Thiruvananthapuram, India, Dec 12, 2007 / 09:32 am
A bishop in Kerala, who is an outspoken critic of the rule of the local communist party, received a letter threatening that his legs and hands would be chopped off if he continued his vocal opposition.
Bishop Joseph Porunnedom of Mananthavady reportedly first revealed the threat on December 9 saying that he received an unsigned threatening letter but ignored it. "I'm not scared. Threats can't change my stand on the issues," the 51-year-old bishop told UCA News.
Diocesan spokesman Father Joseph Thomas Therakam said that no complaint had been made to the police.
"It's the first time a bishop is getting threatened in Kerala, a state known for harmony. It's most unfortunate," Father Therakam said. "We are not concerned about the threat," he added, insisting the Church "is not going to dilute its stand against the government's anti-people policies."