Advocates & Activists Get in Touch. Rebuttal to Julio Rebeiro's write-up

The protest by community groups got a good response, with hundreds turning up - nuns, priests, women, senior citizens, brothers like James & team from St. Pauls and of course activists, who all braved all hardships. We salute them all. A big God bless.The Police requested a couple of days more, despite it being almost two weeks since The CSF complained to them about it. We decided to oblige since the PM was in town and we had so far using all legal means of protest.

But, it is clear that there are very powerful lobbies at work. In fact, they were on night duty last night. The Times of India published a write-up under Julio Rebeiro's name. The newspaper has not given any publicity to our counter view, as ethical journalism demands. We leave it to you to determine its credibility on this issue. But it is a fact that the Bombay Times premiered the play, Agnes of God and was the only newspaper that gave space to prominent "Christians" speaking against the community. Some out-of-office politicians, it claimed to be "activists" and non-Catholics were among those quoted.

Julio Rebeiro will be by God's grace 90 years soon and we pray for him, but his write-up shows that he is not a "Catholic" in the common lay sense of the word. Yet, for the record and lest it is assumed that we accept what he says, here is a rebuttal. Below is his article with my comments are in purple colour and do send me your views too at csfpost@gmail.com asap.

Oct 11 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai)

Thinking Christians and a play that questions virgin birth

I had not heard of the play ` Agnes of God' till the controversy erupted.(It only shows your disconnect with the Catholic world - something you are commenting on. Are you a practicing Catholic? And do you accept the authority or tenets of the Catholic Church?) In the theatre production of the play , written originally for American audiences by a New York based playwright some thirty years earlier, Agnes is a fictional character, a consecrated nun of the Catholic Church, who conceived a child despite her vow of celibacy. On being questioned by her Superior she insisted she was a virgin! The obvious intent of the playwright was to question the Catholic Church's dogma of the Virgin Birth of the central figure of Christianity , Jesus Christ. (This is an article of faith for millions. We need no proof. For those like you, who don't believe, no proof is possible. For those who do, no proof is necessary.)

It is this aspect of the controversy that roused the ire of fringe Christian groups and must certainly have disturbed the Catholic clergy. (Sir - are the clergy too, now fringe? And who is Julio Rebeiro to label groups fringe?) The ancillary damage to the regard and respect commanded by nuns in the Catholic world would be of secondary importance (What you call ancillary damage to nuns is not of secondary importance. Are they not as human, Indian and more Christian than most of us are?) though the fringe groups I spoke about would harp on that aspect as well.

Delving first on the honour of the nuns I can only say that it is not impossible for a woman dedicated to a life of chastity and service, to err. An odd case in some remote corner of the world can occur. After all, priests and nuns are too numerous to count.They are human and human beings do deviate from the beaten path at times. Nuns who feel the urge for male companionship usually resign from their Orders and marry . There is nothing wrong in that. But instances like the one depicted in the play would be very unusual. (There is no proof, it ever happened. This is a fig leaf the makers are using to justify their act. If it is rare, at whose and what costs are the producers using the play as a money spinner)

The Church would be able to absorb accusations about the sexual misconduct of their religious. (This is not about the Church or other religious bodies, who will also be able to absorb it. It is about hurting religious sentiments, which is a law in this country Sir - Remember - 153, 295 A, 499 and 506, 506(2) IPC and the few months back the Supreme Court ruling that no freedom is absolute)

It is common knowledge that many priests have transgressed the boundaries of propriety or worse paedophilia and homosexuality have attracted adverse notice in the West in particular. (This is not an alibi for the clergy, but there are similar exceptions in all religious groups, though only the Catholics are singled out for disrepute. Many cases have been found to be false, consensual or with intention to extort money. The few that the Church has accepted, apologized and even compensated make for only miniscule percentage of lakhs of Catholic clergy, the world over - Not forgetting their huge positive contributions.) Even the greatest of Catholic theologians, Augustine of Hippo, had led a colourful life before he gave up philandering and devoted himself entirely to Christ. His seminal work “Civitas Dei“ or the “City of God“ is testimony to his absolute devotion to his beliefs. Pope Francis has not hesitated to admit that the Church has been amiss in trying to sweep misconduct of its priests under the carpet. (We agree and call for action against such clergy, if they don't leave)

