Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Fides Service) - The right of every man, woman and child of whatever creed to freely profess, practice and propagate their religion and that any opposition to genuine conversion is “unwarranted interference in God’s unique competence in the matter” were key points in an intervention on religious freedom and anti-conversion laws in India by Cardinal Ivan Dias - whom the Pope appointed on 20 May Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. The intervention of Cardinal Dias comes after sectors of the Indian government and press and some intellectuals criticised Pope Benedict’s speech to the new Indian Ambassador to the Holy See Amitava Tripathi in which the Pope remarked on “disturbing signs of religious intolerance which have troubled some regions of the nation, including the reprehensible attempt to legislate clearly discriminatory restrictions on the fundamental right of religious freedom”. Seven states of the Indian federation have already approved anti-conversion laws. The government of New Delhi convoked the Apostolic Nuncio to India Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana to express its displeasure affirming that “it is universally recognised that India is a secular and democratic country where believers of different religions enjoy equal rights” and “where there exists freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion”. The intervention by Cardinal Ivan Dias, which Fides gives below in full, clarifies the position of the Catholic Church on this sensitive issue. (Agenzia Fides 24/5/2006 righe 23 parole 263)
