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 do see the Bajrang Dal is hated by the media

Nope, the Bajrang Dal is a violent group that believes that intimidation will help them -- and it doesn't. If Hindutva groups want to make a difference, then the acts by some Hindu should point the way == whereby these Hindu groups are reforming their religion, talking about their religion and helping the poor. Face facts -- if you're a leper and someone helps you selflessly, you're going to wonder what drives them. If it's a religion, then you're going to ask about it and the FACT is that most priests and nuns are driven to HELP the poor, not merely to convert. You wonder why Christianity doesn't spread further? It's because it does not coerce people and ALSO, because Hinduism has quarters where the concept of charity and really living and understandign the poor is encouraged. However, the violent Hindutva groups like the Bajrang Dal oppose that idea and are hiding the good that IS there in Hinduism, covering it with their own craziness. And yes, there IS good in Hinduism, it's not a corrupt cult like Islam

[Cronos]

None of these religions claim to be Hinduism. The very idea is totally absurd

Exactly -- but the Hindutva groups define Hinduism as just that -- that it is NOT Buddhism, NOT sikhism, NOT Christianity etc. etc.

Hindu sants have a more positive view -- they will talk about bhakti etc. and not try to define Hinduism by what it is not.

[Cronos]

Exactly -- I wonder if the Lyin' is really a Muslim trying to stir up animosity between Hindus and Christians and thereby prevent the two groups who can stop Islam from having a common cause?

[Cronos]

BTW I do condemn the attacks on Christians.

Good to hear that and I assure you that I and (going by the posts here) all Christians condemn any attacks (physical or verbal) on Hindus either in India or outside India. I also condemn any nutcase groups in the NE from stating that since they are Christian they must break away from India and I also condemn any idiots who are Indian and support Portugal over India (get real -- I was supporting you guys when I told off that nutjob who said that).
I hope you do admit there are Christian terrorists who kill Hindus and I hope you will condemn those as well.

Yes I do -- and I tell thos idiots that they are not Christians and they should be kicked out from any Church they have.



Sigh) What has IT industry got to do with any of this? You were talking about a feeling of alienation if I remember. You mean an IT industry or two would be a solution for every such feeling of alienation?

The IT industry has improved India's economy immensely, correct? Now the focus is no longer Delhi-centric, hence the regions feel more power and the various groups trying to break away from india are being told to shut up -- the DMK no longer even talks about a separate Tamil homeland as there's no need, Tamil culture is safe in the glorious pot-pourri that is India. Ditto for the NE --> people there are telling the terrorists (aka 'militants') to shut up and let the people be Indians. Even in J&K, the muslims are getting integrated with India's economy and many are asking what would happen if they broke away or joined Pakiland. I see the various little regional insurgencies and the maoist claptrap dying down in India as India's economy grows.

What IT COs does the NE have?

None -- but there are people from the NE who work in IT cos in Calcutta, in Bangalore, in Gurgaon. Those are the same people who will go back to the NE and tell the terrorists there to stop lying to the people that India is bad.

I still call the terrorism in the NE a regional terrorism that IS dying down. and trust me -- once Burma becomes a democracy, the NE will be the gateway to SE Asia and then all the terrorists groups will disappear like a bad dream. India's future really IS shining.

[saradippity]

Wasn't India divided in 1948 into Pakistan and India because Hindus and Islamists fought so bitterly and brutally and constantly? Does that hostility no longer exist?

If it doesn't than the world could learn some lessons from their solution. However, if it still exists maybe Islamists are making some forays into India and blaming it on Christians.

[ARridgerunner]

And when Christians and Muslims start defining themselves as part of Hinduism, let me know:-) Until then, Hindutva is only in agreement.

[ARridgerunner]

The Bajrang Dal probably has its violent members, but it isn't a violent cult. (Yet.)

The RSS does help its people, and in an honest way.

