By Verghese V Joseph –
Bengaluru: In a point-by-point rebuttal over allegations of forced conversions, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore and President of Karnataka Region Catholic Bishop’s Council on Monday contented that there has been a gross misrepresentation of actual facts on ground concerning this contentious issue of conversion.
The prelate stressed once again that Christian institutions, for years, have been doing yeoman service to the society, state and country at large. Till date, there has not been a single incident of forced conversion and yet it is indeed unfair to talk on bringing about an anti-conversion bill. He questioned the wisdom of from where is the complaint coming from and what is the motive behind such false and fabricated news?
It may recalled that during the recent assembly session at Vidhana Soudha, the house witnessed Hosadurga MLA Goolihatti Shekar’s allegations about religious conversions. Addressing the chair of the house, he complained that his own mother was not spared in converting her to Christianity and said there were mass conversions in the district of Chitradurga. The MLA on the floor of the House, questioned religious conversion and complained that missionaries threatened him with a legal suit regarding his role in caste atrocities. Soon after his presentation in the House, there has been an ongoing public debate about the religious conversions all over again in the State.
The fall out of these allegations by the MLA has triggered a series of needless attacks on various Christian organisations across the State raising false conversion bogey. Several churches have been attacked and vandalised.
A delegation of all the Bishops of Karnataka called upon the State Chief Minister Basavaraja S Bommai on the 22 September 2021 and appealed to him through a memorandum expressing its opposition and firm stand on the issue. They also implored him to refrain from introducing the proposed ‘Anti Conversion Bill’, cautioning that it would only precipitate communal unrest in the otherwise peaceful State. The Chief Minister had responded positively and assured that no decision was taken yet on the matter.
Notwithstanding his assurance, from the media reports it was observed that on several occasions, the CM and some of his cabinet colleagues, on several occasions have expressed that the government was mulling over the introducing ‘Anti-Conversion Bill’ in the next assembly session.
“In this background, we wish to present our views on the gross misrepresentation from actual facts on ground concerning this contentious issue of conversion. We appeal to you to consider our views with an open mind before you take any decision in the matter,” the archbishop said in a press note.
To bolster his argument, the archbishop listed out the selfless service rendered by Christian institutions in the State, besides highlighting the danger of such exercise.
- All over the State of Karnataka and the nation, thousands of educational institutions including schools, colleges and hospitals are established and managed by Christian organisations. Lakhs and lakhs of students are studying and have studied in these institutions and are placed in responsible positions and in high offices. Hundreds and thousands of Judges, IAS officers, Ministers, Politicians have occupied key positions in the country and have all graduated from these Christian institutions. It should be noted that not a single incident of forced conversion has been reported thus far. Then, where is the complaint coming from and what is the motive behind such false and fabricated news?
- Lakhs of patients irrespective of their caste, creed or religion have been receiving the best of medical attention from the Christian run hospitals and rehabilitation centres across the country and State. There have been no reports or instances of having forced to convert or pursued to change his or her religion. The community, through its institutions reached out to the vast suffering humanity during the pandemic and in the process extended a helping hand to the Government. The service rendered is purely on humanitarian grounds and social responsibility in mitigating the suffering of our fellow men and surely not with any malafide motives. Being such, we fail to understand the need for such a bill.
- Stray and sporadic incidents of conversion should not portray the entire community in a bad light. The Government’s statistics proves beyond doubt that since Independence, there has been hardly any increase in the number of Christians and it is all made out to suit the political agenda of some political parties. “We wish to bring to your notice from among the many, a recent report by TOI in their edition dated 07-10-2021, (Copy enclosed) The Madras High Court has observed that ‘A Cross hanging on the wall or any religious symbols’ cannot be assumed that the person has converted. The court has heavily comedown on the false charges denying the constitutional right terming it as bureaucratic narrow mindedness the Constitution never foresaw.”
- If the bill is passed in the assembly and translated into a law, “we fear that it will give way for large scale uncontrolled communal conflagrations. Fringe elements and communal forces will be let loose and take law into their own hands. Moral policing will take precedence and will be the order of the day. All round attacks on religious congregations will be rampant disturbing the peace and unity in the society. We once again reiterate that the Christian community does not encourage forced conversions and bring to your notice that we continue to register our firm opposition to the proposed bill and oppose it tooth and nail.”
- Every citizen of this great nation has been offered by the Constitution a free will and liberty to practice his own religion and religious practices, including inter-faith marriages. The proposed bill will only cause more harm than good in exercising these liberty as enshrined in the Constitution. It will be a tool designed for the fringe elements and communal groups to destroy and damage the fabric of this State, which hitherto enjoys peace.
- “We understand that the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department of Government of Karnataka have issued an order to their officers to conduct a survey of both official and non-official Christian missionaries functioning in the State. While we strongly oppose this move, by virtue of issuing this order, the peace-loving Christian Community is being accused of guilty of a serious crime. If the survey of Missionaries is to be conducted, we demand that all the communities be surveyed as well. Sporadic and insignificant incidents of conversion should not form the basis of maligning the entire community in bad light. We serve a notice to you through this memorandum that the entire Christian Community will not rest until the draconian order of the Backward Classes & Welfare Department order is withdrawn in total,” the press note said.
“In view of the above facts and many more, we appeal your good self to take into consideration many judgments and opinions of the Hon’ble courts across the country, the provisions enshrined in the Constitution and from your own wisdom, refrain from introducing ‘Anti-conversion Bill’ and thereby preserve and contribute for the peace, tranquillity and brotherhood which has been the hallmark of any progressive State,” the archbishop concluded.