Jesus Wept

I loved the story that appeared in a variety of news outlets over the weekend - including the Guardian - about the weeping statue of Christ which turned out to be caused not by a miracle - but by faulty drainage pipes.

Apparently local worshippers in Mumbai, in India, noticed water trickling down the face of a statue of Jesus - quickly concluding that these 'tears of God' were the result of a blessed, miraculous event.

As always happens on such occasions the locals then started collecting (and presumably selling) the 'holy water' - while a campaign got underway to promote the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni - as a site of pilgrimage.

Now I know this all sounds like that wonderful episode of Father Ted - where some banal event occurs on Craggy Island - yet was hailed as a miracle by the locals for their own selfish, if understandable reasons.

But other people must have had that same thought as well - or maybe they were watching the repeats of Father Ted on TV - because along comes an Indian rationalist - Sendal Edamaruku - to show that the leaking water was the result of faulty plumbing.

For his 'sins' Sendal - a well known figure in India apparently - has been accused of blasphemy and if found guilty he could face three years in prison - for the bizarre 'crime' of telling the truth.

Meanwhile Sendal also received threats against his life and - as a result - has been forced to into exile in Finland for his safety.

Truly amazing - I hope the authorities in India take a stand against these ridiculous blasphemy laws - and that Sendal is able to return to his home country soon.

The voice of reason deserves to be heard - not to be drowned out by violent bullies masquerading as holy men.