Now Reading: Catholic body urges govt to withdraw FCRA Amendment Bill
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Catholic body urges govt to withdraw FCRA Amendment Bill
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has urged the government to withdraw the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, warning it could hamper institutions providing humanitarian service. In a statement on…
The Story in Brief
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has urged the government to withdraw the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, warning it could hamper institutions providing humanitarian service. In a statement on the eve of the 80th Independence Day, CBCI president Anthony Cardinal Poola appealed to protect constitutional freedoms and expressed deep concern over violence, atrocities and mob lynching faced by the Christian community in parts of the country.
The bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in March 2026, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee during the Monsoon Session amid Opposition protests. Cardinal Poola stressed that the Christian community has served India for generations through education, healthcare and social service, and said every citizen has the right to live, worship and serve without fear.
The Indian Opinion
The FCRA debate pitches two legitimate concerns against each other. The government says it wants to ensure foreign funds do not fuel political interference. The CBCI, with its century-old network of schools and hospitals, argues that genuine charitable work will be crippled. Both narratives are exaggerated: the bill does not ban all charities, and the church has never been indiscriminate about foreign money. The real test will come when the Joint Parliamentary Committee examines specific provisions. Will it carve out a clear exemption for humanitarian service, or will suspicion of all foreign funding win the day?
Source: hindustantimes.com
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