The CSF Urges the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to Intervene
The CSF Calls Upon the Police Commissioner to Register an FIR asap
Take Action on Obscene Promotion of “Agnes of God” Appearing on the Internet
Press Conference at Mumbai Press Club, 3rd October 2015, 3.30 pm
Please find below some information given to the press, most of which you may already be aware. But it will be necessary to counter the propaganda.
Huge Advertisements Costing Lakhs
It was the morning of 27th September 2015 that Christians were shocked to find a huge advertisement with a picture of a nun dominating most of it. It was about a play, titled – ‘Agnes of God’, with a tag-line – Do you believe in miracles? It mentions as a heading in big capital letters – An Immaculate Conception? Or a Bold-Faced Lie? You will be the Judge and Jury ! It was initially scheduled to premier at the Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, Mumbai on 4th October 2015 at 7 pm according to an advertisement ( Times of India-Bombay Times 27th September 2015, Page 3 ) in media.
The advertisement show the large single picture of a Catholic religious (nun) woman with the text alongside mentioning – ” Agnes, a young nun, gives birth and insists that the child was the result of an immaculate conception. Dr. Martha Livingstone, a psychiatrist and Mother Superior clash during the resulting investigation. Based on a true story, watch reason and faith intertwine and battle it out. The play is directed by Kaizaad Kotwal and stars Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal as a nun “.
The Missionary Position – A Forgotten Play. Stopped Thanks to Your Actions?
If you recollect the CSF took strong exception to the announcement of a reported play / movie called “The Missionary Position” as per an advertisement released (Bombay Times of India, 31 December 2014) coming soon to theaters in Indian metros. We went to the police but to date – 9 months later – haven’t heard from them. Nor do we know whatever happened to that play.
Hyderabad Online Vulgar Promotion & Ticket Sales
 But to come back to ‘Agnes of God’ which mocks the Latin phrase Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) and the play is expected to have multiple shows in Mumbai and thereafter in different parts of the country and abroad. It is being staged by a group – Sutradhar Actors – on 9th October 2015 are enacting it in Hyderabad and tickets are available online. But shocking is the obscene publicity material put up on the internet and their online promotion says:
Mother Superior : “…There’s no infallible proof for virginity…only an absence of proof against it…”
Dr. Fernandes : “…I was pregnant once, but I didn’t exactly see myself as mother material…but my boyfriend thought I was…”
Agnes : “..Bad babies come from when a fallen angel ( Devil ) squeezes in down there, and they grow and grow until they come out…”
OUR DEMANDS
The images and publicity material is sickening. In Mumbai, The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) represented with the Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, Mumbai, where ‘Agnes of God’ was initially to be staged and the authorities revoked permission for the play. It will now be staged at the NCPA on 5th October 2015 at 7.30 pm, unless stayed by the government. We cannot go to court as we can’t afford the resources. We can’t compete with the money power and influence of business houses like Poor Box Production, Sutradhar Actors, etc.
But more importantly, because it is the duty of the Government and Police to act. We are therefore seek action on The CSF complaint made on 27th September’15 to the government and police – Stop this play immediately and register an FIR against all those responsible such as Kaizaad Kotwal and others. We demand a public apology and that the police charge them under Section 295 and other relevant laws of the country. These are laws which need to be enforced or changed. Till then, those guilty of breaking them must be punished.
OVER 25 QUESTIONS WE ASK
Isn’t India a religiously sensitive country? Does this not apply to Indian Christians? A 2015 WIN/Gallup survey found 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. It is why we ask:
Will the law of the land ( Section 295 of IPC ) be upheld & applied? Or will the Government & Police allow those involved with ‘Agnes of God’ continue to hurt religious sentiments? And more questions –
1. It is wrong to say it is a ‘true story’ and even if it were, it does not give one the license to mock religious beliefs and violate the law in India. How does it being a ‘true story’ justify magnifying it for profit
2. Why are Christians picked for such insults? Christians are made soft-targets because they are commanded by their religion to forgive and so there is no fear of retaliation. They are also a micro-minority.
3. What would have happened, if a sadhvi’s / pandit’s sexcapades are made into a movie or play? Will a Maulana’s / Muni’s or the female religious of other religions be shown as such?
4. Why is such material not put out on other religions? Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists or followers of other faiths will not tolerate this and resort to violence. They also have political parties to defend them.
