State Catholic bishops: Take back or tweak conversion bill

Mumbai: Catholic bishops of Maharashtra affiliated to Western Region Bishops' Council expressed "deep disappointment and strong protest" against Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, that was recently passed by both Houses of the state legislature. They have demanded its "withdrawal or substantial revision"."...this [bill] undermines the very right it claims to protect, that is, the freedom to choose and profess one's religion, as guaranteed under the Constitution," they said in a statement. "We strongly oppose [it] in its current form and call for its immediate withdrawal or substantial revision. Religious freedom is not a concession granted by the State; it is a fundamental right." The statement was signed by Elias Gonsalves, archbishop of Nagpur; John Rodrigues, archbishop of Bombay; Sebastian, archeparchy of Kalyan; Thomas D'sousa, bishop of Vasai, Lancy Pinto, bishop of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; Simon Almeida, bishop of Pune; Ephrem Nariculam; eparchy of Chanda; Malcolm Sequeira, bishop of Amravati; Matthews Mar Pochomio, eparchy of Khadki; Agnelo Pinheiro of Sindhudurg diocese; and auxiliary bishops Savio Fernandes, Stephen Fernandes and Allwyn D'souza of Mumbai.