Report and pic: Nirmala Carvalho
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Panaji, Jun 15: Fr Norman Almeida sfx, a Pilar priest, successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in moral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University’s Higher Institute of Moral Theology, Academia Alfonsiana, Rome, on June 10, 2011. The dissertation critically examines the ethical-theological issues implicated by the ‘Freedom of Religion Acts’ promulgated in seven Indian states, and proposes an appropriate Christian ethical response.

Fr Norman, in his thesis, focused his attention particularly on the natural human yearning for truth and openness to the Divine. He said God willed to leave man ‘in the power of his own counsel’, so that he would seek his Creator of his own accord and would freely arrive at full and blessed perfection by cleaving to Him. However, the Freedom of Religion legislation’s attitude and ideology is aimed at impeding freedom of religion and freedom of worship. It raises serious ethical questions on human dignity and fundamental human rights. It restricts human capacity for freedom, essential to human dignity to seek the truth, and realize the human vocation to communion of life with God. Freedom of conscience is intrinsic to this dignity and vocation, and the right to religious freedom flows from this dignity and destiny of the human person, he reasons.

Fr Norman pointed out the respect for freedom of conscience so utterly necessary for a search for truth, as having been deeply rooted in Indian tradition and ethos. It is encoded in the Hindu scriptures, sarva dharma sadbhav, i.e. ‘equal respect for all beliefs’ and the value of truth is even enshrined in India’s national motto: satyamevajayate or ‘Truth Triumphs’. This freedom of conscience is the civil right of an individual to immunity from all external coercion in his search for God, but the Freedom of Religion Acts are illegitimately paternalistic with the state standing in judgement of the motives that lead one to choose specific faiths such as Christianity and Islam. It rubbishes the freedom of conscience clause subsisting it with a government official, who alone can permit change of belief. He recalled how the founding fathers of the modern Indian Republic embraced religious pluralism and Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right and the freedom to preach, practice and propagate his/her religion. This is consistent, he said with India’s obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it’s enforcing convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Arguing that the Acts not only infantilize an individual seeking conversion but consider him an object ‘who is converted’ rather than a subject ‘who wants to change his faith’. The legislation bases itself on the questionable assumption that in the process of conversion, the converter is merely passive. This helps bypass the reality and create a situation that facilitates the enactment of such repressive laws. He reiterated the fact the state cannot underestimate the capacity of every citizen’s intelligence and free will. He exercises franchise and has to make his life. In matters of religion, and especially when it comes to changing the faith, he makes choices based very much on his conscience.

Further, this fundamental right is not conferred by the state but the state has to recognize and protect it. Religious conversion is precisely that human act by which one having encountered the truth adheres to it and incorporates it into one’s life and action. It is a gift of God. Hence the conversion issue is not just a matter of freedom to change religious affiliation; it has to do with religious choices that individuals can and have the freedom to make in life. Laws are nothing but reasonable decisions arrived at by the legislators with due respect to the rights and dignity of the subjects. They are not arbitrary and capricious but prudent and purposeful for the common good. They have to confirm and sanction the juridical order of natural rights and duties and do not go contrary to them. Adherence to belief in God and a loving worship of Him can be responded to only in freedom and truth and bring blessings to the state and the country.

Awarding the doctoral degree, the president, Prof Alberto De Mingo Kaminouchi, C Ss R, expressed his immense pleasure and appreciation with the work and prayed that it will be of great benefit not only for India but also for religious liberty all over. The dean, Prof Martin McKeever, C Ss R, found the study to be of high significance and standard, while Prof  Andrzej S Wodka, C Ss R, congratulated Fr Norman for his hard work, tremendous passion with the subject, and the persuasive arguments found throughout the work. He wished him every success in his future ventures and studies.