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N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai
Archbishop Devasahayam on Wednesday said the Tamil Nadu ordinance banning forced religious conversions scuttled the hopes of the Dalits for 'social liberation and justice'.
In a strongly-worded statement, he said the ordinance [Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2002] 'justified untouchability by denying them [Dalits] religious freedom'.
This is the first time the Church has taken a public position on 'untouchability' to justify conversions.
He said the law would scuttle social services like education and medicare performed by minority institutions, as these could be described as 'allurements' for conversions.
He, however, said that every religion abhorred conversion under duress, force or through allurements, adding that existing laws were adequate to tackle them.
The archbishop heads the agitation council of the minorities.
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