Catholic groups seek divine help over EVMS

Catholic groups are asking members to say special prayers for divine help in recalibrating devices that could have been tampered with to suit certain political dispensations.

This comes against the backdrop of concerns about tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS).

The office of the Archbishop of Bombay, however, said the messages should not be given any importance as they are not from the church authorities.

Messages circulating on social media have asked church members to pray till June 4 when the counting of votes polled during the long-drawn seven-phase general elections will be announced.

One message doing the rounds says: "Our Lord is capable of recalibrating the EVMs that have been manipulated." Another message said: "Kindly say this small prayer in faith and thank our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, believing that God Almighty decides the result and it's going to be announced on the 4 June, and send this prayer to people you feel will also pray, thank and share it.

Do not stop saying "Thank You Lord' in faith until the final results are declared please." A message sent out by Father Frazer Mascarenhas, former principal of St Xavier's College, Mumbai, has asked church members to pray for the safety of democracy and the Constitution as they wait for the election results.