5 Will the law take its course be applied to all citizens equally? Or is it double standards and the law need not be applied, though a cognizable offense has been committed? Christians are not equal citizens.
6. Why don’t they leave religion to religious followers? So-called rationalists, liberationists, agnostics, atheists, artists, etc. must leave religion to its followers. Religion is a personal issue & for followers of the faith.
7. Must controversial religious themes be allowed to become money spinners? The guise of creativity or freedom of expression is being used for commercial purposes, make a fast buck and gain cheap publicity.
8. Will this false portrayal not worsen the situation for Christians? The community is already stereotyped by mass media, persecuted by communalists and targeted by vested political and business interests.
9. Is this not defamation and character assassination, if nothing else? Nuns are known for their love and sacrifice, education and medicare, etc. Is this not presenting a warped image of their lifestyle?
10. Should artistic license or freedom be allowed to disturb public order or create unrest between sections of people? Freedoms are always with reasonable limitations, even abroad – nudist colonies and red light areas.
11. Is not the idea of secularism in some of ANZ, West or Americas is different from that in India? Social evils persist there too. They do not respect any religion, while we respect all religions. State and religion are separate.
12. 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? ‘Agnes of God’ 20 years back in the US was certified ‘recommended’ for 15 years & above!
13. Is certification for plays or theater and the publicity material adequate? It is done by those who may be ill-equipped to decide in certain cases. There is no regulation or checks on publicity material & performances / sets change.
14. What opinion will the non-mature majority non-Christian audience form about Christianity, its clergy and the community – of which they may know little about any way? Barring a few mature Christians, most will opt to boycott it.
15. Is this Indian culture? Is it not that Indian society is different and varied in terms of – morals, values, decency, character, sexuality, perceptions, etc. Why import western concepts and produce a generation of Indians, breeding on such fare?
16. Can such plays / films on exceptions be shown to negate what the religion actually is? What right has one not of the religion have to interpret the faith and put it in public domain, with disastrous social impact?
17. If as Christians, we respect other religions and protest any objectionable representation, don’t we have the right to expect the same treatment? Can an individual tarnish the reputation, blaspheme and hold millions to ransom?
18. Christianity is not in danger, but what about fundamental rights of Indian Christians? Are they free in an environment where the Government allows the business & vested interests of a selfish few to dominate over their freedom of religion.
19. Isn’t this corrupting the minds of youth and children as the play is not Adults only? Isn’t the secular fabric of India is being threatened? Aren’t the lakhs of Indian Christian clergy citizens with no rights because they are a micro-minority?
20. Will this not ridicule the choice of the nuns and priests to remain celibate out of choice? Any of them is free to leave at any time, but do not. It is their love for God that motivates them to serve in conditions & people, where most would not.
21. Isn’t this about rule of law, discrimination on the basis of religion and the kind of culture India is permitting? A private / commercial company is being allowed to hurt religious sentiments with the police / authorities taking no action.
22. What purpose is served by “Agnes of God” or is it the whims / fancies / business of a few? Even worse, is it a sinister plan to target and weaken the Christian community? Is it a strategy to corrupt the minds of citizens and reap profits?
23. Can’t a few exceptions of religious god-men & women from other faith be found? Will clergy / female religious of other religions too be allowed to be shown as such next? Why discriminate when it comes to Christians?
24. Ought not the religious leadership be consulted when a play concerning them is sought to be sanctioned? Should the license and no objection to stage such a play now not be cancelled, pending proper inquiry?
25. Isn’t this planned basically for international audiences, like the pornography industry? Christian controversies rake in the moolah. The actors could be anybody. This sells with ease specially through DVD and internet rights
26. Will this open the flood gates of satanic, blasphemous and anti-Christian mass media into the country? Much of this exists abroad, including material on Hinduism, Islam, etc. Will only anti-Christian material be allowed?
27. Should we ignore the play and let it die a natural death? We have the monies to take up such challenges. But if we don’t protest, will those from other religions do? Will it not become worse for the community?
28. Why ban Satanic Verses or MF Hussains’ work and do nothing about anti-Christian media? We don’t want any other religions to be targeted. Who will prevent it? We have censoring for obscenity & violence. Isn’t religion also important?
