Freedom to practise and propagate any religion is a gift that all Indians enjoy and have the right to

The arrest of Dominic D Souza, a local and according to widespread feedback a popular pastor and healer is being sought in some circles to establish the current narrative that religious conversions are being done by minority institutions and leaders.

At the very onset, one must make it clear that Herald will underline the rule of law and the absolute right of the police to carry out investigations and punish those who break the law. The same principle applies in this case also. This goes with the corollary that while the guilty must be punished the innocent should not be victimised. That too should hold in all cases, including this one. It must first be established that the law has been broken and not because some political forces want “punishment”.

Meanwhile, the fact that he got bail immediately from the court is an indication that prima facie the court did not find any strong grounds for the arrest itself immediately. The bail order is a clear indication that an investigation is fine under the law but sufficient grounds for arrest need to be made out for the court to grant custody.

While the police have every right to act on complaints, it is equally pertinent to mention information publicly known about him and his wife Joanne, who incidentally was not arrested, but had to be subjected to vitriolic videos which branded her a criminal. One video made by a relative of a senior political entity who recently sought to create divisions and questioned the credentials of Goa’s well-loved Saint; called Dominic and Joanne a “fraud couple” and “criminal couple” and “evil demons” and a “believers gang” who met in jail.    Is this justified? And does the person making such videos calling the couple a fraud have the locus standi and authority to make these remarks? If there is a complaint let there be an investigation. The bail order is clear that the court does not find any ground for arrest.

All this is happening against the backdrop of a sudden rise in the religious conversion narrative in Goa, the passing of the anti-conversion bill in Karnataka, and so on. The fact is that there is already a law against any forcible religious conversion making it clear that the Constitution gives Indians the full right to follow any religion they desire.

Freedom of Religion is enshrined in our Constitution

Article 25 guarantees the freedom of conscience, the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion to all citizens.

The broad span from Articles 25 to 28 covers religious freedoms with Article 27 stating that everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts, and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

Speaking to those who know the couple and their work in Siolim gives a picture far removed from the names that the couple has been called.  Joanne, a daughter of a Customs officer, and Dominic, locals say, are known “as a helpful couple whose healing and charitable work has drawn a lot of people voluntarily from all faiths and walks of life”.

 Some of them who were spoken say that far from any hint of force or coercion, people from as far off as Pernem, Keri, and even deep South Goa, voluntarily and regularly attended his meetings and many became Believers of their own free will. One said, “He has helped many including arranging treatment for those with serious ailments in better hospitals”. Another one said, “Many who came for his meetings did not have transport to go back. Dominic then had a bus service to allow people to come and go.”

“He is known in the village as ‘Dominic Scorpio’ after the name of the small village tavern he used to operate. He also distributed sodas and aerated drinks in his tempo”, said a former media person from the village making it clear that he was very much a part of village life and society.

And is Dominic alone in charting out a path of faith and healing? Many pastors, preachers, and priests are revered in this country.  Saint Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Prize and received the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour from the Government of India.

When she healed and took care of leapers did she decide on the basis of her faith? In fact, most of those under her care were not Christians but her humanitarian work touched all. And when she passed away the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government accorded her a full State funeral.

India is full of holy men and women from each and every faith who have their disciples and followers and many of them happen to be high ranking ministers and chief ministers

Faith is universal, and religion is personal. And when voluntarily embraced, can they be called illegal

What is interesting is that the same voices who of late have made comments and statements that seek to divide rather than unite are passing judgments on the pastor and his wife even before the and the courts have. The same “family” of voices took to social media to congratulate the North Goa police on the arrest and commended their quick work. This indicates a well-orchestrated exercise in branding them as religious converters and passing a final judgment, with the police and the courts left in the background. 

This must be called out as deliberate propaganda and sideshow, which is dominating the narrative rather than the facts on the ground. And the facts are that faith is universal. And the choice of religion is personal. And when it is voluntary there cannot be any legal impediments

One is at the same time not calling for any legal clean chit to Dominic D’Souza either, but there has to be proper honest investigation without any political interference or rabble-rousing which was done by the scion of someone in Goa who has made so many divisive comments of late.

The bottom line is clear. If investigations find him or anyone guilty of forcible conversions, let the law, by all means, take its full course but if it is being done only to establish a theory or belief that conversions are happening, and Dominic D Souza is being made as an “example” to cement that belief, then it is not correct and may fall under the criminal law of defamation.

The ultimate test is whether harmony is being maintained by all. Whether statements and comments are being made which seek to divide and provoke and not unite and whether these divisions are aimed at political polarization. While investigations on whether any pastor or religious leader has used any religious force or coercion through economic baits are on, the system should also look at whether such complaints are made with an ulterior motive without respecting freedom of choice to practice and propagate any religion.