Mumbai: The Archdiocese of Bombay has expressed concerns over the Maharashtra government's plan to enact a law to prevent religious conversions.
The church said that freedom of religion is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution of India and a law that criminalises voluntary spiritual choices violates this constitutional guarantee.
The Roman Catholic church said that media reports have quoted state Minster for Revenue Chandrashekhar Bawankule's statements in the assembly session about the proposal to enact a strict anti-conversion law.
In a statement issued on Friday, the archdiocese said that while they respected the government’s duty to uphold public order, the church believed that any legislation restricting religious freedom must be carefully evaluated against India’s constitutional framework.
The archdiocese said that choice of religion is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India, which protects every citizen’s freedom of conscience, profession, practice, and propagation of faith. Any anti-conversion law that criminalises voluntary spiritual choices violates this sacred constitutional promise, the statment said. The Catholic Church unequivocally rejects forced conversions and operates strictly within legal boundaries, serving communities through education, healthcare, and social welfare – especially in marginalised regions. Our mission is rooted in compassion, not coercion, the statement further said.
The Archdiocese of Bombay urged the Maharashtra government to reconsider this proposal, which, according to the church, risks fostering division and targeting vulnerable communities. The Catholic Church remains committed to interfaith dialogue and lawful service to society. We trust that the state will uphold India’s pluralistic ethos and protect the rights of all citizens to pursue truth and faith with dignity, the statement added.
