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New Delhi: Mr.M.P.Pinto, the Vice-Chairman of
the National Commission for Minorities, has called for
nation-wide discussion on what constitutes the much
talked about “forced conversion.”
Mr.
Pinto was addressing the a gathering at the Tenth
Anniversary Celebration of Praise the Almighty held on
February 6, 2009 at the Delhi Diocesan Community Hall.
Mr. Pinto observed that although there are
anti-conversion laws in several states in India, the
legal system still lacks a clear definition for charges
such as converting someone “by force or by fraud.”
Anyone who wishes to convert has to appear before a
magistrate who then should decide whether the conversion
is legal. How on earth can a magistrate peep into a
person’s heart to see whether it is God or Mammon that
motivates him/her to convert, asked Mr. Pinto.
Therefore, we need a think-tank in this country that
will deliberate on this topic and come up with a
credible definition of what constitutes “conversion by
coercion or fraud.”
Mr. Pinto had three important messages for the Indian
Church. First, Christians in India must not think that
they are at the mercy of any other religious group. The
Constitution of India guarantees all the right to
profess, practice and propagate their faiths. This is
not the result of some condescending concession given to
the minorities; it is our constitutional right.
Second, there’s no meaning in the debate about
conversion. Former Prime Minister had called for a
national debate on religious conversion. “What is the
use of the right to propagate my faith if those who are
convinced by our doctrine cannot convert to our faith?”
Mr. Pinto asked.
Finally, we need to be careful that there occurs no
conversion to Christianity on account of fraud or
coercion. Those who convert to Christianity as a result
of greed or as a result of coercion are our enemies.
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