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http://www.cathnewsasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/0309-ai-a.jpgKuala Lumpur Archbishop Murphy Pakiam and other Catholics have accepted an apology from the publisher of Al-Islam magazine after two of its journalists desecrated the Communion host during investigative visits to local churches.
The magazine’s editor said the two journalists were investigating allegations of Muslims converting to Christianity for their article, published in May 2009, UCA News reports.
“I am happy that the editor and journalists of Al-Islam have made the apology on their website and promised to print the apology on their forthcoming issue,” Archbishop Murphy Pakiam told The Malaysian Insider.
He also thanked them for their “quick response”.
“I accept the apology and no legal action will be taken against Al-Islam on this ‘matter’,” he added.
On July 8 last year, two lay Church workers from Penang filed a complaint against the magazine. On Feb. 23 this year, one of them, Sudhagaran Stanley was told by police the attorney general’s office had advised no action to be taken against the journalists.
Speaking to UCA News on March 7, Stanley said he was glad and ready to forgive. However, he said the government and the attorney-general (AG) handled the issue badly.
“The AG was not being fair at all when he dismissed the case,” saying that the “Al-Islam journalists were ignorant,” said Stanley.
“His action was politically motivated,” the layman insisted. “We will now shift our focus on the AG, and we will issue a statement soon.”
Anil Netto, a popular blogger and social activist, said: “The apology should be accepted since Stanley has already made his point. The issue had been highlighted and was much publicized. Many people are aware that what the journalists did was wrong.”
Now that they and the publisher of the magazine have apologized, “the matter should be closed,” he said.
S.V. Singam felt “the apology is insincere,” but said it should be accepted. “They have realized there is a line they can’t cross so they have stepped back,” he said.
The magazine’s editor said the two journalists were investigating allegations of Muslims converting to Christianity for their article, published in May 2009, UCA News reports.
“I am happy that the editor and journalists of Al-Islam have made the apology on their website and promised to print the apology on their forthcoming issue,” Archbishop Murphy Pakiam told The Malaysian Insider.
He also thanked them for their “quick response”.
“I accept the apology and no legal action will be taken against Al-Islam on this ‘matter’,” he added.
On July 8 last year, two lay Church workers from Penang filed a complaint against the magazine. On Feb. 23 this year, one of them, Sudhagaran Stanley was told by police the attorney general’s office had advised no action to be taken against the journalists.
Speaking to UCA News on March 7, Stanley said he was glad and ready to forgive. However, he said the government and the attorney-general (AG) handled the issue badly.
“The AG was not being fair at all when he dismissed the case,” saying that the “Al-Islam journalists were ignorant,” said Stanley.
“His action was politically motivated,” the layman insisted. “We will now shift our focus on the AG, and we will issue a statement soon.”
Anil Netto, a popular blogger and social activist, said: “The apology should be accepted since Stanley has already made his point. The issue had been highlighted and was much publicized. Many people are aware that what the journalists did was wrong.”
Now that they and the publisher of the magazine have apologized, “the matter should be closed,” he said.
S.V. Singam felt “the apology is insincere,” but said it should be accepted. “They have realized there is a line they can’t cross so they have stepped back,” he said.