Posted on 05/19/2006 6:12:50 PM PDT by 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.
What does it matter what they were in the first place? Are you honestly saying that someone can never change their beliefs? You're right, they were not Christians to begin with. So what? People are allowed to change what they believe.
You are VERY paranoid. You honestly think that a Hindu converting to Christianity because he/she heard about it is somehow forcing or enticing? You must be joking.
I have news for you, once they are baptized, they are Christians, regardless of what they were before.
Would you make the same assertion about Christians who become (as you say) "so-called" Hindu? That because they were not Hindu to begin with they would not be fully Hindu?
That is absolutely insane.
"Humanitarian activity" is a highly abused word. It never comes without any strings attached. India may be poor but even we know very well there is no free lunch. So what would you want in return?
And as you yourself may very well know, there is a very thin line between education and indoctrination.
Of course he wants to evangelize India. Widely known fact? I'd think it would be a universally known fact. It's required. It's a commandment of Jesus Christ.
Oh, to the contrary. He has a great deal of interest in --- let's not say "meddling" --- trying to influence Indias's affairs, especially as they touch upon religious liberty. There's 17 million Catholics in India, and all of them (like all Christians) are ALSO required to pray and work for the reign of God, the eternal well-being of souls, the spread of the Gospel and the baptism of all nations.
Many of us lack the whole-hearted and generous love which Christ calls for, but it is the mission of every Christian.
So the spread of the Gospel everywhere is precisely the Pope's business. What other business would he have?
Imam Syed Bukhari of Jama Masjidh (the imam of all Shia Muslims in India) has an agenda to make India a Muslim majority Islamic republic in another 50 years time (with the Islamic flag flying over Delhi). Imam Bukhari is at least an Indian .......the Pope is not. So by right at least the Imam has a say in India's affairs. The Pope has no such right. His statements are akin to a foreign head of the State directly meddling in India's affairs. He may believe its his divine right or whatever but for a sovereign nation like India his comments as a head of a Nation State is directly hostile and must be construed as such. India must snap all ties with the Vatican and withdraw its embassy and send all of Vatican's emissaries back home.
It maybe the Pope's business to spread Gospel everywhere but India's business is to maintain her secular character. We are under no obligation to follow the commandment of Jesus Christ.
You should try going to an american consulate as a hindu priest with a stated aim of getting a visa to convert the pagan and devil worshipping americans to hinduism. See how fast the consulate officer boots you out.
The christian missionaries on the other hand have no such restrictions in entering India. Some come on religious visas, others come on tourist visas and blatantly break the law by indulging in missionary activities. Therein lies the difference.
Very true. The same can be said of Africa and other parts of Asia like Cambodia. I think some people think of conversion as a polite, intellectual quest. Truth is that conversion my missionaries in some parts of the world is more like a Sales Manager trying to meet his quota.
Yes. Very very very much so. I would say the same if a christian converted to hinduism/buddhism/atheism and went back to his roots.
Hindu priests cant step into an american consulate and get a visa to convert people in america. Christian priests can. How else do you explain the hordes of missionaries and an estimated $350 million dollars being pumped into that country every year.
No, I think people first think about surviving in THIS world before they can think of the next one.
1. The Pope, as the leader of Catholics worldwide, is perfectly within his right to express his concerns to India on matters that might affect the functioning of the Catholic Church there. These "anti-conversion" laws may threaten the outreach efforts that are an integral part of the Church's activities.
2. As a sovereign nation, India is free to ignore or rebuke the above comments. But I fail to see why an India that touts is democracy and associated freedoms cannot take a look at laws that contradict one of the most fundamental human rights.
3. Yes, a few spreaders of the Gospel may have not followed the path they are supposed to but do not claim that everyone that converts to Christianity does so due to fear or money or other worldly inducements. Most missionaries work in the most wretched of places without forcing anything on those who they help.
4. Those that are quick to condemn India for the caste system or other ills take a step back and rememember that we as a nation did not live up to our ideals until not too long ago. India is not Pakistan or Saudi Arabia and it is not fair to tar that country with a broad brush lest we be tarred with the same.
Cronos, take a trip through Asia. See the backlash that is building up against this stupidity. Hinduism cant be destroyed by this missionaries. They will definitely succeed in creating a Hindu Christian enimity that will last for generations. A Hindu and Buddhist backlash is building up against Christian Missionaries right at the moment when we need them to tackle Islamic extremism. There is anger building up not just in india but in sri lanka, thailand, vietnam.
You should turn around and offer the same lecture to these missionaries. They are spoiling the good name that Christianity and America have built up over the ages.
One can make an argument that it is a commandment of the hindu faith NOT to allow evangelization. Fair and Square.
And shootings, beatings, lynchings. /sarcasm
That is not in line with what was said earlier. The whole thing about it being illegal if someone converts from listening to a missionary, etc. If simply listening to a missionary causes someone to convert, what business is it of the government?
As I have said before and repeat it for the umpteenth time. And expostion of the tenets of ones faith is no crime and voluntary acceptance of another religion is no crime either but proselytization as a systematic and organised activity is unacceptable. It is the judiciary's business to ascertain if the conversion is indeed genuine and not simply a scam as is the case with most of the Christian conversions in India.
"That article is about Christian fundamentalism which has zip to do with Catholicism, so why are you bashing the Pope?"
Bashing the Pope? I think India must cut off all ties with Vatican and the Pope.
India has produced the greatest religion and philosophies the world has ever seen. (Or will see.) You do not need the false doctrines and sermons of mere ignorant men who do not even understand their own Messiah's commandments.
"wow -- you guys really want to undermine ALL the good image India's got, don't you? India AND Hinduim have a pretty good image and an improving one, but with words like your you are undermining that attempt."
If something has to be said then it should be said the way it needs to be said. No reason why we should mince words to keep up a pretty image.
Well said. No need to be nice to the "conquistadors".
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