View source for Religion:Weeping crucifix in Mumbai

{{Short description|Statue in Mumbai, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
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The '''Weeping crucifix in Mumbai''' is a [[Religion:Crucifix|statue of the crucified Jesus]] in {{wipe|Mumbai}} which attracted widespread attention in 2012 when a constant stream of water began to seep from its feet. Some of the local Catholic faithful believed the incident to be a [[Philosophy:Miracle#Christianity|miracle]]; however, the skeptic-rationalist author [[Biography:Sanal Edamaruku|Sanal Edamaruku]] provided evidence that the water stemmed from a faulty sewage system, which seeped due to capillary action. However, Edamaruku also accused Latin Christian priests of regularly scamming devotees and defrauding miracles to make money, and build bigger and newer churches or convents,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Water-from-the-cross-of-Irla.-Indian-atheist-accuses-Church-of-manufacturing-miracles-for-money-24218.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112002757/http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Water-from-the-cross-of-Irla.-Indian-atheist-accuses-Church-of-manufacturing-miracles-for-money-24218.html|archive-date=2020-11-12|title=Water from the cross of Irla. Indian atheist accuses Church of}}</ref> and mocked the Pope as "anti-science".<ref name="firstpost.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/why-jesus-wept-in-mumbai-the-church-versus-the-rationalist-538657.html/amp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925151330/https://www.firstpost.com/living/why-jesus-wept-in-mumbai-the-church-versus-the-rationalist-538657.html/amp|archive-date=2019-09-25|title=Why Jesus wept in Mumbai: The church versus the rationalist |date=28 November 2012 }}</ref> A church representative admitted Edamaruku had the  "right to doubt", and Christian activists said that the backlash was not for debunking the alleged "miracle" but for the defamatory statements made live on television.<ref name="firstpost.com"/> After which he became subsequently subject to multiple first information reports (FIR) under blasphemy laws.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=A Rationalist Fights to Disprove Miracles in India|date=23 Nov 2012|publisher=Public Radio International|medium=Audio file}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/blasphemy-law-is-unworthy-of-secular-democracy-rationalist-edamaruku-544365.html|title=Blasphemy law is unworthy of secular democracy|website=Firstpost|date=4 December 2012|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/withdraw-case-against-sanal/24/37573/|title=Withdraw case against Sanal – John Dayal, Veteran journalist and member, National Integration Council – The Sunday Indian|website=www.thesundayindian.com|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> A Catholic lawyer and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay called for him to apologise for the comments. {{Citation needed span|After receiving a barrage of threats,|date=August 2021}} he migrated to {{wipe|Finland}} to avoid being arrested under the blasphemy law.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/rampal-is-a-fraudster-who-exploits-the-gullible-common-man/story-UZjFWR9oe5WOLKU1BpJ6hK.html|title='Rampal is a fraudster who exploits the gullible common man'|date=19 November 2014|newspaper=Hindustan Times|accessdate=6 February 2023}}</ref>

== Phenomenon ==
On 5 March 2012, the feet of a statue of a crucified Jesus in Irla near to the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni (Mumbai) started dripping water and was discovered by a woman who reported it to the local parish priest; the dripping stopped on 8 March.  The parish priest of the church, Augustine Palett, stated "whether science can explain what happened or not, a miracle did occur in Irla, namely that of having dozens of Christians, Hindus and Muslims pray together under the cross."<ref>{{cite news |title=Miracle in Irla brings Christians, Hindus and Muslims together in prayer |url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Miracle-in-Irla-brings-Christians,-Hindus-and-Muslims-together-in-prayer-24233.html |date=14 March 2012|accessdate=28 October 2019 |work=www.asianews.it}}</ref>

On 12 March, Agnelo Gracias, the auxiliary bishop of Mumbai, stated: "One can doubt if this has a supernatural cause. I have not seen the cross yet. It is quite possible that water dripping from it may have a natural explanation."<ref name="tnn-12march">{{cite news |title=Church reacts to Irla cross incident {{!}} Mumbai News – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Church-reacts-to-Irla-cross-incident/articleshow/12242667.cms |accessdate=28 October 2019 |work=The Times of India |agency=The Times of India |date=12 March 2012 |language=en}}</ref>

