Thiruvananthapuram, 28 June (H.S.):Catholic churches across Kerala will hold special prayer services on Sunday following a call by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) to express concern over the Union Government's proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and its reported plan to introduce the Bill during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Special prayers will be conducted during morning Masses in all churches under the Catholic Church across the State as part of a nationwide campaign launched by Christian organisations opposing what they describe as stricter regulations governing foreign contributions to voluntary and charitable organisations.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has argued that the proposed amendments could adversely affect the functioning and autonomy of Christian charitable institutions and other non-governmental organisations that depend on foreign contributions for education, healthcare, social welfare and humanitarian activities. According to the Church, the proposed changes could place significant restrictions on the operational freedom of such organisations.
The proposed amendments seek to tighten regulations on the use of foreign contributions, particularly by prohibiting their use for activities linked to religious conversion. The revised framework also introduces stricter eligibility criteria for organisations seeking registration or permission to receive foreign funding.
Under the proposed rules, organisations receiving foreign contributions would not be permitted to use those funds for activities associated with religious conversion. Religious education, moral instruction, spiritual gatherings, sermons, retreats and meditation camps would be allowed only if they are conducted without any element of conversion-related activity.
The CBCI has maintained that while it supports transparency and accountability in the use of foreign funds, the proposed amendments could unduly restrict the legitimate charitable and humanitarian work carried out by faith-based organisations. Sunday's special prayers mark the beginning of a broader nationwide campaign by Christian organisations seeking reconsideration of the proposed legislation before it is introduced in Parliament.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
