MUMBAI, March 11 -- The Archdiocese of Bombay has expressed concern about the Maharashtra cabinet's approval of the draft anti-conversion bill 'Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam' tabled on March 5. While acknowledging the state's responsibility to protect individuals from coercion, inducement or deception in matters of religion, the Church has raised serious reservations about certain provisions that it believes may undermine the fundamental freedom of conscience granted by the Indian Constitution. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Archdiocese noted that the requirement for individuals to give a 60-day prior notice and obtain permission from a designated authority before converting to another faith placed an undue burden on what was essentially a deeply personal decision. Faith, it said, arose from conviction and conscience rather than State sanction. At the same time, the Church reiterated its unequivocal rejection of forced conversions. It stated that any conversion brought about through coercion, fraud, or inducement was morally wrong and theologically invalid. Genuine conversion, the Archdiocese emphasised, must always be a free and voluntary act of faith....