Nov 15, 2004 / 22:00 pm
There are practically no conversions to Christianity in the South West Indian state of Kerala, according to Bishop Peter Thuruthikonam of Vijayapuram.
Although Kerala does not have a formal anti-conversion law, “the state government discourages conversions simply by not granting benefits to converts,” said the prelate. “As a consequence, nobody dares to become Christian.”
In a recent visit to the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, the bishop was asked about the current challenges and priorities in his diocese.
“Our faithful are low caste people and very poor,” he said. “What they most urgently need is education, because ‘no education, no job.’ So, the Church’s social commitment is crucial.”