Church unhappy A-G dropped 'Al-Islam' case. Yes, if it was the Christians that did it to them? Mampos Gila Babi Anjing! Buang Dalam ISA !
2010/03/05
By Marc Lourdes
KUALA LUMPUR: The desecration of the communion wafer at a Catholic church here last year was an act of ignorance, not malice.
This was the reason why Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail decided not to press charges against two magazine reporters, who had offended Catholics in the country.
In a statement yesterday, Gani said while the two Al-Islam reporters might have hurt people's feelings, he was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone.
"It was an act of sheer ignorance," he said.
"In view of the circumstances at that particular time, and in the interests of justice, peace and harmony, I decided not to press charges against them."
While investigations against the two Al-Islam reporters were going on, there was also the inflammatory cow-head protest in Shah Alam.
Several months earlier, a pig's head was found wrapped in a Pas flag at a surau in Universiti Malaya.
Gani said he had made similar decisions (not to prosecute) in previous cases involving other religions.
The incident involving the Al-Islam reporters occurred at the St Anthony's Church in Jalan Robertson near Puduraya in May last year.
The reporters went to the church to verify allegations that Muslims were being converted into Christianity.
"Their observation showed that the allegations were not true," Gani said.
The reporters then took part in the ritual of Holy Communion, one of the most sacred Catholic rites.
One of them consumed the communion wafer, spat it out, took some pictures and published them in the magazine.
"They did not know the significance of the 'white bread' (communion wafer)," Gani said.
Earlier yesterday, the Catholic church announced that it would not file a civil suit against Al-Islam magazine for abusing the Holy Eucharist. Instead, the church said, a simple apology would suffice.
Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam said when Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai published an offensive depiction of Christ, all it took was an apology for matters to be ironed out.
"Makkal Osai used a very disturbing picture of Christ with a cigarette in one hand and a can of beer in the other.
"As soon as the editor apologised, I told them 'I accept your apology and the matter is closed'," he said, adding that Catholics were happy with the church's stand.
The reaction, Pakiam said, would be similar if Al-Islam apologised.
He said the "modest act" of an apology by the journalists, editor and publisher of the magazine would go a long way towards healing the "wound" in the Catholic community.
Pakiam held the press conference to express his disappointment over Gani's decision to drop the case against the Al-Islam reporters.
"We Catholics believe that during mass, the host is transformed and becomes the body of Christ.
"In this form, it is sacred. Its desecration is a most heinous offence," he said, adding that the incident showed contempt for the Catholics' beliefs.
He added that the decision not to take action against the reporters and the magazine implied that no crime was committed despite sufficient provisions in the Penal Code for that purpose.
The New Straits Times contacted the Al-Islam magazine to ask if it would apologise.
A spokesman declined to comment, stating that the case was still being investigated by the police. He maintained his silence despite being told that the case had been dropped.
