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Goa Pulls Back Anti-Conversion Bill Amid Lack of Evidence
Goa’s government planned to introduce a law about religious conversion.
It later agreed not to introduce the law for now.
Some lawmakers said the proposal was rushed and needed more study.
Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said government data showed no forced conversions in Goa.
Officials said four conversion cases had been registered between 2022 and 2023.
Two cases were thrown out by the Bombay High Court because investigators found no specific evidence.
Another case was closed by the police.
Catholic groups said the proposed law could make communities suspicious of one another.
Goa’s Cabinet agreed not to introduce the proposed anti-conversion Bill in the Assembly.
Michael Lobo said the Cabinet acted hastily and that the Bill needed further study.
Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said state data showed no forced conversions in Goa and threatened to oppose the Bill without committee review.
The Catholic Church and Christian organizations warned that the Bill could replace trust with suspicion and harmony with surveillance.
Four conversion cases were registered over 14 years, while cases against Dominic D’Souza and Joan Mascarenhas were quashed by the Bombay High Court.
- Who
- Goa’s Cabinet, state lawmakers, Catholic and Christian organizations, and people named in conversion cases.
- What
- The government pulled back from introducing a proposed anti-conversion Bill.
- Where
- Goa, India; the case proceedings included the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court.
- When
- The decision followed public criticism, including a joint statement issued on 27 August; the cited cases were registered in 2022 and 2023.
- Why
- Lawmakers questioned the need for the Bill because state data showed no forced conversions, while community groups raised concerns about social trust and harmony.
Bill Opponents
Bill Advocates and Government Consideration
Need for the legislation
Bill Opponents
Opponents said Goa’s own data showed no instances of forced conversion and argued that the Bill was unnecessary.
Bill Advocates and Government Consideration
The government had considered introducing the Bill after four conversion cases were registered in 2022 and 2023.
Process and timing
Bill Opponents
Michael Lobo said the Cabinet acted in haste, while Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said the Bill should first go to a Select Committee; Antonio Vas called for its withdrawal.
Bill Advocates and Government Consideration
The Cabinet initially moved toward introducing the Bill, although it later agreed not to do so.
Effect on society
Bill Opponents
Catholic and Christian organizations said the Bill could replace mutual trust with suspicion and social harmony with surveillance.
Bill Advocates and Government Consideration
The article does not provide a detailed public defense of the Bill’s expected social effects.
Key facts
- Government decision
- Goa’s Cabinet agreed not to introduce the anti-conversion Bill.
- Michael Lobo’s position
- He said the Cabinet acted in haste and that the Bill required further study.
- Reported cases
- The Chief Minister said two conversion cases were registered in 2022 and two in 2023.
- Population cited
- Goa’s population was described as approximately 15.9 lakh people.
- High Court outcome
- Cases against Dominic D’Souza and Joan Mascarenhas were quashed by the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court.
- Police findings
- Police filed a final summary saying no specific evidence had emerged against the two accused; a third case was closed by police.
- Community response
- The Council for Social Justice and Peace and the Catholic Association of Goa said the Bill risked replacing trust with suspicion and harmony with surveillance.
Sources
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