Congressmen Fight Religious Intolerance in Sri Lanka
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Some 15 House Democrats and Republicans have issued a letter to Sri Lanka's ambassador asking that the government table legislation outlawing religious conversion. In the letter to Jaliya Wickramasuriya, the 15 urged Sri Lanka's parliament to vote down the bill, which won approval in an earlier vote. "We believe that this proposed legislation will harm, not protect, the freedom of religion of the Sri Lankan people," wrote the signers. "This anti-conversion bill is overbroad and targets all religious conversions, not just 'unethical conversions.' " The letter was provided to Whispers from the Becket Fund, a nonpartisan, interfaith, public-interest law firm. The Democrats on the letter are James McGovern, Massachusetts; Rush Holt, New Jersey; Michael McMahon, New York; Bart Gordon, Tennessee; and Maurice Hinchey, New York. Republicans are Todd Akin, Missouri; Trent Franks, Arizona; Bob Inglis, South Carolina; Frank Wolf, Virginia; Scott Garrett, New Jersey; Joseph Pitts, Pennsylvania; Paul Broun, Georgia; Thaddeus McCotter, Michigan; John McHugh, New York; and Robert Aderholt, Alabama. The bill would impose a $4,400 fine and up to seven years in prison for those trying to convert. Passage of the bill, said a Becket Fund official, could have a harmful economic impact if religious charities stopped sending money.
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Reader Comments
ALL WERE BUDHISTS BEFORE ??? RR U SMOKING CRACK???
Then what happened to the Hindu-Tamils? Vedhas who worships nature?? Moors Muslims as traders?? Do you know there were other christian groups as well from Gova?? Learn your History before you say something Sanjeewani!!! Do you even know the orgin of your name?? you think its a Sinhala name dropped from heaven from Sinhala god?? Noooop it's from India... And guess what else is from India... "lord Budha"... so if conversions are unethical and criminal act--- "Lord Budha" should be the first one to be in prison, becuz when his 3 muskateers (missionaries)arrived in SL, they taught budhism to non-educated, tribal, rural people.... they worshiped rocks, trees, sun, moon.... and Budhists missionaries "enlightened" them !!! So all of those first Budhists missionaries should be charged before charging the Christians... DON'T MAKE IT LOOK LIKE SRI LANKA BELONGS TO ONLY SINHALA-BUDHISTS--- Some fools made that mistake sometimes back which ended up in a bloody war which took thousands of lives and took SLanka back to stone age economically and politically !!! Stupid idiots like you are the ones who ruin our mother Lanka that could have been THE REAL PEARL Of the indian ocean !!
TO "Mind your Business" stuff
Hey Rose, think to your self how much money have you spent on a poor person during the last few yrs??? How about your own people in Sri Lanka?? I'm a sri lankan too idiot ... but I'm NOT prideful, ignorant and arrogant like you to say that we are not receiving funds/charity/aid from other countries... Get a Brain first and realize why are we in the "3rd world" zone?? When was the last time you have visited north/east, or other rural parts of the Island?? Checkout the stats how much money being flown from Worldbank/UN/US government each yr to keep the country going... Check out the stats how much we owe others....?? You know when Tsunami was hit, Germany and many nations reduced our debts and basically let us have money for free Idiot!!! USA was and is THE biggest contributor on personal and governmental charity to SL... so just DON'T STUPIDLY RUN YOUR MOUTH AND RUIN IT FOR OTHER'S WHO REALLY NEEDS IT !!!
In another note, don't get "west" mixed up with "christians" .... not all the western countries are full of Christians... Christians don't represent a Country... they do good deeds ONLY becuz the teachings of Jesus ! Non-Violence and "Love your neighbor even your enemy "is what they teach. If Budhist extremist "monks" thinks that doing good to someone is "unethical", they must be smoking something called "marijuana" while meditating!! If people wants to choose between a religion, or even not to have a religion... that's called "HUMAN RIGHTS" .... Rose and the line of Orangy monkies, please go back to school from grade 1 and come back and talk to me... JUST DON'T LET YOUR PRIDE COME BEFORE YOUR MOUTH ! Thanks.
what a joke.
ROFL LMAO
What a crock?? We do not even have religious tolerance in the United States! We have a bunch of talking heads pushing their beliefs on us but are not tolerant of others belief's. Something along the lines of - clean your own house before cleaning someone else's.
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