The Hindu : T.N. Bishops' Council criticises Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 15, 2003

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T.N. Bishops' Council criticises Jayalalithaa

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JUNE 14. The Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council has expressed hurt and displeasure at the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's criticism of Pope John Paul-II for his comments on the anti-forcible conversion law enacted in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

In a statement, the council said the Pope, while addressing a group of Bishops from India, had touched upon appropriate issues on the Church and its effective services in India. As the leader of the Catholic Christians in the world, he had the right to express his concern over the difficulties faced by Christians in certain parts of India.

When violation of fundamental rights such as religious freedom took place, it was the duty of any individual to condemn it.The Pope, as a conscience-keeper of the world, had always raised his voice against the violation of human rights and war. But, it was unfortunate that some people, who make disrespectful comments against the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics, misconstrued the good intentions of the Pope.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's remarks that the law was not against conversion but only forcible conversion did not justify the legislation, which was "totally unnecessary and open to misuse." "Forcible conversion is a bogey created by communal forces, as the minority communities have absolutely no means of using force, and the talk of fraudulent conversion is an insult to the intellect and free will of the Indian people," the council, headed by the Chennai Archbishop, Aruldas James, said.The council also appealed to the people in the corridors of power to "use their good offices" to create social and religious harmony rather than strengthen the hands of divisive forces.

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