MUMBAI: Even as the Centre referred the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a 31-member JPC (joint parliamentary committee) Wednesday, the Catholic Church as well as Christian NGOs and activists expressed serious concern over the Bill.Archbishop emeritus of Bombay Oswald Cardinal Gracias wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah, relaying the concern expressed by priests and nuns who work with marginalised communities that their work could be stopped. “Ground level legislation depends on interpretation and implementation,” he wrote. He urged Shah to not rush the Bill and instead have a wider discussion with the Christian community.The archdiocese of Bombay warned that “the new framework risks moving beyond legitimate regulation towards excessive State control over charitable, educational and religious institutions”. It called for the Bill’s withdrawal.Auxiliary bishop Savio Fernandes questioned if the Bill amounted to “regulation or state control”. He wrote, “The practical consequences could be profound. The State could assume control over schools, hospitals, buildings… created wholly or partly with foreign contributions. National interest and institutional autonomy are not competing values. Both can be protected through clear standards, due process… A govt that seeks accountability from civil society must itself remain accountable… The Bill deserves careful reconsideration.”NGOs say the Bill empowers officials to seize Christian properties and assets. Dolphy Dsouza, spokesperson of the Bombay Catholic Sabha termed the “draconian FCRA amendments an ill-conceived move and a tool to weaponize FCRA to harass NGOs which provide humanitarian aid to vulnerable sections where even govts have failed to reach out.”He said, “One of the amendments is also a backdoor method to acquire NGO’s properties. This comes closely after the anti-conversion laws in 13 states terrorising minorities. The Centre continues to have misplaced priorities when the country is facing poverty, lack of educational facilities and unemployment. We demand the Bill’s withdrawal.”Godfrey Pimenta of Watchdog Foundation said, “Granting a govt-appointed authority the power to take over unutilised foreign contribution funds and assets merely because FCRA registration has lapsed risks becoming an instrument of control and asset seizure. This Act is draconian and must be scrapped.”Melwyn Fernandes of the Association of Concerned Catholics reacted to Wednesday’s development. “Finally the Central govt has been forced to heed the opposition parties by appointing a JPC. The Bill should not be rushed into finalization. Charitable organisations must be heard.”
