Catholics share views on secularism in Nepal

(August 28, 2010) Catholics in Nepal have met leaders of other religions to share their views on secularism amid increasing calls for the delayed constitution to declare Hinduism as the national religion again. About 50 priests, nuns and brothers from some ten congregations discussed the issue with Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist speakers at an Aug. 24 forum at St. Xavier’s School in Kathmandu. It was the first time Nepal’s Catholic community discussed the sensitive topic publicly. Nazrul Hussein, the president of the Nepal Islamic Society urged vigilance as the country adopts a new constitution. He noted that most Hindus were comfortable with secularism but fundamentalists were not and have tried to start interreligious riots by attacking mosques and churches. Chintamani Yogi, founder of Hindu Vidayapeeth schools warned that trouble begins when one religion advocates superiority over another. He advocated that Nepal follow a middle path with all religions retaining their identities and not offending others. Venerable Dharma Murti, a Buddhist monk from Kathmandu’s Anand Kuti monastery warned that secularism on paper would be pointless if leaders continue to have a superiority complex and not serve the people. Jesuit Father Jomon Jose, chief coordinator of the forum found the interaction useful, hoping Catholics will contribute to the ongoing debate. Christians in Nepal have demanded the country’s new constitution, that is being drafted, guarantee religious freedom in the Hindu-majority country. It was only in 2006 that Nepal’s parliament declared the world’s only officially Hindu nation a secular state. Before that, conversion from one religion to another was illegal and punishable by imprisonment.