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Mumbai, Jun 15: Fr Norman Almeida sfx, a Pilar Father, successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in Moral Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University’s Higher Institute ofMoral Theology, Academia Alfonsiana, Rome on JUne 10.GCIC congratulated Fr. Norman for his determination to focus on the worst kind of human rights violation and interference in the personal faith of Christian minority community

The dissertation critically examines the ethical-theological issues implicated by the “Freedom of Religion Acts” promulgated in seven Indian States and proposes an appropriate Christian ethical response.

Fr Norman focused particular attention on the natural human yearning for truth and openness to the Divine. He said God willed to leave man ‘in the power of his own counsel’, so that he would seek his Creator of his own accord and would freely arrive at full and blessed perfection by cleaving to Him.

However, the Freedom of Religion legislation’s attitude and ideology is aimed at impeding freedom of religion and freedom of worship and raises serious ethical questions on human dignity and fundamental human rights.

It restricts human capacity for freedom, essential to human dignity to seek the truth, and realize the human vocation to communion of life with God. Freedom of conscience is intrinsic to this dignity and vocation, and the right to religious freedom flows from this dignity and destiny of the human person.

He pointed out the respect for freedom of conscience so utterly necessary for a search for truth has been deeply rooted in Indian tradition and ethos. It is encoded in the Hindu scriptures, sarva dharma sadbhav, i.e. ‘equal respect for all beliefs’ and the value of truth is even enshrined in India’s national motto: satyameva jayate or ‘Truth Alone Triumphs’.

This freedom of conscience is the civil right of an individual to immunity from all external coercion in his search for God, but the Freedom of Religion Acts are illegitimately paternalistic with the State standing in judgement of the motives that lead one to choose specific faiths as Christianity and Islam.

Awarding the doctoral degree, the president, Prof Alberto De Mingo Kaminouchi CSsR expressed his immense pleasure and appreciation with the work and prayed that it would be of great benefit especially for India but also for religious liberty all over.

The Dean, Prof Martin McKeever, CSsR found the study of high significance and standard, while Prof. Andrzej S. Wodka, C.Ss.R congratulated Fr Norman for his hard work, tremendous passion with the subject and the persuasive arguments found throughout the work. He wished him every success in his future ventures and studies.