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1. So if proselytism is against Canon Law, does that mean all the conversions throughout history that have been the product of inducement, pressure or colonisation should be declared null and void (a bit like baptisms that have used the wrong wording?), or were they canonically legal then?
   
   What about the children of parents who were proselytised? What about the children in colonial countries who became Christians in order to be educated in mission schools? Jews in Europe who became Catholics to avoid legal penalties (e.g. the father of Teresa of Avila), etc. etc.?
   
   Still, nitpicking aside, I think the Cardinal is right on.
   
   PS When did proselytising become contrary to Canon Law?

   Posted By: Poppenhauer

2. Telling comments that can be applied to our Catholic Schools.
   
   Let's be careful not to exchange evangelisation for proselytism in saying we offer a good education, based on Gospel values.
   
   We really do need to be truthful and offer a good education in an environment of evangelisation. And evangelisation is knowing that we have Jesus and his salvation to offer through our witness.

   Posted By: Fr Mick Mac Andrew Bombala-Delegate NSW

3. Proselytising is unchristian and violates all levels of honour and respect for another person. It violates all codes of decency by the simple fact that the Proselytiser fails to see the image of ‘God’ (if you believe in one) or ‘good’ reflected in another, different though it may be. Forget about Canon Law, it is basic human decency. Respect 101.

   Posted By: TJ Lawson

4. Dear poppenhauer, forcible conversion has always been against Church law. As far as the Church is concerned, Christianity must be freely chosen. Unfortunately some civil governments such as 16th century Spain failed to put into practice the Church's teaching on this matter.
   
   By what means do you look into the conscience of a man who lived 500 years ago and pontificate that his conversion was insincere?
   
   Some denominational Christians may have refused education to non-Christians. I'm not aware of any Catholics doing this, but if they did, they did it in disobedience to the Church.

   Posted By: Peter G

5. TJ Lawson, I think you may be condemning proselytism according to a wider definition of the term than Cardinal Arinze understands by it. Are you saying we should never seek to convince anyone that our religion is correct and theirs (or their lack thereof) is wrong? This, if it is your view, assumes that all religions are equally valid. As a simple matter of logic, that cannot be correct, as they teach contradictory things. The only possible alternatives are that no religious doctrine is correct or that some are and some are not. If no religious doctrine is correct then we are all the worse off for holding them, and someone would be doing us a favour if he came to "proselytise" us to atheism. If some religious doctrines are correct, it would follow that the person holding a correct religious doctrine is doing the person who holds an incorrect one a favour by endeavouring to persuade him that he is wrong. Yes he must do it respectfully, but he must do it.
   
   And why would you stop at religion? If it is wrong to try and convince someone their religion is incorrect, a person would have no greater right to try and persuade them to change their position on anything else.
   

   Posted By: Steve

6. Uh, Poppenhaur I think you've missed the point. The point isn't whether or not we should consider people who were proselytised to (or, rather, at) Catholics. For all we know, they might have legitimately come around to the Catholic way of thinking. Only these people, and God, know their true beliefs. The point is that as Christians we should attempt to convince, not coerce.

   Posted By: Alex Knight

7. "Go forth and teach ye all nations, baptising in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."-Jesus Christ
   
   As Alex Knight put it, convince, don't coerce.

   Posted By: Invictus Maneo

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