The sting in the play ` Agnes of God' lies in the allusion to the `Virgin Birth'. A nun going astray is small change to the larger issue of questioning a well-held belief. Christians have been indoctrinated in the last two millennia in the dogma that Jesus was born of a virgin. (Sir - what do you mean by indoctrinated? The followers of other religions been similarly indoctrinated for lesser number of years. So is it OK to mock their beliefs?)Thinking Christians will not object if the dogma is questioned. They know that beliefs cannot be put to the strict test of scientific proof. Every religion has its quota of beliefs that cannot stand scientific scrutiny. (We won't, but will you support us, if we make a film on the many non-Christian religious beliefs, which do not stand scientific scrutiny?) The mass of the followers of any religion are brought up on faith. In our country blind faith and belief is ingrained in the Indian psyche unlike in the Christian West where the spirit of inquiry has mellowed religious practices to much more moderate levels. (It is not the Christian West any more. But India has laws to ensure that the sentiments of 99 percent of its religious citizens are not hurt - a fundamental right too. You are entitled to work and change the law of the land, but until that happens - you, the police and government are duty-bound to effect it.)

Virgin birth finds mention in Hindu mythology also! (We speak for Catholics and would speak for Hindus also, if a film or play hurting their religious sentiments, we would object. But will not need to, as the Hindus are more capable and a majority) Kunti, daughter of the King of Kuntibhoja was granted a wish by the sage Durwasa, whom she had looked after so well when he stayed as an honoured guest in her father's palace. She conceived by the Sun God and gave birth to Karna without carnal intercourse. There are many such stories which have crystallized into beliefs in the sacred texts of every recognized religion.

My own take on such weighty matters that intrude into the realm of the meta-physical is not to spend too much time and thought on them lest it leaves one confused and isolated from the mainstream. (Are you advising 99 percent of the country (religious minorities & the majority), to make you a role model and spend least time on their religious beliefs. And are you advocating that if they don't, the consequence would be one of confusion and alienation from the mainstream? Are Christians not already on the periphery?

Go along with the beliefs and practices of the religion you are born into but never forgot that the most important and the common skein that flows through all religions is to do the right thing and not to wrong others.That is a tall call for us mortals to follow and hence is often forgotten in practice.

Some years ago the same Christian group objected to the screening of the film `Da Vinci Code' because it spoke of a fictional descendant of Jesus Christ by his fictional marriage to Mary of Magdalene. (It was 10 years that The Catholic Secular Forum - CSF - not only protested but also got effective results in Da Vinci case, and also thereafter with many other such instances. So we are dedicated to the Christian cause, unlike you) The Censor Board invited me to view the film be fore it was released. I did not see any challenge to my faith or beliefs after viewing the film (Christianity has faced many such provocations, but Christians have become martyrs) and I am sure I will not find any such challenge after viewing ` Agnes of God'. Those who object on principle should not view it themselves but they should allow others with stronger faith than theirs to do so. (The mistake censors do is assume you are Catholic, which in the sense of the thousands of lay community members, after reading the above - You most certainly are not. But we do not judge, as you do.)

Personally , I believe that the teachings of Jesus Christ as reflected in his Parables are much more relevant to Christianity as a religion. (Sir - Only the parables are .001 percent of the Bible and basically meant to give a message and rest, which according to you is less relevant to Christianity - reduces the religion to a book like Aesop Fables... Which part of the Koran, Bhagwad Gita, Guru Granth Sahib, etc? is less relevant for these religions?) The Parable of the adulterous woman and who should throw on her the first stone, the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Parable of the Good Samaritan who tended to the traveler when he was attacked by thieves are what define the teachings of Jesus. It would be much more edifying if the protestors follow these teachings instead of trying to make themselves prominent through protests and demands for bans. (Now knowing your opinions on the subject, we know how to treat your advise. Prominence is not what we seek. And have received ridicule!? But, we have the faith that our God is watching. And thousands of nuns, priests, pastors, believers and secular-minded citizens have only prayers and good wishes for us. This is sufficient.)

PS: Incidentally, all this cost us lots of our time, monies, relationships & reputation too!

Your brother in Christ,

Joseph Dias +919769555657

csfpost@gmail.com