BIRD DECLARATION AGAINST PROSELYTISM

A Campaign Declaration
Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue (BIRD)
7A, 3rd Cross, Da Costa Square,Bangalore 560 084, INDIATel. 080 2580 0647
January 1, 2007
To
The Prime Minister of IndiaThe US Commission on International Religious FreedomThe Secretary General, United NationsThe President, European Union

CHRISTIANS AGAINST PROSELYTISM

As Indian Christians, we believe that the best and perhaps the only way we can bear witness to our faith, is by extending our unconditional love to our neighbours and expecting nothing in return as Jesus Christ showed us. As such, we are against aggressive faith marketing by any religious group because such efforts discredit India's tradition of respecting all religious thought and also runs counter to the true spirit in which the Constitution grants people the right to profess, practice and propagate their faith.

We are Christians. Some of us were born into Christianity, others freely chose to embrace it. We also believe that the Great Commission in the Gospel according to Matthew unequivocally calls us to witness Christ in a pluralistic setting without violating the right of the other to preach, practice and profess his/her faith. Witnessing Jesus cannot in any case be done by questionable means, whether by exploiting people's socio-psychological vulnerabilities or by running down other religions.

Furthermore, we believe the Christian injunction to make disciples of all nations in today’s context is best honoured by the bearers of the Good News living exemplary Christian lives and showing respect for the nations commitment to pluralism, for the larger public good in a civil society. Conversion of faith, given its life-changing nature, stems from a considered personal experience and is less likely in this day and age to be the stuff of dramatic immediacy.

When India’s Supreme Court ruled, in 1977, that a citizens right to "profess, practice and propagate" ones religion does not include the right to convert another it was merely reaffirming both tradition and the Constitution. We believe that every nation should give primacy to maintenance of public order by ensuring safety and security to the life and property of its citizens.

India’s all-encompassing culture and secular Constitution allows not only its citizens but also visitors the freedom of religious practice. But, Article 25 of the Constitution which guarantees that right also subjects it to the maintenance of "public order, morality and health" of the citizenry. We therefore call on the Government of India and all secular countries to seek an amendment to Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights by expanding it through the addition of a second sentence (capitalised): "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. However, no individual or organisation may seek to convert an individual or a group of individuals, including minors or individuals of limited cognitive abilities, formally or informally, from one religion to another by offering financial or other material incentives; through physical, mental or emotional coercion; or through threats or intimidation of any kind."

While we decry the attempts of religious leaders and fundamentalists of all varieties to convert and re-convert, we pledge to work diligently for inter-faith amity in the best traditions of Indian culture. We hereby call on all Indians to join in our efforts to preserve a pluralist India founded on secularism and religious inclusion and governed by a Constitution that guarantees all its citizens all freedoms vital to the functioning of a modern democracy.

Signed by:

1. P.N.BENJAMIN
2. EMERSON SAMUEL
3. J. SUHAS
4. NOEL NORONHA
5. PRASANNA KUMAR
6. Rev. Dr M. MANI CHACKO
7. Rev. Dr KIRAN SEBASTIAN
8. Rev. Dr ISRAEL SELVANAYAGAM
9. Rev. JEEVAN BABU
10. Fr. Dr ALBERT NAMBIAMPARAMBIL
11. Fr. Dr MATHEW CHANDRANKUNNEL
12. Fr. Dr GEORGE KOOVAKKAL
13. BRIAN SOANS
14. Rev. Dr SIGA ARLES
15. KRIPA JOHN
16. KOSHY MATHEW
17. TINA MATHEW
18. ASHOK MATHEWS PHILIP
19. MIRIAM MATHEWS
20. GODFREY A.A.
21. SIJI MALAYIL
22. CIBY MALAYIL
23. Rev. THOMAS NAINAN
24. ABY ABRAHAM
25. Mrs ABY ABRAHAM
26. JACOB ABRAHAM
27. KARTHYANI JACOB
28. M.A. SEBASTIAN
29. PHILIPS K. CHERIAN
30. KOMBAN A. ANTONY
31. C.V.JOSE
32. JOSEPH VANNERY
33. V.K.JOHNNY
34. GEORGIE C. GEORGE
35. NINA C. GEORGE
36. C.J. GEORGE
37. ANNIE C. GEORGE
38. MAY BENJAMIN
39. SNEHA OOMMEN
40. K.T.THOMAS
41. SHANTHAM THOMAS
42. DANIEL THOMAS
43. ANU THOMAS
44. C.T. KOSHY
45. MOLLY VARGHESE
46. ABRAHAM VARGHESE
47. VICTOR ABRAHAM
48. SATYAN PARAKKADAVIL
49. SIMON VARGHESE
50. C. J. YESUDAS
51. DERRICK FULLENFAW
52. Mrs. DERRICK FULLENFAW
53. SUNDER GEORGE
54. SHAJI GEORGE THOMAS
55. VINCENT PANNIKULANGARA
56. PETER ISSAC
57. SUKUMAR GEORGE
58. GRACE GEORGE
59. K.C. ABRAHAM
60. Fr. ROY PALATTIL
61. KING DASS
62. Prof. ISSAC GEORGE
63. Prof. MARIAM GEORGE
64. JACOB PUNNEN
65. Dr. MARIAM GEORGE
66. Dr. GEORGE JOHN
67. GEORGE THOMAS
68. Prof. ABRAHAM
69. P. SAMUEL
70. MARKOSE PHILIP
71. JOYKUTTY JOSEPH
72. SUSAN JOSEPH
73. Rev. ABRAHAM VARKEY T
74. P.N.SAMUEL
75. KURIEN JOHN
76. ABRAHAM JOHN
77. JOSEPH JOHN
78. P. J. KOSHY
79. Mrs. MARIAMMA KOSHY
80. EBBY JOSEPH KOSHY
81. Mrs. JOSEPH KOSHY
82. SAM J ABRAHAM
83. KURIEN GEORGE
84. Prof. ABY VEEMBUKATTIL
85. RAVI WALTERS
86. BABUKUTTY KURIEN
87. PRAMOD JOHN
88. LINCY JOHN
89. E.A. ANDREWS
90. Mrs. ERNEST ANDREWS
91. C.M.JOHN
92. Mrs. CHINNAMMA JOHN
93. P.V.OOMMEN
94. P.O. OOMMEN
95. K.A. THOMAS
96. Mrs. K.A. THOMAS
97. DAVID CASTELLINO
98. Mrs. MARY DAVID
99. MARY MATHEW
100. ERNEST ALBERT
101. Mrs ERNEST ALBERT
102. BABU MODA