Church accepts apology over host desecration| Cathnews India

Published Date: March 8, 2010

Tags: Al-Islam, host desecration, Muslim fundamentalism

Church accepts apology over host desecration thumbnail

Catholics in Malaysia have accepted an apology from the publisher of an Islamic magazine after two of its journalists allegedly desecrated the Communion host after visiting churches.

The magazine’s editor said the two journalists were investigating allegations of Muslims converting to Christianity for their article, published in May 2009.

Their actions were never meant as an insult to the Christian faith, he said on the apology posted on the publisher’s website.

The Al-Islam journalists had apologized for unintentionally hurting the feelings of Christians and said it would not happen again, the statement said.

An apology would be published in the magazine’s April issue, the editor said.

The May 2009 article described how the two journalists went into Catholic churches in Kuala Lumpur, received Holy Communion, spat out the hosts and then took photos of them.

The report also said the journalists did not discover any religious conversions of Muslims. Church-goers were very warm and friendly toward each other and to all who went to the church, it said.

‘Glad and ready to forgive’

On July 8 last year, two lay Church workers from Penang filed a complaint against the magazine. On Feb. 23 this year, one of them, Sudhagaran Stanley was told by police the attorney general’s office had advised no action to be taken against the journalists.

Speaking to UCA News on March 7, Stanley said he was glad and ready to forgive. However, he said the government and the attorney-general (AG) handled the issue badly.

“The AG was not being fair at all when he dismissed the case,” saying that the “Al-Islam journalists were ignorant,” said Stanley.

“His action was politically motivated,” the layman insisted. “We will now shift our focus on the AG, and we will issue a statement soon.”

According to media reports, Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur has accepted the apology. Most Church people echoed similar sentiments.

Anil Netto, a popular blogger and social activist, said: “The apology should be accepted since Stanley has already made his point. The issue had been highlighted and was much publicized. Many people are aware that what the journalists did was wrong.”

Now that they and the publisher of the magazine have apologized, “the matter should be closed,” he said.

S.V. Singam felt “the apology is insincere,” but said it should be accepted. “They have realized there is a line they can’t cross so they have stepped back,” he said.

Source: Catholics accept magazine apology (UCAN)

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