Kottayam (Kerala), Mar 29 (PTI) Archbishop Thomas Tharayil of the Changanassery Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church on Sunday raised concerns over the proposed amendments to the FCRA and said the Church has approached the Centre seeking a reconsideration of the Bill.
The bill to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) was recently introduced in the Lok Sabha to modify existing norms governing foreign contributions.
Both the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) have already expressed concerns over the proposed changes.
Addressing reporters, Tharayil said the Church has been receiving foreign funds for decades to support welfare activities.
“With such funds, we have been able to build schools and hospitals in small villages. Instead of recognising these as service activities, portraying them as anti-national is saddening. This Bill could bring an end to several charitable works,” he said.
He said the Church has urged the central government to reconsider the amendments.
Tharayil also expressed concern over the manner in which the proposal was approved by the Union Cabinet and introduced in Parliament.
“There is already an existing law that is strictly monitored. We are concerned about the need for further amendments,” he said.
He alleged that foreign funding is being portrayed as something problematic.
“A designated authority may take over institutions built using foreign funds and dispose of them if FCRA licences are not renewed. We view this with concern,” he said.
On the state government, Tharayil said certain steps have been taken on issues raised by the Church, including appointments in institutions.
However, he said there is still no clarity on the action taken by the state government on the recommendations of the Justice J B Koshy Commission, which studied the economic and social conditions of the Christian community in Kerala.
The FCRA Bill is emerging as a key campaign issue in the Assembly elections, with both UDF and LDF leaders targeting the BJP-led NDA. PTI TBA TBA ROH
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.