Catholic Secular Forum welcomes Pope's comments on anti conversion

Mumbai, May 20 (UNI) The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) has welcomed Pope Benedict XVI comments on anti-conversion legislations in the country.

CSF General Secretary Joseph Dias said, ''Indians being a micro-minority of about 2.4 per cent, what do the majority have to fear?'' and added, ''in fact 2001 census statistics have shown the growth of the Christian population to be dwindling.'' He said that freedom of religion is a fundamental right, enshrined not just in the Indian Constitution, but in the UN declaration of human rights - a charter to which India is a signatory.

The Pope has condemned attempts to ban religious conversions in India after Rajasthan government's recent initiative in this regard.

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