Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative 

The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

In a press statement, the AICU criticised recent amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), alleging that they could pave the way for increased government control over Church-run institutions such as schools, hospitals, orphanages, and development organisations. The organisation argued that such measures conflict with Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of conscience and the right to manage religious affairs. It called for the withdrawal of the proposed amendments and demanded assurances against any attempt to appropriate Church assets.

The AICU also expressed apprehension over proposals to establish a National Christian Welfare Board and to classify Christians as a “micro-minority.” While presented as welfare-oriented initiatives, the organisation warned that such measures could fragment the Christian community and weaken collective advocacy efforts, particularly those concerning Dalit Christians seeking Scheduled Caste status. It further noted that such categorisation could adversely impact Adivasi communities and other marginalised groups whose cultural and social identities are intertwined with Christianity.

Addressing anti-conversion laws, the AICU termed recent legislative developments, including the Dharm Swatantra Vidheyak 2026 passed in Chhattisgarh, as a “grave affront” to religious liberty. The law предусматриes stringent penalties, including life imprisonment for cases of mass conversions, and has been accompanied by calls from political leaders in Madhya Pradesh for even harsher punishments. According to the AICU, such laws blur the line between voluntary religious choice and coercion, and are often invoked selectively, leading to the harassment of pastors, prayer gatherings, and believers.

The organisation further highlighted what it described as the misuse of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) in tribal regions, particularly in Chhattisgarh. It alleged that local governing bodies are being used to restrict Christian religious practices, including barring clergy and evangelists from villages and interfering with burial rites. The AICU warned that such actions violate fundamental rights and risk deepening divisions within tribal communities by pitting groups against one another on religious lines.

In addition, the AICU voiced concern over what it termed the “saffronisation” of education, pointing to changes in school curricula that it believes prioritise a singular cultural narrative while marginalising the histories and contributions of minority communities. It cautioned that such developments could erode the secular character of education and foster intolerance, undermining social harmony and national integration.

Calling for corrective action, the AICU urged the Government of India to reaffirm its commitment to constitutional principles of secularism, equality, and liberty. It advocated for meaningful engagement with minority communities, protection of federal values, and restraint in the use of legislation that could disproportionately impact vulnerable groups.

The AICU simultaneously expressed strong solidarity with Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and Lebanon. 

Issued by AICU spokesperson Dr John Dayal, the statement endorsed the Pope’s call for dialogue and peace, describing it as a moral imperative in a time of global instability, and warned that the war’s repercussions—from disruptions in energy markets and trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz to broader economic and food security concerns—could have significant global and domestic consequences.