Conversions issue takes a backseat

NEW DELHI, NOV 6: Pope John Paul II, the supreme spiritual leader of Catholics, today appreciated the religious freedom and tolerance''...

NEW DELHI, NOV 6: Pope John Paul II, the supreme spiritual leader of Catholics, today appreciated the 8220;religious freedom and tolerance8221; in India but the controversial issue of conversions and the recent attacks on the Christian community appear to have been skirted in his discussions with Indian leaders.

But the Vatican separately sought to defend conversions, firmly opposed by the Sangh Parivar, as a matter of human rights and not an inter-religious affair.

The Vatican head, on his second visit to India in 13 years, told President Narayanan at Rashtrapati Bhawant that there was 8220;more religious freedom8221; in this country than many others. Both sides described the 30-minute meeting as very cordial and warm.

Appreciating the general atmosphere of tolerance in India, he said this was part of the country8217;s rich tradition of tolerance.

Narayanan conveyed to the Vatican head that freedom of religion was the cornerstone of India and that 8220;even though some intolerant fringe groups had been seen of late,the principle of freedom of religion was paramountquot;.Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who held a 20-minute meeting with the Pope, told him that the Indian Constitution was secular in character and his government was committed to giving equal respect to all religions.

He said the multi-religious character of the society was reflected in ample measure in unity in diversity.

The Pope visited the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and recalled Gandhi8217;s quote: 8220;A culture cannot survive if it attempts to be exclusive.8221;Father Dominic Emmanuel, spokesman of the Catholic Bishop Conference,

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briefing reporters on the Pope8217;s parleys with Indian leaders, said 8220;there was no occasion for the Pope to make any remarks8221; on attacks on Christians because the statement by the hosts encompassed everything about religious tolerance.

The Vatican spokesman Jacquine Nevarro Valls said conversions were not an inter-religious affair but a matter of human rights.

He said individuals should have the freedom to choosethe kind of religion they want to follow. Even though this problem was 8220;small, it did not represent the majority,8221; he added. At his meeting with the Pope at Hyderabad House, Vajpayee thanked the Pontiff for being in India during the happy occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights, which signified victory over darkness and of good over evil and that perhaps his visit added more light to this festival.