The Indian Catholic weekly The Examiner has issued an apology after readers criticised its decision to feature the late American political activist Charlie Kirk on the cover alongside Catholic figures such as Saint Mother Teresa and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy.
The cover, for the 20-26 September edition, listed Kirk as one of the “Luminaries of Love & Leadership.” In response to reader concerns, the magazine’s editor, Father Joshan Leslie Rodrigues, said the publication had not intended to portray Kirk as a model of holiness. “We agree with this view, and we apologise to all our regular and faithful readers for the distress it may have caused,” he said.
Kirk, who was shot dead on 10 September in the United States, was a controversial figure known for his right-wing positions on issues including Islam, gender, and abortion, and faced accusations of anti-Semitism. The magazine had included a critical article examining his legacy, titled “Charlie Kirk – a polarising figure – in life and death divided opinion.”
Jesuit priest Father Cedric Prakash said placing Kirk on the cover with figures like Mother Teresa and Swamy was unacceptable. “We do not put Judas on the altars,” he commented, acknowledging that while Kirk’s death was tragic, it does not elevate him to the same moral or spiritual status as canonised or martyred figures.
Readers also voiced concerns over Kirk’s worldview. Dr Anthony de Sa from Mumbai noted that Kirk’s definition of Christianity was narrowly focused on a “white” perspective, excluding people from Asia, Africa, and other regions.
Adapted from UCA News.
