| NEW DELHI, Oct 14
(Reuters) - An Indian church leader on Thursday rejected a demand by Hindu hardliners that
Pope John Paul II should apologise for what they said were forced religious conversions
during his visit to India next month. ``How far
back in history are we going to go?...Conversion is a free personal act and the birthright
of everybody,'' Archbishop Alan de Lastic, president of the United Christian Forum for
Human Rights, told a news conference.
De Lastic also questioned a demand by some hardliners that the
Pope must clearly state that all religions were equal and that Christianity was not the
only route to salvation.
``The demand infringes on the freedom of every person. We
propose and do not impose... Every individual has the right to profess his religion,'' he
said.
Ashok Singhal, international working president of the Vishwa
Hindu Parishad (VHP) or World Hindu Council, had said on Monday that the Roman Catholic
pontiff must apologise for conversions which Hindu groups say were gained by questionable
means.
Hindu activists say Christian groups use money and other unfair
incentives to lure members of tribal groups into religious conversions. Christian groups
say the missionaries only work for charity.
De Lastic said he was unfazed by Hindu hardliners' recent
threats to organise rallies during the Pope's November 5-8 visit to protest against the
conversions.
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