Nepal: Anti-Conversion Law Forces Catholic Church to Stop Catechism Classes

By Kalpit Parajuli
8/26/2011
Asia News (www.asianews.it/)

According to official figures, each Sunday about 300 non-Christians, especially young Hindus and Buddhists, take part in Mass in Kathmandu's Cathedral of the Assumption

Classes for new catechumens from other religions are postponed until further notice in the Nation out of fear. Local sources say the Church took this step back because of the proposed new penal code, which bans conversion from one religion to another. Nepal's Catholic Church was not officially represented at World Youth Day in Madrid because of the country's tense situation.

Catholics in Nepal suffer persecution for the ancient faith

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KATHMANDU, Nepal (AsiaNews) - Nepal's Catholic Church has postponed without explanations the catechism course it had planned for people from other religions. It was set to begin shortly. Local sources say the Church took this step back because of the proposed new penal code, which bans conversion from one religion to another.

Because of tensions in the country, the Nepali Church has also stayed away from World Youth Day. "No youth officially represented the Church of Nepal in Madrid because of Nepal's transitional situation," said Chirendra Satyal, a Catholic media officer and journalist. "If anyone did attend, it was as an individual and not as a representative of Nepali Catholic youth."

The establishment of a secular state in 2006 gave the Catholic Church the opportunity to perform baptism and celebrate religious feast days out in the open. Greater religious freedom and the possibility to conduct public ceremonies led to more conversions.

Each year, about 25 people are baptised. On 15 August, 30 children from the Diocese of Kathmandu had their first communion.

According to official figures, each Sunday about 300 non-Christians, especially young Hindus and Buddhists, take part in Mass in Kathmandu's Cathedral of the Assumption. They cannot receive the communion but, at the end of the service, the presiding priest blesses them and gives them flowers as a token of welcome.

Anyone who so desires can register for catechism after Mass. If catechumens want, they can be baptised after completing the programme (three years for non-Christians). Before though, Catholic religious authorities must closely examine their request. In case of minors, the parents' consent must be obtained.

However, under the proposed new penal code that is currently before parliament, the Catholic Church and other minority confessions might end up going underground again, like during the times of the Hindu monarchy.

For the code, any kind of communication about one's faith to another person constitutes a form of proselytising. Penalties include fines of up to US$ 700 and five years in jail.

If the culprit is a foreigner, he or she can be expelled from the country immediately.

� 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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1 - 10 of 10 Comments

catherine c. pacis
1 year ago
Nepal's situation is a proof that the more the Catholic Church reaches out to spread the power and glory and blessings of God, the more oppression is being thrown towards her, the devil is working overtime. Let us strengthen her with our prayers and our own way of sharing God's blessings through goodness in everything that we do.
jose thomas
1 year ago
The Anti Conversion Laws are assaults on basic human rights and the world community should protest the same, and bring pressure upon such countries which deny religious freedom by international opinion formation and boycott of their goods and services etc.
David Carlon
1 year ago
I pray that God will favor me with the grace of a holy martyr's death. Long live the King of Justice and Peace!
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Whoops, correction. The former ruling party is Maoist. Now that party is involved in a struggle with several others.
ishiwu sunday
1 year ago
it is wronge to deny people thire freedome of worship
Paschal
1 year ago
The Holy Mother Church ought to keep praying for her suffering ones. There will certainly be a change soon.
Francis Ohaeri
1 year ago
I thank God Almighty for the faith He built in catholic church. They have been strong from the origin as they are doing the work of God. The faith they have in God will lead them on in whatever they are diong and no man will stop them from doing what God mandated them to do.
Their will is the will of God. Winning souls to God is a great thing in heaven and that is what catholic church is doing in Nepal. So, the Nepali government should be liberal and not authocratic.
Greg
1 year ago
The situation in that Country is an abuse of Human Right. There should be a freedom of worship for the masses. Infact, men of goodwill should wake-up and fight the situation not minding if they are minority now. With God, I tell you, they are MAJORITY.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Not surprising. The governing party is Maoist.
JeanCatherine
1 year ago
LET US PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND RELIGIOUS OF NEPAL NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CHINA AS WELL NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

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