Catholics not engaged in religious conversion, says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

New Delhi: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has said that Catholics do not engage in religious conversions, but focus on spreading awareness and knowledge. Speaking at a function elevating the Faridabad Diocese to the status of an Archdiocese, the Minister praised the Catholic community’s long-standing contributions to India’s social development.

“Since the arrival of Christianity in India, the Catholic community has rendered remarkable service in various fields, and people have accepted it wholeheartedly,” Rijiju said.

He emphasised that India has always been a secular nation and urged people to reject the hate campaigns circulating on social media. “Christians have made notable contributions to national progress in fields such as health and education. The discipline and methodical functioning of the Catholic Church have often amazed me. Personally, there is much to learn from their way of working,” the Minister added.

During the ceremony held at the Thalkator Stadium in Delhi, Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara was enthroned as the first Archbishop of the newly elevated Faridabad Syro-Malabar Archdiocese. The enthronement ceremony was led by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Also present at the event were CBCI president Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany of Thalassery and Union Minister George Kurian.