Indian prelate slams anti-Pope graffiti

(June 21, 2010) An archbishop has condemned anti-Pope graffiti that appeared in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya state in northeast India. “Arrest this man” was written on pictures of Pope Benedict XVI found on Friday on the walls of Don Bosco Technical School and St. Anthony’s College, two premier institutions managed by the Salesians in the city. The Pope’s picture was among various images stenciled on walls of major government buildings and educational institutions in the city, Father John Madur, vicar general of Shillong archdiocese, told Ucanews on Monday. The priest said Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong has condemned “the blasphemous act” and convened a meeting of Church elders and youth leaders. The Salesian prelate, who heads the Catholic Church in Christian-majority Meghalaya state, said the incident has pained the Church. “We have now left it to the police to look into the matter,” he said. The archbishop has also called for a special prayer meeting on Wednesday. Meanwhile the archdiocese has filed a first information report with the police, Father Madur said. The state home minister reportedly assured Church people that the government would soon arrest those responsible for the act. Some 70.3 percent of Meghalaya’s 2.3 million people are Christians, equally divided between Presbyterians and Catholics.