Police break bible racket in Kerala (India)

[Stylites]

Police break bible racket in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India : Kerala police say they have broken a bible-smuggling racket that has been selling copies of the book on the black market.

Senior police official Vinson Paul says “They stole bibles from the printer and sold them at knocked-down prices”. “It was a thriving business.”

Police arrested and charged Selva Raj, 36, on Nov. 23 following a complaint from the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council (KCBC). The council had been tipped off by Church people that the bible KCBC was selling for 100 rupees (US$2.15) was available on the streets for 70 rupees.

But Raj, who had 30 bibles on him, was “only a salesman who may be getting 10 rupees a copy,” Paul said. “He is only the end of long chain” in which hundreds may be involved, he added.

Police suspect the racket has been going on for years and that some of the printer’s employees are involved. “The investigation is progressing,” Paul said.

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[grace_singh]

is this a bad thing? i mean, i know that Bibles were stollen, the Chruch printers lost money, and money was made dishonestly from this venue.

but one could also argue that more copies of the Scriptures got into the hands of people who really need them, and lower prices than they would have been getting from the Church.

would it not be better to just give away copies of the Bible, and not sell them at all? especially if these Bibles are being printed by the Church itself.

 

[Stylites]

is this a bad thing? i mean, i know that Bibles were stollen, the Chruch printers lost money, and money was made dishonestly from this venue.

but one could also argue that more copies of the Scriptures got into the hands of people who really need them, and lower prices than they would have been getting from the Church.

would it not be better to just give away copies of the Bible, and not sell them at all? especially if these Bibles are being printed by the Church itself.

I can only surmise that the owners of the materials have a moral right to their distribution, regardless of what the materials are. Theft is theft, and I for one won’t be wasting any time looking for rationalizations, or thinking that ends can justify means. It is only conjecture that stealing from the Church results in reaching more people than would otherwise have been the case.

 

[Stylites]

is this a bad thing? i mean, i know that Bibles were stollen, the Chruch printers lost money, and money was made dishonestly from this venue.

but one could also argue. . .

And the thefts resulted in fewer rupees going for charity and relief. Corruption is always a bad thing.