Mumbai, India, Sep 25, 2012 / 01:24 am
Catholic groups in India have called for the protest of an upcoming Hindi film if scenes portraying believers and clergy in an offensive manner are not removed from the film.
"If the clergy of any other religion would not be seen in such a manner, why is it expected that the Christian community keep quiet over such mockery and ridicule of its faith?" Joseph Dias said in a Sept. 21 statement from the Catholic-Christian Secular Forum.
Dias, who is head of the ecumenical group, noted that while stereotyping of Christians has existed in films, the movie "Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal" is a "new low" for Bollywood.
Among the objectionable scenes are a dance number featuring a Catholic priest on the steps of a church while wearing a garland of lottery tickets and rosary, a live person hiding in a coffin marked with a cross, and a priest holding a bouquet of flowers bearing the message, "I love you."