Alan de Lastic, Archbishop of Delhi, is disturbed as he sits in his room nursing his flu. Archbishop since 1991, he has never had to deal with a series of such unpleasant experiences - at least 10 churches had been attacked and Christian processions attacked in Gujarat. Two more churches are burnt even as he talks, but he talks of forgiveness and mercy in keeping with his calling. Archbishop Alan de Lastic, president of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India and a member of the National Integration Council, speaks to SONU JAIN. Excerpts:Why are these incidents taking place in Gujarat?It is because there is a government which does not take action. They (the government) have allowed things to go on. Christians there are in a minority and the BJP government seems to be very strong. To top it all Christians are doing very good work in the state. The chief minister there has given the miscreants a free hand. He actually gave directions to penalise students who had come out of schoolfor a peaceful procession for a few hours. He is responsible as he is the face of the government.The Hindu Jagran Manch has accused you of forcible conversions. What do you have to say?Conversion is a free personal act. It is similar to the decision made to migrate or to get married. If it is forced, it is not conversion, it would be a false change of religion. Can you blame the poor and the tribals for coming to us out of a feeling of love?Is there no contradiction in what they are saying about poor being converted? It seems as if these Hindu leaders do not have a very high opinion of them. But election time they all flock to them for votes presuming that they have power of discernment.Why have they suddenly targeted your community?I think it is the fear in these people that the status quo will be disturbed specially in villages. They are scared that the unjust social structure, land-grabbers and the money lenders' nexus will be broken. The other reason is that they are jealousof our good work all over the country. Whoever is doing it in the name of Hinduism is not a real Hindu.Have you have written to the Pope John Paul IV in Vatican?No, I have not written to him but news reached him through the media and he is alarmed.You met senior leaders of the BJP. What was their reaction to these incidents?I had a meeting with both Kushabhau Thakre and L.K. Advani along with the representatives of the VHP and RSS. We shared our different views on issues like conversion. I told them that assurances would not be sufficient unless there is immediate cessation of all this. I did not confront them directly because it is difficult to pin down responsibility. Every day a new organisation comes up which passes the buck from one to the other.Do you think senior leaders of the government are to be blamed?I don't think miscreants could go on without the approval of top leaders. I have said strongly in the past that the chief minister of Gujarat has not done hisbit. I think they also want to divert attention from the real issues in the country - poverty, illiteracy and injustice.Don't you think it is about time that Christians became a little aggressive rather than talking of forgiveness and non-violence?Our strong reaction has led to the first ever public condemnation by the Prime Minister of violence perpetrated by the Bajrang Dal. However, I have made it very clear that no feeling of hatred or revenge should creep in at any stage. In spite of all the attacks, our work on education, employment and upholding justice will continue.Christians have never taken a strong public stance on incidents of communal violence against other communities. Why?Maybe, we never came out strongly in public. But we have always acted as buffers and Christian families are known to have sheltered people at the village- and town-level from one community or the other when such incidents occurred. It was always difficult to take sides but now I feel we should havehave come out more strongly.Do you think a change in government would mean happier times for the Christian community?It is difficult to say. For the last 50 years we have managed pretty well. We are still democratic in spite of the cultural diversity, minor upheavels and frayed tempers. But this kind of systematic, planned violence against one community has never been seen. This mars the democratic spirit of the constitution. Also, it is alright to have an ideology but do not force it down somebody else's throat like they are doing.There is a view that your missionary schools are an indirect way of converting people to Christianity.I want statistics on how many people have been converted after studying in our schools. Those who do not like our system are free to not send their children. We preach about Christ and we will preach about him like the others are free to preach about Ram or Krishna. Can anybody equal our record of 6,000 institutions imparting education to millions over thelast 50 years? Why have they woken up suddenly to say that our schools are not good?Do you think fear psychosis has set in among the Christian community all over the country?No, I have been in touch with all my bishops and representatives to tell the people that there is nothing to fear. Our lives are in God's hands. This is only the handiwork of a few fanatics.
