Pope asks India not to ban religious conversions

Hindustan Times ^ | May 20, 2006

[nickcarraway]

India has responded with diplomatic equanimity to Pope Benedict XVI's seemingly provocative remarks condemning attempts to ban religious conversion in certain states.

The pope had told India’s new ambassador to the Vatican, Amitava Tripathi, on Thursday that the country should "firmly reject" attempts "to legislate clearly discriminatory restrictions on the fundamental right to religious freedom". He had also taken note of the "disturbing signs of religious intolerance which had troubled some regions of the nation".

New Delhi responded on Friday with a statement, reiterating the constitutional "freedom of conscience" and the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion. "It is acknowledged universally that India is a secular and democratic country where adherents of all faiths enjoy equal rights," said a foreign ministry spokesperson.

It was the pope's second declaration this week in defence of religious freedom in countries where Christians are a minority. In India, the statement comes in the backdrop of Rajasthan planning to become the sixth state to enact the anti-conversion law the pope was referring to. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa already have laws that bar conversions but allow re-conversions to Hinduism. Jharkhand has declared its intention to enact a similar law.

The BJP-ruled Rajasthan, however, has not been able to convince Governor Pratibha Patil to give her assent to the Religious Conversion Bill. She returned the bill making a point similar to the one made by the pope -- that its provisions would affect the right to freedom of religion.

The BJP has often attributed attacks on Christian missionaries, including the murder of Graham Staines in Orissa, as reactions to their proselytising. During his recent Bharat Suraksha Yatra, BJP president Rajnath Singh had described proselytising "dangerous" and asked all BJP-ruled states to enact a similar law.

[Cronos]

I offer that story simply as a story told to me by some Indian developers I worked with. I offer it to show that perhaps this occurs, and that for sure people in India believe this occurs.

Well, I state that there is no proof and it's just a propaganda piece like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, until proven.

[The Lion Roars]

They did actually in most cases, because British rule was actually through Indian (mostly Hindu) proxies.

Wrong. The British used the natives as 'subordinates'. Subordinate aint equal.

[Cronos]

Especially a big idol of Ganesh in every church. :-).

You're not making any sense -- first you say that you don't want Christians preaching inside the temple complex at Tirumala (and to which I agree with you) and then next you seem to say that you want Churchs built INSIDE the temples at Tirumala? Why do you want to do that? Why are you Hindus asking Christians to build Churchs in you temples? It's not logical.

[Cronos]

Especially a big idol of Ganesh in every church. :-).

You're not making any sense -- first you say that you don't want Christians preaching inside the temple complex at Tirumala (and to which I agree with you) and then next you seem to say that you want Churchs built INSIDE the temples at Tirumala? Why do you want to do that? Why are you Hindus asking Christians to build Churchs in your temples? It's not logical.

[winner3000]

However, this Pope is filling very nicely the shoes of his predecessors. God has blessed both with a strong backbone and a strong sense of right and wrong.

[Cronos]

The hate literature against Hindus comming from religious institutions isnt uncommon or just a figment of my imagination as you are trying to suggest.

The hate literature will be against all people with brown skins -- whether the Indians be Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims or Christians. Racist bigots are racist bigots.

[The Lion Roars]

There was no "orgy of violence" -- the Goan Hindu population has always been at least 60% of the overall population.

So are you telling me that the inquisition and the forcible conversion of hindus didnt have an effect? That there was a huge population of christians in goa before the portugese landed?? That is plain wrong.

There WAS persecution during the Inquisition, that's a fact, but no "orgy of violence". Also, Churches in Bombay were attacked by Marathas -- as retaliation. Should the Marathas apologize for somethign that happened 4 centuries ago? No. It was war and a different time and place. The acknowledgement that it happened and it should never happen again is good enough.

The Marathas were attacking the invaders. They dont need to apologise. If the Marathas were doing this in Portugal then they need to apologise and more importantly NEVER DEMAND ANYTHING FROM THOSE PEOPLE. The Pope in contrast sounds arrogant dictating to a nation of a billion people.

[Cronos]

Maybe India will someday (without influence from political organizations in other nations) find more religious expression to be safer.

India already allows freedom of religious expressions. Some states have curtailed, or regressed, from that.

[The Lion Roars]

The hate literature will be against all people with brown skins -- whether the Indians be Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims or Christians. Racist bigots are racist bigots.

There is hate literature of different kinds. There is plenty of hate literature against the Hindus. Sadly most of this comes from the Christians and NOT from the Muslims.

[Cronos]

I have already posted the link for the article on how some of the Missionaries descended to "pray" on the hapless tsunami victims.

You've posted a link froma news channel. Did yu ever stop to ask the question -- why is thename of the charity not given? Why were they not beseiged with reporters asking why they did that? No, you did not, you just spouted the stuff you were fed, without bothering to ask, to question

[The Lion Roars]

Why are you Hindus asking Christians to build Churchs in your temples? It's not logical

I was refering to Temples inside Churches. The logic is if they take the war to your doorstep you will step back.

[Cronos]

It seems to have Baptist origins although the original missionaries seem to have been long gone

your statement says it all, "seems to have", then "original missionaries seem to have been long gone". Then you point out ISI's hand. And the Pakis will pull every regional string to try and dismember India. The main focus is on regionalism

[Cronos]

The Bible belt states would lynch a hindu priest if they found him prosletyzing with a Gita in hand.

Rot -- the Hindu is free to do what he likes. If he's stopped, I will join the protesters who support the Hindu priest's right to preach.

[Cronos]

India would have no need for anti-conversion laws if Hindus were not persecuted in their own country. There would be no reason for a Hindu to "convert."

What is wrong with your entire argument is that you think people convert only because they want to change their lot in THIS world. No, people convert to Christianity, to Hinduism, to Islam etc., in the hopes of improving their lot in the next world. A Hindu would "convert" if he truly believes his soul will be saved through Christ, a Christian would convert only if he truly believes he can escape the cycle of birth and rebirth through Hindu teachings.

[Cronos]

Troll alert

[Romish_Papist]

First of all FRiend. This Pope is doing nothing of tyhe sort. He is simply saying allow religious freedom. That's human rights 101 stuff. Nice way to change the subject by bringing up Goa but I can assure you THIS Pope had nothing to do with it. Are the leading Hindu leaders going to apologize for acts of violence committed by rank and file Hindus?

Worship Hindu gods? Are you joking? First of all we do not believe in Hindu gods. Second, that goes against the very basics of our Catholic faith. But you are actually asking us to put our faith aside and commit what we see as a sin against the One, True, Triune God just to make you feel better? Are we asking you to forsake your gods? Of course not!

You say you want tolerance. How is opening a temple in the heart of Catholicism anything but a smack in our faces when you KNOW our religion is against that? Tolernace, my FRiend does not equate with endorsement of actions or beliefs.

Or perhaps while the Pope is fulfilling your request and praying to your Hindu gods, the Chief of your Hindu Temple would oblige us by declaring that Christ Jesus is one and the same as the Living God. That there are no other gods, only the One? The God of Israel. Perhaps he would make a procession of Catholic faith and forsake the Hindu gods? You know, all out of a spirit of tolerance. Think he'd be up for it?

[Romish_Papist]

What makes reconversion any different?

What about a Christian who becomes HIndu, but then attempts are made to bring him back into the Christian fold? Is that acceptable?