WIKIPEDIA’S DESCRIPTION OF THE PLOT
 It is play by John Pielmeier, who later adapted it into a film in 1985, featuring Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly, besides others. Here is how Wikipedia describes the plot of Agnes of God:
In a Roman Catholic convent near Montreal, Canada, during evening prayers, the nuns hear screams coming from the room of Sister Agnes, a young novice. Agnes is found in her room bleeding profusely, and in a wastepaper basket there is a dead baby with its umbilical cord wrapped around its neck.
Sister Agnes is suspected of killing the baby, so psychiatrist Martha Livingston is assigned by a court to determine if she is competent to stand trial. In an interview, Agnes claims she doesn’t remember being pregnant or giving birth, and shows a lack of understanding of how babies are conceived. Mother Miriam tells Livingston that Agnes is an “innocent” who was kept at home by her mother and knows nothing about the world. She says that Agnes couldn’t have known what pregnancy was or remember the father.
Mother Miriam tells Livingston about the time Agnes stopped eating in the belief she was getting fat, and then exhibited stigmata in her hand that healed itself within a day. Agnes takes Livingston to her favorite place, a bell tower at the convent. They argue about Agnes’ mother & birth, how much Agnes knows about sex & pregnancy.
Mother Miriam tells Livingston that Agnes must have conceived on January 23rd, because that is the night Agnes burned her bedsheets. While looking around the convent grounds, Livingston comes across a barn full of statues of angels and saints. She and a young monsignor argue about whether her lack of faith will leave her unable to treat Agnes with dignity. She learns Agnes’ mother sexually molested Agnes & that she is Mother Miriam’s niece.
Livingston receives permission from the court to hypnotize Agnes, but Mother Miriam is strongly against it, believing it will strip her of her innocence. While hypnotized, Agnes admits she gave birth and that another woman in the convent knew she was pregnant, but will not reveal who. Livingston discovers that a secret tunnel connects the convent’s chapel with the barn. Mother Miriam tries to have Livingston removed from the case, but she appeals to the police and is retained.
Livingston obtains a second court order to put Agnes under hypnosis again. Mother Miriam admits that she knew Agnes was pregnant and put the wastebasket in her room, but denies she killed the baby. Under hypnosis, Agnes reveals that she used the tunnel to go see “Michael” in the barn. Under questioning, she appears to describe being raped by a man. Suddenly, Agnes exhibits stigmata in her hands, and begins bleeding profusely. Agnes declares that God raped her, and that she hates God for it. She admits that Mother Miriam was present when the baby was born, and that Agnes killed the child because she believed it was a mistake.
Agnes is found not guilty by reason of insanity. She tells the judge that she heard a man singing beneath her bedroom for six nights in a row, and then on the seventh night he lay on top of her.
The Missionary Position – A Forgotten Play
 According to the CSF the same is highly objectionable and hurts our religious sentiments. The title itself is commonly understood as the sexual act with the man-on-top and is used as a pun here to refer to Christian missionaries.
A complaint was sent to the police commissioner immediately, but we are yet Who is responsible for the following which was mentioned in the advertisement:
1. The cast includes Christopher Pemberton as Father Joseph, Caroline Egerton as the ravished nun Sister Abigail, Shyamala Shankaran as the murdered nun Abhaya and accompanied by a large British, Indian and African cast.
2. Objectionable “rave international reviews” quoted include:
A) A powerful expose of the cancer of Christian missionaries and their conversion and sexual predatory activities that has decimated most African and Latin American cultures and is now threatening the Chinese state, after contaminating India – Theatre Review
B) The playwright Athena Ashton who has investigated the phenomenon of fake Christian conversions has written a play with huge political and cultural implications for several indigenous cultures that are now vanishing under the onslaught of a religion (Christianity) now almost defunct in Europe – Buddhist World
C) A tragic exploration of the Missionary’s position in the third world and of the financial muscle of a highly questionable and historically dubious faith (Christianity), still at the root of post-colonial exploitation of natural resources and cultural destruction of ancient civilizations – London Stage
In view of the above, and the fact that the advertisement contains no contact information, we were compelled to approach the police, but are yet to hear from them. Action must be taken against those responsible for putting out such hate material, which hurt the religious sentiments of Christians and all secular minded citizens.
We are grateful to Cardinal Cleemis of CBCI for his bold stand. The rest we leave in the LORD’S HAND as we continue to pray and act.
We have made our opinion heard loud and clear. We need to work on Hyderabad next and the next ICAN newsletter in on it.
The going is tough and so the tough need to get going.
Your brother in Christ,
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