Anti-conversion law: Maharashtra churches seek prayer consent forms from worshippers

With the anti-conversion law coming into force in Maharashtra, church buildings throughout the Mumbai Metropolitan Area (MMR) have begun asking worshippers to fill a self-declaration kind, specifying that they’re attending prayers of their very own will and never beneath stress.

These crammed declaration varieties, taken for “self-safety”, will likely be stored within the church workplaces to be proven to authorities or police authorities, if requested, pastor Sam Mathai from Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district instructed PTI on Tuesday (August 25, 2026).

The gathering of varieties from worshippers has been underway for the previous two to a few months, he stated.

Mr. Mathai claimed that within the final six months, there have been 11 assaults on church buildings within the MMR space, particularly Vasai-Virar, Palghar, Nalasopara and Bhayander, the satellite tv for pc cities adjoining Mumbai.

“Proper-wing teams enter church buildings with out intimation and beat up individuals. It was then that pastors and group leaders got here collectively to discover a resolution. We do not pressure anybody to come back and pray. The Indian Structure permits everybody to wish of their very own will,” he acknowledged.

There are over 4,000 church buildings in MMR. Some church buildings are taking varieties from worshippers who usually are not born Christians, and a few are asking even the common worshippers to fill the varieties, Mr. Mathai knowledgeable.

Maharashtra’s anti-conversion legislation, the Maharashtra Freedom of Faith Act, 2026, has come into pressure following Presidential assent and its official gazette notification on July 30. It paves the best way for motion towards spiritual conversions carried out by coercion, fraud, inducement or marriage.

Below the brand new legislation, an individual aspiring to embrace one other religion should inform the district Justice of the Peace not less than 60 days prematurely. The legislation supplies for punishment of seven years in jail for violations of procedures.

Pastor Devdan Tribhuvan from Bhandup in Mumbai stated church buildings have the database of normal worshippers.

“We’re peaceable individuals and by no means retaliate. We’ve determined to get a self-declaration from those that come to the church that they’re coming to wish on the church,” he stated.

Worshippers who come each Sunday for the prayers are nervous. Within the final two years, there have been assaults on church buildings by individuals who forcibly disrupt prayers to inquire in regards to the proceedings, alleged Tribhuvan, who’s the president of the Christian Growth Affiliation.

“We’re simply 2.3% of the whole inhabitants. Lakhs of scholars examine in our instructional institutes; no person converts. Non-Christians work and examine in our establishments. If the accusations had been true, would not our numbers enhance?” he requested.

Bombay Catholic Sabha spokesperson Dolphy D’Souza stated the group is upset and anguished on the scenario arising out of the passage of the Freedom of Faith Act. There have been situations of parts disturbing prayer companies on account of false accusations of compelled conversions, he claimed.

“This troubles us and disrupts our prayer companies. Our church buildings are open to everybody. Many come for peace of thoughts and meditation. The concept of a consent kind or self-declaration is to guard the curiosity of the group and the church. We do not need harmless individuals to be victims of violence,” he stated.

The self-declaration is to verify that everybody is coming to the church of their free will, D’Souza stated, including that the group expects the police to implement the rule of legislation equally for all.

“We wish the police to guard the group and provides us security after we do our prayer companies,” he added.