BANGALORE (UCAN): “There is no good that will come out of it. In fact, with the background of the conversion bogey and anti-religious feelings that are being whipped up, it is dangerous to make such surveys,” Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, India, said on October 15, after the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department of Karnataka reportedly agreed to order a survey of missionaries working in the southern state.
“Our community places of worship, as well as pastors and sisters, will be identified and may be unfairly targeted. We are already hearing of such sporadic incidents in the north and Karnataka already,” the archbishop said, adding, “We consider this exercise as futile and unnecessary.”
“Why is the government interested in making a survey of the religious personnel and places of worship only of the Christian community?” Archbishop Machado wondered.
Christian leaders in Karnataka say people have witnessed targeted attacks on their personnel, institutions and even prayer meetings at houses mostly by radical Hindu groups believed to have indirect support from the Bharatiya Janata Party dominated state administration.
The survey move “will put our people in danger,” Archbishop Machado cautioned.
“None of our personnel work underground. Everyone is working with the people for their welfare and the government is well aware of it. But still, I don’t understand the purpose of such religious profiling of only Christians and their institutions,” he said.
‘None of our personnel work underground. Everyone is working with the people for their welfare and the government is well aware of it. But still, I don’t understand the purpose of such religious profiling of only Christians and their institutions’
Archbishop Machado
“Let the government take the count of education institutions and health centres run by Christian missionaries. That will give a fair idea of the service that is rendered by the Christian community to nation building and how many people are converted in these places and institutions.,” Archbishop Machado said, asking, “If Christians are converting indiscriminately, as alleged by some, why is the percentage of the Christian population reducing when compared to others?”
The archbishop also questioned the government’s reported plan to bring in a law to check religious conversion in the state.
“Why do we need any anti-conversion law when there are enough safeguards enshrined in the constitution and the legal system of the country to punish the guilty?” he asked. “We need support and encouragement from the government.”
Eight Indian states have anti-conversion laws criminalising religious conversions.
Christian leaders see the profiling of missionaries and places of Christian worship as an attempt to target a community that works among the poor and needy.
Karnataka has 61 million people, of whom 84 per cent are Hindus, followed by Muslims at 13 per cent and Christians at two per cent.
