Indian cardinal slams proposal to control religious places

“I am totally against this. It interferes with the religious freedoms guaranteed by the Indian Constitution,” Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, based in the state capital, told UCA News on Jan. 2.
Last month, Rahul Narwekar, the speaker of the state legislative assembly, urged the House to consider a new law bringing religious places and properties of all faiths under state control. 

“Besides, the Catholic Church has more stringent measures to regulate affairs of the church than the government,” Gracias added.

Narwekar made the remarks while discussing changes in regulations for the management of Siddhivinayak Trust, which manages a prominent Hindu temple in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), the country’s financial capital. 

He said Indian secularism demands treating all religions equally, but people question the government controlling only Hindu religious places.

“I think all religions should be treated equally, and as such, worshipping places of all religions should be brought under the control of the government,” he said.

Gracias said the government is “floating this idea to gauge our response, but it will certainly create disturbance in our communities.”

Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of Watchdog Foundation, a non-government organization, said the proposal “should be dismissed outright.”

He said Christian properties and places of worship were already governed by laws such as the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and the Indian Trusts Act of 1882.

“The proposed government control over religious places contradicts these fundamental rights and undermines the secular framework of our nation.”

He said the Indian constitution guarantees that the state “will not discriminate, patronize, or interfere in the practice of any religion.”

Protestant Christian leader Abraham Mathai said religious freedom is the cornerstone of democracy, and any attempt to bring places of worship under government control undermines this fundamental right. 

Mathai, a former vice chairman of the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, further stressed that no religion should be subject to government control.

“For faith belongs to individuals and is very personal, not institutions of power,” he added.
Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash said there are adequate provisions in the Indian Constitution that guarantee every citizen the right to preach, practice, and propagate one’s religion and to administer one’s place of worship.

“Should there be any fraudulent practice or malpractice in exercising this authority, there are mechanisms and laws to address them,” he noted.

Melwyn Fernandes, general secretary of the Mumbai-based Association of Concerned Christians, said the Indian constitution allows individuals and religious denominations to practice and manage their affairs without unwarranted state interference.

“The government cannot interfere with places of worship of any faith,” he said.

source : ucanews