Advertisements under scrutiny

G A D Sirimal

It was reported recently, a special Fraud Investigation Unit has been set up to monitor all television and print advertisements for their legitimacy to carry out relevant investigations on those fake persons and institutions who dupe the innocent people to part with their money believing what is being advertised bring instant relief and results.

It is a regular feature in the electronic media and the news print that individuals claim instant cure for ailments.

For example, a prominent advertisement over the TV by a Buddhist priest says, he could unite couples, win the heart of girls by charms and talisman. Some advertise of mass curing and all ills by prayer.

Innocent and gullible people throng to these prayer meetings, and in some cases the victims have to enter hospital with mental disorders. Wide publicity is not given of these incidents as it may cause a religious uproar.

It will be interesting for readers and also the Fraud Investigation Unit of the Police to know and act on what Pope Benedict XVI had said on this same issue in his book “Vademecun to ascertain the claim of individuals and such organizations. To quote from (C) Telegraph Group London of 14.1.09 reported by Simon Caldwel.”

“When a claim of heavenly apparition occur, the local Bishop will need to set up a commission of psychiatrists, psychologists, theologians and priests who will investigate the claims systematically.

The first step will be to impose silence on the alleged visionaries and if they refuse to obey then this will be taken as a sign that their claims are false.

The visionaries will next be visited by a psychiatrist, either atheists of Catholics, to certify their mental health and verify whether they are suffering from conditions of hysterical or hallucinatory character or from delusions of leadership.

The third step will be to investigate the person’s level of education and to determine if they have had access to material that could be used falsely to support their claims.

The fourth is to see if the visionaries and their associates stand to gain financially from making their claims.”

It is hoped that these guide lines set out by Pope Benedict XVI will be an added information to apprehend the culprits and save innocent helpless people from this massive unsuspected fraud.