Btw, I never wonder why Christianity doesn't spread further. I live in Christian America - have been saturated with it and know it from childhood. Hinduism can learn nothing from Christianity.

So, We disagree. (But you're a good one.) See ya' next time.

[The Lion Roars]

If you cannot provide the proof for a paeophilic allegation, then shut the F up.

There you go..gutter spewing out of your mouth. Grow some manners and we can talk then.

[The Lion Roars]

well, seems like you don't have access to newspapers or magazines or any form of intelligent reading either as the idea that CArdinal Ivan Dias as the next Pope has been speculated in many quarters

really? i am speculating that i will win next years lotto. /sarcasm. nobody can predict these things as you are well aware. let us see an indian become the pope and then we can talk. till then anything is pure speculation.

[The Lion Roars]

I see the various little regional insurgencies and the maoist claptrap dying down in India as India's economy grows.

That is the worst reading of the indian political scene. The Maoists continue to flourish in a red corridor that runs from a South India right upto Nepal. The IT boom has created less than 1 million jobs in India.

[Admin Moderator]

Knock off the flamewar and quit tattling on each other. We're sick of the abuse reports.

[Mannaggia l'America]

One could argue that it is the Vatican that needs to give religious freedom. The Pope should first allow a hindu temple to be built there.

Do you think a Hindu group, or anyone for that matter, could find a piece of land for sale in the Vatican? If a piece of land comes up for sale there, then let's talk. Otherwise, it's a moot point.

[GregH]

Again provide the proof of your paedpohilic allegation? Dont have so eh..what a loser, third worlders are incapable of that. No wonder some are refused visa entry in the US.

[The Lion Roars]

Ah, here we have some more lies -- many WESTERNERS have indulged in paedophilism in india -- not many western missionaries. You see the difference? Can be a bit difficult to actually read I guess.

It is not my job to convince you. Your posts indicate that you have a tendency to twist words and truth. So be it.

[GregH]

I think someone who has probably read too much of the fringe loonie VHP/ BAjrang dal stuff or is a member of that group, someone incapable of logical thought.

[The Lion Roars]

Dont have so eh..what a loser, third worlders are incapable of that. No wonder some are refused visa entry in the US.

The US has been a nation of "legal" immigrants and the hindu community has done us proud. You need to curb your bias. It isnt conservatism but bigotry. The Indians here are a patriotic and a hard working set of people. It is these kind of "first rate", third world immigrants that we welcome.

[GregH]

The comments are not at all directed at all hindus but a few- infact only one you who is making serious but ridiculous allegations about Christian missionaries without a shred of evidence, the kind of stuff that libs indulge in. America is a indeed a nation of immigrants, but even the libs or Christian bashers among the immigrant groups deserve their criticism.

[Gengis Khan]

Lousy third rate scums from so-called "first world countries" coming here from some cheap sex-tourism isnt uncommon.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/840700.cms

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3655484.stm

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1422270/posts

The Lion Roars is right a few years ago several news articles appeared in the print media where foreign missionaries were involved in pedophilia especially in South India. They come as guest to our country, mostly in the garb of "men of God" and then rape our children. So much for their "missionary work".

Check some of the reactions comming from Indians regarding such incidents:

http://www.outlookindia.com/submain1.asp?mode=25&refer=65098&rcount=0

http://indiaculture.net/talk/messages/65/722.html?1094528879

http://www.sulekha.com/blogs/blogdisplay.aspx?cid=31723

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=73&page=31

[The Lion Roars]

And according to the church there is widespread abuse of nuns in Africa and India. These guys should be arrested immediately and put in prison.

http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/031601/031601a.htm

[GregH]

Again any proof of missionaries involved in it?

And a Link to some hate filled message site..is that the best you can do? Haha..


What a bunck of loons, you and the other poster are a disgrace to hard working decent Indians. It is hard to imagine so many fringe hate filled loonies are in America, must be a slip of the visa system.