| Continued Ban on Converting Others Proposed in Nepal |
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Christians fear parliament likely to accept measure in new constitution
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
KATHMANDU, NEPAL (ANS) -- Compass Direct News (CDN) is reporting that a legislative panel in Nepal has proposed retaining a ban on converting others in the country's new constitution.
"Parliament has yet to decide on the proposal, but Christian leaders said they fear it is likely to be approved given that Nepal's largest political party, led by former Maoist rebels, sympathizes with the deposed king's wishes for such a ban," said the CDN story.
"The country is forging a new constitution as part of its transition from a Hindu monarchy to a democracy. The Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance reported that a preliminary draft the Committee on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles (CFRDP) presented to Nepal's parliament penalizes activities aimed at encouraging others to convert, though it does not punish individuals for converting."
Asked if the proposal violated international conventions such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nepal is a signatory, CFRDP Chairperson Binda Pandey said the committee looked at "all relevant conventions" as well as "Nepal's own unique socio-political context" before reaching the consensus.
The CDN story went on to state that Jesuit Bishop Anthony Sharma said the panel's proposal "will not alter" his congregation's Christian activities.
"We do not have any fear, and we will continue to do what we are doing, whether it's a Hindu constitution or a secular one," he said. "Conversion is by God; people simply respond to Him. Our philosophy is, �We propose and not impose.' The growth of the church in Nepal is due to the Christian witness, and not just by preaching."
But, the story concluded by saying that the Rev. Dr. Mangalam Mahajan, president of Koinonia Church Fellowship, said, "The restriction will affect the Christian work in Nepal."
For more information, go to www.compassdirect.org
Note: Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. With an area of 56,827 square miles and a population of approximately 30 million, Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the country's largest metropolis.
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