Catholic Magazine Takes Contrarian Stance to Church Leadership on Waqf Bill

5 April 2025: As the Church and its organisations have been taking a strident stand in favour of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and urging the Christian MPs to support it in Parliament, a Church magazine has taken a divergent view after the Bill has been passed by both Houses. Indian Currents, a weekly magazine brought out by a Congregation belonging to the Catholic Church, in its editorial in the latest issue states: “Many groups, even those that should not be, are celebrating it. But is it truly a win or just the experimental beginning of a nightmare?”

The editorial says it is ironic that the Bill requires the presence of two non-Muslims on the board which is in contrast to the sacking of non-Hindus from the Board of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). “Does that mean the TTD is allowed to be opaque in its dealings?” it adds. The editorial casts doubt on keeping state officers as arbitrators as “they are the foot soldiers of the saffron-clad- hate-mongers. How can anyone expect any kind of impartiality from them?”

The editorial goes further to state that the introduction of the Act [once the Bill becomes an Act] has set a dangerous precedent and laid the groundwork for targeting other communities. To substantiate such fears, it has cited a couple of examples including the judgment of the Madras High Court last year seeking the views of the Union and Tamil Nadu governments on making Christian institutions accountable by bringing their assets and funds under a statutory board on the lines of the Waqf Board.

By Catholic Connect Reporter