Indian Bishops Condemn New Religious Law

(8 August 2006 - RV) The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has condemned a new law in the state of Chattisgarh which makes it harder to officially change religions. The legislation requires people to inform a government offical a month in advance of a planned conversion, and allows the official to withhold permission. Anyone trying to force a conversion will be punished, though the term 'force' remains undefined. Those in breach of the law face a possible threee-year prison sentence as well as a fine. Charles Collins spoke to Father Henry D'Souza, Executive Secretary for Social Communications at the Bishops' Conference, about the new law...