By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-14 19:48:14 | Updated at 2024-11-21 12:56:10
6 days ago
CV NEWS FEED // Archbishop of Bombay Cardinal Oswald Gracias has strongly opposed the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s proposal to introduce an anti-conversion law in Maharashtra, which could make religious conversions nearly impossible.
The Cardinal’s opposition comes as the BJP prepares for the upcoming state elections on November 20, with the controversial law as part of its election agenda, Asia News reported.
Amit Shah, India’s Home Affairs Minister and a senior BJP leader, outlined the proposal during the presentation of his party’s manifesto. The BJP, part of the Mahayuti coalition, is aiming to implement the law, which would prevent religious conversions by individuals.
Cardinal Gracias emphasized that the Vatican Council documents explicitly oppose anti-conversion laws, highlighting that for Christians, conversion is a personal transformation of the heart.
He pointed out that the Church requires a lengthy catechumenate period to ensure the sincerity of those seeking baptism. Additionally, he reinforced that freedom of religion and the right to convert are fundamental human rights, protected by India’s Constitution.
“No civil authority has the right to enter the shrine, which is the conscience of every single person, let alone decide what a conscience should say,” Cardinal Gracias said. “No government can come into my soul and tell my conscience saying, ‘you cannot change your religion. You must worship God in this way.’”
Anti-conversion laws are already in place in 10 of 36 Indian states, and proposals for similar laws have been introduced in other regions, according to AsiaNews.
