"Call to conversion" explained by Catholic News Service
(Apparently a statement by the pope about a "call to conversion" disturbed some Hindus who thought the pope wanted to convert them to Catholicism. The pope has previously said that he didn't want to convert Hindus, but to learn from their profound spiritual heritage. This later statement threatened to upset the ecumenical applecart.)
The president of the of India Bishops' Conference has offered a clarification of Paul II's reference to conversion, which sparked controversy among the mainly Hindu Population.
Archbishop Alan de Lastic of Delhi told journalists after the pope's departure from India Nov. 8 that the pope had spoken only of 'inner conversion' in the final document of the 1998 Synod of Bishops for Asia. The archbishop's remarks were reported to the UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand.
The pope's "call to conversion" in the post-synodal apostolic exhortation, "Church in Asia" which he presented in New Delhi Nov. 6, has generated debate among various groups, with some alleging that the pope came to India to sanction conversions.
Archbishop de Lastic, the pope's host in India, clarified the words "conversion" and "evangelization," saying ther media had "misrepresented Catholic theological terms."
Conversion, he said, is a "change of heart," "an inner conversion" to "lead a better life." He said the pope asked the church in Asia "too undergo such a conversion that it might become more worthy."
Conversion does not necessarily mean a change of religion, Archbishop de Lastic stressed.
Reiterating Pope John Paul's remark, "Let no one fear the church," Archbishop de Lastic said the church's "One ambition" is to "continue Christ's mission of service."
He said, however, that "if in conscience one wanted to change one s religion, he should be allowed to do so, since that is a fundamental right."
Despite the assurances, many Hindus still believe that the pope's visit was meant to affirm conversion. During Pope John Paul's Nov. 5-8 visit to New Delhi, Indian press portrayed remarks by the pope as a call to increase conversions in India.
