Sex on Church Premises Shuts Mizo church

Aizawl, Nov 26 : Deeming that sex on hallowed portals was ''desecration'', a church in Mizoram was shut down for a week after an unmarried couple was found making love on its porch.

The couple was caught having sex on the porch of the United Pentecostal Church (northeast India), located at Darnam locality in Serchhip, on the night of November 14 by Vanlalsanga, a church elder.

"The act of sex on the premises of the church was considered a blasphemy and the church was closed for a week. It was opened after a pastoral board meeting pardoned the couple,'' Vanlalsanga said on Thursday.

Most of the church denominations in the state regard pre-marital sex as a ''grievous sin''. Earlier, some churches have been dismantled due to ''desecration'' by couples making out and were opened again only after rebuilding and cleansing.

In the incident at the United Pentecostal Church, the meeting of the pastoral board decided not to dismantle the church as the act was performed on the porch.

The board also pardoned the couple for their ''profany in the name of God'' and the church was opened again for religious services.