== Scientific explanation ==
The Indian [[Philosophy:Rationalism|rationalist]] [[Biography:Sanal Edamaruku|Sanal Edamaruku]] was invited to investigate by TV9 of Mumbai with the consent of the church authorities. He went with an engineer to the site where the alleged miracle had happened, and traced the source of the drip to the rear side. Edamaruku found that the water was seeping through the feet because of [[Physics:Capillary action|capillary action]] and faulty plumbing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428714-000-miracle-buster-why-i-traced-holy-water-to-leaky-drain/|title=Miracle buster: Why I traced holy water to leaky drain|last=White|first=Jon|work=New Scientist|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/why-jesus-wept-in-mumbai-the-church-versus-the-rationalist-538657.html|title=Why Jesus wept in Mumbai: The church versus the rationalist|website=Firstpost|date=28 November 2012|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> Moisture on the wall where the statue was mounted seemed to be coming from an overflowing drain, which was in turn fed by a pipe that issued from a nearby toilet.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/23/india-blasphemy-jesus-tears|title=Jesus wept … oh, it's bad plumbing. Indian rationalist targets 'miracles'|last=McDonald|first=Henry|date=2012-11-23|newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|access-date=2019-09-25|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In a debate on TV9, Bishop Agnelo Gracias from Mumbai said, "We will never say it is a miracle. The church will investigate and investigate very carefully." He said it was possible this particular incident had "natural causes" and agreed that Edamaruku has a "right to doubt."<ref name=":3" />

== Aftermath ==
After Edamaruku's televised comments mocking the Catholic Church and the Pope, Catholic Secular Forum filed 17 first information reports against Edamaruku under IPC section 295-A, a blasphemy law of India.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26815298|title=The miracle-buster afraid to go home|last=Dissanayake|first=Samanthi|date=2014-06-03|publisher=BBC|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34546888|title=Indian rationalists use Facebook to fight intolerance|date=2015-10-20|work=BBC|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mumbai was not involved with the criminal charges, but issued a statement asking for his apology and for the prosecution to drop the charges. The All India Catholic Union said the law was being applied incorrectly.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Brady|first=Kathy|date=July 2012|title=Erlich, Radio Utopia: Postwar Audio Documentary in the Public Interest|journal=Journal of Radio & Audio Media|volume=19|issue=2|pages=322–324|doi=10.1080/19376529.2012.722493|s2cid=143793845|issn=1937-6529}}</ref> Colin Gonsalves, the founder of the India Center for Human Rights and Law, stated his opinion that no criminal offence had been committed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-rationalist-stays-in-finland-fearing-arrest-for-hurting-religious-sentiments/308704-2.html|website=News18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208055549/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-rationalist-stays-in-finland-fearing-arrest-for-hurting-religious-sentiments/308704-2.html|title=Indian rationalist stays in Finland fearing arrest for hurting religious sentiments|date=4 Dec 2012|author=Priyanka Dube|archive-date=8 December 2012|url-status=dead|accessdate=4 November 2019}}</ref> There were further complaints that the law was being misused to suppress [[Philosophy:Freedom of speech|free speech]]. Vishal Dadlani and [[Biography:James Randi|James Randi]] spoke publicly in support of Edamaruku.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1746-james-randi.html|title=A Matter of Very Great Concern|website=archive.randi.org|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/videos/india/sanal-skype-support-for-sanal-525067.html|title=Support pours in for Indian rationalist forced to live in Finland|website=News18|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> On 31 July 2012, Edamaruku left India and settled in {{wipe|Finland}}.<ref name=":3" /> As of 2014, the Catholic Secular Forum were still saying they would call for his prosecution if he returned to India.<ref name=":3" />

== See also ==
* [[Unsolved:Weeping statue|Weeping statue]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


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[[Category:Catholicism-related controversies]]

{{Sourceattribution|Weeping crucifix in Mumbai}}