Indian court disqualifies Catholic politician for misusing religion

Published: 2006-11-02

PUNE, India (CNS) -- An Indian court has said a Catholic politician can no longer serve in Parliament because he used his religious background to woo voters. The Kerala High Court ruled Oct. 31 that former Federal Minister of Law and Justice P.C. Thomas' 2004 election to Parliament was void, and it declared his political rival, P.M. Ismail of the Communist Party of India, elected. The court said Thomas had indulged in "corrupt practices under two sections of the Representation of the People Act -- for circulating leaflets and calendars seeking votes of Christians and for using vehicles to transport voters to polling booths." The leaflets included a specific request "to vote for Thomas, who was described as a representative of Christians," the court said. The calendar had photographs of Thomas, Pope John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The court granted a one-month stay on the judgment to enable Thomas to file an appeal before the Indian Supreme Court.

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