Showing of film on Jesus sparks beatings in Abbottabad

(August 17, 2011) The Catholic Church in Pakistan is warning Christians near the town where al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed to be on their guard and take care how they express their faith publicly, after several Christians were attacked while watching a biblical epic. Several Full Gospel Assembly, FGA Church workers were beaten on August 12, for showing a 1979 movie based on the life of Christ in a park in Abbottabad a town in eastern Pakistan. The Muslim attackers also smashed the projector before police intervened. No arrests were made and clerics have warned of further attacks in the wake of several public acts by FGA members. Retired Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore condemned the action of the FGA church workers. The whole community has to bear the brunt of their indiscretion. They needed to be mindful of the delicate situation,” the prelate said . Several copies of the Bible were found on dumps after the FGA workers tried distributing 100,000 copies around the country, he added.