Conversion: need to look within, Delhi Archbishop gives a call

The National United Christian Forum has asked the them to nominate five members each to form a panel to look into the question of conversion and other issues faced by the community, at a time when Hindutva forces are attacking the Church on the same.

The Forum has suggested that the panel should examine whether there is anything 8220;unchristian8221; in the activities of various churches. The Forum is itself of the view that forced conversions and offering incentives for the same are certainly unchristian.

8220;Conversion is a life-long process. If somebody voluntarily comes forward to embrace Christ, there is nothing wrong. Nobody can come between an individual and God. But forced conversion is certainly wrong. Even offering incentives for this purpose is not right,8221; Archbishop of Delhi Vincent M Concessao, a Catholic priest who is also the president of the Forum, told The Indian Express.

Expressing regret that some of the independent denominations and churches working in India were not accountable, Rev Concessao said they needed to get back to scriptures.

At the same time, Concessao said the Hindutva forces had succeeded in giving a wrong meaning to conversion and making that an excuse for violence. He said the National United Christian Forum planned to expose their 8220;gameplan8221;.

8220;The Hindutvawadis are not Hindus, they may claim they are Hindus. Their ideology is imported and is against the spirit of the Constitution. They have no roots here,8221; he said.

In the context of the violence in Orissa, he said 8220;this is an opportunity to wake up. We need to have a dialogue among ourselves, we need to make Christianity known on the one hand and expose Hindutva ideology and their strategy on the other8221;.

The forum8217;s move is line with the stand taken by the Vatican on the issue of conversion. 8220;While everyone has a right to invite others to an understanding of their faith, it should not be exercised by violating other8217;s rights and religious sensibilities,8221; it said two years ago.

At an all-faith consultation on the issue of conversion, the Vatican had again underscored that 8220;all should heal themselves from the obsession of converting others8221; and practitioners and establishments of all faiths should ensure that 8220;conversion by unethical means is discouraged and rejected8221;.

Rev Concessa also asked Christian bodies to work on the 8220;practical education8221; of Christian children studying in missionary schools and through them of their parents on the secular and democratic ethos of the country. Besides, he pointed out that there is a need for United Christian Forums to be set up at regional levels for better networking.