[world-vedic] CATHOLIC CHURCH CONDEMNS FORCED CONVERSIONS

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NEW DELHI: The Catholic church today said it condemned outright all

conversions made by force, inducement and allurement.

 

Father Dominic Emmanuel, spokesman of the Catholic Bishop's Conference,

said church representatives were willing to have an open dialogue with

Sangh Parivar outfits to clear misgivings on conversion and other

issues. Emmanuel, who was participating in Karan Thapar's 'Talk Back'

programme on Doordarshan, said the church regards all faiths as equal

and denied that it considers Christian faith as the sole route to

salvation. "For the church conversion by force is contradiction in

terms. The church outright condemns conversion by force and fraudulent

means", he said.

 

Asked about VHP's demand for apology from the Pope John Paul II for

"Goan inquisitions", he wondered whether the pontiff should apologise

"under coercion, under force" and said apology is a spontaneous thing.

Taking part in the programme, B.P. Singhal, BJP MP and patron of

Swadeshi Raksha Manch, denied that apology was being sought under

duress or force and said the Goa-Delhi yatra was aimed at creating

"awareness", reports PTI.