ASIA/SRI LANKA - No to a law which banning conversion violating freedom of conscience: joint message from Catholic Bishops and Protestant church leaders

Colombo (Fides Service) - “We disapprove the moves to enact legislation to prohibit or restrict conversions and call upon all people of goodwill to stand up for the free exercise of religious freedom and freedom of conscience for all”: this position was expressed in a statement issued on June 29 by the Catholic and non Catholic Christians of Sri Lanka. A copy of the statement signed by Archbishop Vianney Fernando on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference and Rev. Kumara Illangasinghe, on behalf of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka was sent to Fides/
The attention of the Catholic Bishops' Conference and the National Christian Council in Sri Lanka focused on the bill titled, " Prohibition of forcible conversion of Religion " published in the Gazette on 28th May 2004 and to the fact that the Cabinet has approved another suggested draft to ban conversions.
The Bishops recognise that for some time now there has been growing anxiety and agitation over . “We do not condone any unethical practices or any form of compulsions and do categorically denounce them. We reiterate our call to work together as leaders of all religions in our country to address this situation. We are always ready and willing to participate in any process that would ease religious tensions, identify practices that injure the religious susceptibility of any community and work towards greater religious harmony in our country”.
The Bishops affirm “however, whilst acknowledging the problem and offering to participate in meaningful ways to redress these issues, we strongly believe that enacting legislation will not solve the problem. On the contrary, it will create problems of its own. Apart from the serious violation of personal freedoms, it will pave the way for the oppression of minority religions in the country. In these circumstances, we have little option but to collaborate in finding other democratic ways to deal with our inter-religious tensions.”
After carefully examining the drafts the Bishops say that if they are enacted, “freedom of thought , conscience and religion of all citizens will be seriously endangered”, because the measures under examination “violate the people’s fundamental rights sanctioned by the Constitution”. The Bishops voice concern for the erosion of the freedom of personal choice and the character of pluralism, “both essential pillars of a modern democratic society”.
The statement is also an opportunity to clarify the Catholic and Protestant Bishops’ position with regard to religious freedom: “All the four religions in our country have cherished and exercised that right to propagate their religion throughout the world…Therefore, we see no reason why a fundamental right enjoyed by us in other countries should be denied in our own. We affirm our commitment to protecting the individual's freedom to have or adopt any religion or belief of his or her free choice. No fetters should be placed in the path of the exercise of that freedom by legislative or other means... It is both a basic feature and duty of all religions to teach and propagate their faith, for in doing so they spread the highest human values”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/6/2004 lines 55 words 554)