📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Aw1805
Religion
Mumbai Churches Ask Followers to Submit Self‑Declarations Ahead of New Anti‑Conversion Law
✍️ India Today
🗓 28 Aug 2026, 08:25 AM
👁 3
With Maharashtra’s anti‑conversion legislation set to take effect on Friday, several churches in Mumbai have requested parishioners to provide written self‑declarations confirming their faith.
Maharashtra’s anti‑conversion law, which criminalises attempts to induce religious conversion through force, fraud or inducement, is scheduled to come into force this Friday. The legislation has sparked concern among minority religious groups across the state, prompting many to reassess compliance measures.
In response, a coalition of Catholic and Protestant churches in Mumbai has issued a circular asking congregants to submit a signed self‑declaration stating that they have voluntarily embraced Christianity and have not been subjected to any inducement. Church leaders say the move is intended to protect worshippers from potential legal scrutiny and to demonstrate transparency.
The churches clarified that the declarations are voluntary and are not mandated by the state. They are being collected as a precautionary step, hoping to pre‑empt any investigations that could arise under the new law. Legal experts note that while the law targets coercive conversions, it does not require individuals to prove the voluntariness of their faith.
The initiative has drawn mixed reactions. Some community members view the self‑declarations as a prudent safeguard, while others fear it could set a precedent for intrusive documentation of personal belief. Authorities have not commented on the churches’ request, and the law’s implementation details remain under observation.
In response, a coalition of Catholic and Protestant churches in Mumbai has issued a circular asking congregants to submit a signed self‑declaration stating that they have voluntarily embraced Christianity and have not been subjected to any inducement. Church leaders say the move is intended to protect worshippers from potential legal scrutiny and to demonstrate transparency.
The churches clarified that the declarations are voluntary and are not mandated by the state. They are being collected as a precautionary step, hoping to pre‑empt any investigations that could arise under the new law. Legal experts note that while the law targets coercive conversions, it does not require individuals to prove the voluntariness of their faith.
The initiative has drawn mixed reactions. Some community members view the self‑declarations as a prudent safeguard, while others fear it could set a precedent for intrusive documentation of personal belief. Authorities have not commented on the churches’ request, and the law’s implementation details remain under observation.