Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay Says Maharashtra’s ‘Freedom of Religion’ Bill Threatens Rights

Mumbai, Oct 14, 2025: Auxiliary Bishop Savio Fernandes of Bombay has expressed deep concern over the proposed Freedom of Religion Bill in Maharashtra. He cautioned that the legislation, though presented as a safeguard for religious freedom, could instead hinder the Church’s charitable and humanitarian outreach. The Bishop noted that the Bill risks discouraging acts of compassion and service that have long supported people of all faiths across the state.

The statement reads as follows:

"The planned Freedom of Religion Bill in Maharashtra, far from safeguarding freedom, threatens to stifle the very spirit of compassion that lies at the heart of our society.

The Bill, purportedly intended to prevent forced conversions, will instead have a chilling effect particularly on the charitable and humanitarian activities of the Catholic Church and other faith-based organisations that serve the poor, the sick, and the homeless with compassion and love, regardless of their religious affiliations.

Across Maharashtra, Catholic religious institutions and charitable bodies have, for decades, reached out to the most marginalised sections of society by offering food to the hungry, shelter to the destitute, education to the underprivileged, and medical care to those who cannot afford it. These acts of mercy are carried out purely on humanitarian grounds, inspired by one’s faith but never imposed upon others. The beneficiaries of this love and service are from all backgrounds, irrespective of their caste, creed, or religion.

However, once this Freedom of Religion Bill is passed in the Maharashtra State Assembly, every act of kindness could be misinterpreted or maliciously portrayed as an attempt at conversion. The fear is not imaginary. In several parts of India, similar laws have been weaponised by right-wing groups who harbour hostility towards Christians and other minorities. These elements, rather than contributing to the common good, seek to criminalise compassion by making false allegations of “forced conversions” even when no such acts exist.

False allegations of ‘forced conversion’ become tools of vendetta, in the hands of such unscrupulous elements, turning humanitarian outreach into a prosecutable offence. As Church leaders in Maharashtra have warned, this bill will "stifle the Church's social apostolate," leaving the vulnerable doubly abandoned. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

Such misuse of the law will have a terrorising effect on charitable religious institutions and organisations and will discourage them from carrying out their apostolate, for fear of persecution, harassment, or imprisonment. The ultimate sufferers will be the poor — those who depend on these voluntary institutions for basic human needs.

It must be remembered that the Catholic Church itself rejects the very idea of forced conversion; such conversions are deemed invalid. True conversion, in the Christian understanding, is a free and conscious act of faith, never achieved through coercion or inducement.

There already exist ample laws in India to deal with cases of coercion or fraud. What we do not need are draconian laws that can be abused to suppress service, compassion, and fraternity. Maharashtra must rise above divisive politics and uphold the true freedom of religion, that is, the freedom to serve, to love, and to live one’s faith through acts of charity.

Let compassion, not suspicion, guide our laws!"

Bishop Savio Fernandes

Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Bombay