Gujarat Church refutes conversion charge

(March 30, 2012) The Catholic Church in western India’s Gujarat state has described a probe into proselytization charge against it as “intimidatory and harassing” tactics by the state government. A forum for Peace and Justice based in Petlad town of Anand district had alleged that 32 minor dalit children were converted to Christianity by a Roman Catholic Church at Khambat taluka without the knowledge of the parents. Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash, convenor of the Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace described the charges as “baseless, misleading and mischievous.” He said the forum was referring to the ceremony where some Catholic children were conferred the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Khambat church. Forum coordinator Dharmendra Rathod had claimed that on January 2, 17 minors were converted to Christianity at the Roman Catholic Church of Nagra and on February 12 nearly 15 other minor children were converted at the Church in Khambat. He alleged that the schedule caste children belonging to the weavers’ community, were converted without their parents' knowledge. Three three church officials including Frs. Andrews Silvera, Vinay and Piyush from the Khambat church have refuted the claims as baseless, saying all the children are Christians by birth, so the question of conversion does not arise. Besides, the parents were present for the First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies, the added.