Under the conversion bogey anti-religious feelings are being whipped up: Archbishop Peter Machado

Bengaluru:  Bangalore Archbishop Peter Machado on October 15 termed the Karnataka government’s decision to survey Christian missionaries in the state as a “futile and unnecessary” and “dangerous” exercise that could whip up “anti-religious feelings.”

In a statement released by the Bangalore Archdiocese, Bishop Machado said “In the background of the conversion bogey and anti-religious feelings that are being whipped up, it is dangerous to make such surveys.”

He also expressed his apprehensions that the exercise would unfairly target the Christian community, its places of worship, and also pastors and sisters. “We are already hearing of such sporadic incidents in the north and in Karnataka already,” the statement said.

He also questioned the government as to it is interested in making a survey of the religious personnel and places of worship only of the Christian Community.

The Archbishop also alleged the chief minister Basavaraj Bommai of succumbing to the pressure of fundamentalist groups. “We are sad that the honourable chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, whom we regard highly as a broad-minded and enlightened person succumbs to the pressures from fundamentalist groups,” he said.

He further asked the government to look at the social service done by the Christian organisations. “Let the government take the count of the educational institutions and health centres run by the Christian missionaries. That will give a fair idea of the service that is rendered by the Christian Community to the nation-building. How many people are converted in these places and institutions? If as alleged by some, Christians are converting indiscriminately why the percentage of the Christian population is reducing regularly when compared to the others?”, he asked.

Further, he said that the Christian community has been “always against forceful, fraudulent and incentivised conversions” and “lawfully abiding by the prescriptions of the Constitution of India.”

He said, “The Christian Community is patriotic, law-abiding and would like to be foremost in the service of the poor and downtrodden in the country. We need support and encouragement from the government.”

The archbishop also questioned the rationale behind the anti-conversion laws. “Why do we need any anti-conversion laws when there are enough safeguards enshrined in the Constitution and the legal system of the country to punish the guilty? Further laws will only be tools in the hands of a few to hound and persecute the innocent,” he said.

He also drew attention to the Madras High Court judgement about religious conversion. “Just a few days back the Madras Court declared that merely going to church and displaying Christian symbols does not mean that a person has converted,” he added.