Indian archbishop reiterates opposition to anti-conversion bill

Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, leader of the Christian community in Karnataka, on October 25 reiterated his opposition to a government move to introduce a bill to ban “forcible religious” in the southern Indian state.

“The entire Christian Community in Karnataka opposes the proposal in one voice and questions the need for such an exercise when sufficient laws and court directives are in place to monitor any aberration of the existing laws,” the archbishop says in a press release on October 25.

Later addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, the state capital, the prelate said he would meet state Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to apprise him of Christian community’s concern over the proposed law.

“We will appeal once again to the Karnataka government and I don’t mind meeting CM Bommai again, along with other leaders,” he told the press conference convened by the ecumenical All Karnataka United Christians Forum for Human Rights.

Archbishop Machado is the president of the forum as well as the Catholic bishops in the state.

In his press release, the prelate points out that the Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen the “freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess practice and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health.” It also allows all denominations to manage their affairs in matters of religion.

The prelate’s press release says that the new laws would infringe the rights of the citizens, especially of the minority communities. “Moreover, anti-conversion bill would become a tool for the fringe elements to take law into their own hands and vitiate the atmosphere with communal unrest in the otherwise peaceful state,” he warns.

The prelate questions an order of the government’s Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department that to survey both official and non-official Christian missionaries and Church Institutions and establishments functioning in the state.

“We fail to understand the compelling need behind such a move. If the government so desires to have a survey, let it do it. But why the only Christian community is targeted and marked for this arbitrary, fallacious and illogical move?” he asks.

The press release terms the survey as a futile exercise since the state and federal governments already possess all relevant data about the Christian community.

“What is the motive that is driving them to do so? The government is in possession of the actual census figures of the community since independence. If the allegations of rampant conversion across the state is true, why then the number has not increased beyond 1.87 percent as per the last census figures?” the prelate asks.

Archbishop Machado told the press conference that the Christians in the state would protest silently if the government goes ahead with enacting the anti-conversion law.

The Christians forum also plans to urge the community to observe prayers and fasting on the second Friday of November.