly holy water from the foot of a crucifix in front of the statue of the Roman Catholic "Basilica of Our Lady of Velankanni good" dripping. The temple near the southern tip of India, a so-called apparitions is dedicated to is called the "Lourdes of the East" and is visited annually by more than two million pilgrims.

Before long while, sometimes a little water from the foot began to drip the Jesus statue. The news spread like wildfire among the population and thousands of believers made pilgrimages to the Basilica, at this point of view of their "sacred liquid" collected in containers.

Sanal Edamaruku finally demystified the supposed miracle in mid-March 2012 in full public view, in which he demonstrated in front of TV cameras, a leak in the sewer system as the cause. Through the capillary effect, the water got into the character, which is then exited at another point. A big disappointment for the faithful, but an even bigger for the representatives of the Church.

Controversial and sensitive it was, as Sanal Edamaruku put on television during a discussion with three Catholic church leaders alleged that the church is the invention of "miracles" and pursuing markets also through massive PR campaigns. The church leaders called for Edamaruku to suggest to retract his statements and apologize. This, however, remained in his position, after which the believers so that it threatened to denounce him for "blasphemy". .

For this purpose it has come too, because so far, three lawsuits against Sanal Edamaruku be received at various police stations, aiming at his conviction under the Indian Penal Code. Two days ago, received Sanal Edamaruku a corresponding call in which he urged the police to the show, so that he may be confronted with the allegations and arrested. Rationalist International has now, therefore, the lawyers and human rights experts ND Pancholi responsible for its defense. More information about the case, the website of Rationalist International are available