Draft constitution fails to protect Christianity

The Church in Nepal has expressed concern over the “freedom of religion” as the country hurries to promulgate a new constitution and Hindu nationalists clamour for a “Hindu nation”.

The vicariate of Nepal presented a memorandum to major parties in the ruling coalition on 12 July urging that the word “secu­lar” be inserted in the preamble to ensure full religious freedom and demanded Christianity be recognised as a religion. The memorandum also demanded change to the “dangerous” clause 3. Clause 1 upholds individual freedom of religion and clause 2 the “right to abandon religion”. But Clause 3 bans proselytising and could be abused, Fr Silas Bogati, the vicar general, said.