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CHRISTIANS
IN INDIA ARE AT NO ONE’S MERCY: M.P. PINTO |
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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, at the De lhi
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.
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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This page
is updated on March 15, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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