Milestones
The CSF thus far …. Some Milestones …
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The CSF hit the international news, with the film – Da Vinci Code, when its general secretary, Joseph Dias undertook a fast unto death at the Azad Maidan. India was the only country in the world, where the film release was delayed & only released with a disclaimer.
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Tickle My Funny Bone, a movie that showed a nun in all obscenity, which The CSF again protested. Accordingly representations were made to the High Court, Censor Board & Police, leading to vulgar posters being removed, cuts imposed & criminal action taken.
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The CSF took to the High Court, producers of Sacred Evil, a movie dealing with a haunted nun, who resorted to witchcraft & with a vulgar depiction of Christian religious symbols. The HC ordered a special screening for The CSF, which called for cuts, etc. The HC then ordered that the Censor Board have an expert of the community to preview any movie with religious content.
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The film, SINS dealt with the story of a priest, unfaithful to his vows of celibacy, leading the CSF to file a PIL in the High Court. The idea being to convey to all concerned that the Christian community would explore all possible peaceful, non-violent and lawful means.
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A number of community relevant issues have been taken up successfully with the government & political parties. Representations have also been made to get community members to be included in various national / state commissions, besides other postings.
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The majority (as in the Ram Setu case), other minorities (anti-Islamic Danish Cartoons) and Christian denominations (Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav) have repeatedly appreciated the stand taken by The CSF, including campaigning for an anti-blasphemy law to prevent insults to faith.
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St. John, the Baptist Church at SEEPZ, an almost 500 year-old heritage monument was reclaimed and prayer services allowed once annually, when The CSF and others petitioned the area MP, the late Sunil Dutt and Kamal Nath, union minister for commerce.
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Presented the Catholic opinion / viewpoint in the mass media, to negate the misconceptions on any issue or to put forth the community in the right perspective and highlight the achievements of the clergy & laity.
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The CSF took the opportunity to speak-up for the Church and explained situations related to it, e.g. the death of Pope John Paul II, election of Pope Benedict XVI, elevation of Cardinal Ivan Dias… and undertook prayer chains, intercessory network, etc. for the Church.
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The Gospel of Judas and the Lost Tomb of Christ were just a couple of international theories that were thrashed by The CSF, along with those on Mary Magdalene, Virgin Mary, etc.
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Undertook a fast to mark the Orissa Anniversary, alongside a Black Christmas Crib / Manger.
A similar one was torched near Nagarcoil & threats issued to do so in other places too. |
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News of Christians attacked or Church institutions / property / Clergy targeted received from through out the country & disseminated by SMS and Email to keep people aware.
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Jointly undertook an independent Fact-Finding Team to Orissa of Justices H Suresh & Kolse Patil, Ms. Teesta Setalvad & ex-DGP of Gujarat, Shreekumar – the first report to be out soon.
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Held public meetings at Azad Maidan & elsewhere to protest the attacks on Christians in Orissa, Karnataka & elsewhere, attended by Swami Agnivesh, Archbishop Cheenath….
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Raised the issues of Dalit Christians and Other Backward Classes / Castes among the community & is campaigning the cause of job, education & other benefits for Christians.
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Publicized government schemes through its website www.thecsf.org and worked with the agencies to send information in digital format to all those who enquired about them.
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Lobbied with political parties to get representation for Christians in the Municipal elections, got Christians enlisted as voters & campaigned for secular candidates in the elections.
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Activities receive wide appreciation from many including, international human rights activist, Dr. Ansar Burney, Church hierarchy & civil society for its efforts to build communal harmony.
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Fought fearlessly against communal forces taking the VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal… on various issues, including calling for a ban on the Shri Rama Sene in Mumbai.
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SpiceJet apologized to The CSF for promoting flights to Jesus’ tomb in Kashmir, after our protests and the in-flight magazine that carried it was taken off its airlines.
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Orissa government re-notified Good Friday on 10th April, 2009 holiday after The CSF took up the issue with the chief minister and threatened to launch an agitation.
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Internationalized Orissa attacks by taking the victims to the UNO office in New Delhi and through the online petition calling for a ban on the saffron alliance.
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The media was involved in all agitations, to create awareness, with press conferences held in Bhubaneshwar, Mangalore, Bangalore, Mumbai, N. Delhi, Bhopal, Goa….
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Took up the issue of nuns, tribal activists & Christian schools targeted by Hindutvawadi forces in Panvel, Mumbai, Alibaug, Raigadh & Navi Mumbai, bringing some relief.
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Held meetings with The President of India, Governors, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and political party leaders to sensitize them & urge them to do something about Christian issues.
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Organized Prayer Meets & Rallies believing that prayer can work wonders. Thousands of booklets, MP3 CDs, VCDsm, etc. were distributed, urging praise, prayer & thanksgiving.
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Computerized its operations and has an impressive Databank to network with – over 20,000 Christians, at least on a weekly basis + over 5,000 SMSes are sent daily – as of now.
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Enacted the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday & took a tableau of the scenes from the passion of Christ from St. Peter’s Church compound to Mount Mary’s, Bandra.
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Distributed 1000 Bibles in Orissa, besides blankets and other necessities to Orissa victims, at the hands of union minister Oscar Fernandes in N. Delhi.
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Joined hands regularly with the likes of Mahesh & Pooja Bhatt, Tushar Gandhi, ex-naval chief Vishnu Bhagwat, eminent minority & civil society leaders to raise common good issues.
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Led the protests for housing the homeless at Pereirawadi, evicted by the builder, met the chief minister, home minister and secured a stay on further demolition of their houses.
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Joined the locals protests against the SEZ & Esselworld in Uttan-Gorai- Manori, got the Minorities Commission to visit and place on record facts, leading to the SEZ being given-up.
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Agitated against demolition of Crosses & for cemeteries for Christians, along with the locals and succeeded to a great extent.
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Launched its website, which is possibly the best of its kind in India, with info on contacts, business, religion, services, downloads, campaigns, screen-savers, etc.
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The Sakaal Times editor expresses it regret on front page for carrying a political cartoon featuring a spoof on the Last Supper with Sonia Gandhi and the UPA cabinet shown.
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The general secretary of The CSF was appointed by the Government of Maharashtra on the District Minorities Welfare Committee and hence could intervene in many cases.
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Promoting a crises management mechanism to effectively respond to situations arising out of the attacks or meet the needs of the lesser fortunate Christians through laity participation.
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