Bombay Archdiocese Raises Alarm Over Maharashtra's Anti-Conversion Legislation
The Archdiocese of Bombay has publicly expressed deep concern following the Maharashtra cabinet's approval of a draft anti-conversion bill. In a formal statement released on Tuesday, the Church's press office articulated significant reservations about specific provisions within the proposed legislation.
Concerns About State Overreach and Religious Freedom
While acknowledging the state's legitimate duty to protect individuals from coercion, inducement, or deceit in religious matters, the Archdiocese emphasized that certain clauses in the bill threaten to undermine fundamental personal freedoms. The statement declared, "We must express serious reservations about provisions that undermine personal freedom of conscience."
A primary point of contention is the requirement for a mandatory 60-day prior notice and explicit permission from a designated government authority before any act of conversion can legally occur. The Church argues this creates an excessively burdensome bureaucratic process.
"It reduces religion from a matter of conscience to a matter of state permission," the statement asserted. "No citizen should need state approval to respond to the voice of one's conscience. Such a mechanism risks eroding the very dignity the law claims to defend."
Theological Stance on Conversion and Fear of Legal Abuse
The Archdiocese was unequivocal in its rejection of forced conversions, stating such acts are "theologically invalid." It clarified that true conversion is understood as "a free act of the spirit, never coerced."
However, the Church expressed particular alarm over a clause that permits blood relatives to initiate police action by filing complaints. The statement warned this provision, "without safeguards against malice, opens the door to abuse."
To ensure fairness and prevent false allegations, the Archdiocese proposed that complainants should also be held accountable. "To prevent such a situation, where an allegation proves baseless, fairness demands that the complainant too be held accountable and penalised," the statement recommended.
Commitment to Dialogue and Call for Reconsideration
Despite its criticisms, the Church in Mumbai affirmed its commitment to constructive engagement. The statement concluded by reiterating the Church's dedication to upholding the right of every person to seek, embrace, or change faith freely, without the fear of legal punishment.
"We will continue to uphold this right... We urge the government to reconsider these clauses," the Archdiocese stated, signaling its intent to continue dialogue on the sensitive issue while advocating for legislative amendments to protect individual conscience and prevent potential misuse of the law.
