Catholic Church in Nepal says anti-conversion laws are unconstitutional

(August 24, 2011) In Nepal, the Catholic Church has condemned the Nepalese government’s proposed new penal code that prohibits conversions. Two priests of the Diocese of Khatmandu
Fr. Shilas Bogati and Fr. Pius Perumana, recently published a public report, which highlights the inconsistency of sections 160.1 and 160.2. They say the sections are in conflict with Article 23 of the interim constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to profess any creed. They also say that “before proposing the new code,
the government did not consult the religious minorities and the Catholic Church learned the news in the Nepali media". To lobby the authorities and raise public awareness, the Nepali Church has circulated sections of the penal code that go against religious freedom on the Internet.
According to the two priests, the offending sections are taken from the civil code dating back to the period of the monarchy, when Nepal was a Hindu state and there was no kind of religious freedom. "After the signing of the interim constitution in 2007, they say Nepal is a secular and multi-religious state in which, equal treatment for all faiths is expected.
Proposed last June 23, the new law has to be approved by the end of August, but the resignation of Prime Minister Khanal has blocked the process, postponing it to a later date.