Are Catholic governments obliged to convert?

[Sagradocorazon]

By divine law are they? Or can they allow false religions? I don't think it would be very wise to forcefully convert non believers , or throw them out...would it ? If there are any official teachings or opinions from saints, theologians, popes, feel free to post them.

[james03]

Coercion for conversion (I'm a poet and didn't know it) is never allowed.

Note in the past Catholic governments would require jews to listen to some preaching, however they were free to act upon it or reject it.

[Thurifer]

No one can be forced to convert.

A Catholic Government can restrict the freedom of religions. For example, it could forbid public preaching by heretics (Protestants, for example) and it could even forbid buildings for false religions.

Catholic Governments only work well when the majority of the population is Catholic and/or tolerant of Catholicism.

When Constantine made the Catholic Church legal and free, the population was one third Catholic. The majority were still pagan.

[dymphna17]

Didn't Spain get rid of the Moors?

I remember reading that St Bernard was very upset when he found out some of his troops in one of the Crusades were mistreating Jews while trying to make them convert.  He put a stop to it.

[Prayerful]

A forced conversion is of no worth. The hope is that they uphold Catholic values, that they show how every advantage is gained from the love of the Faith. Now, sadly, postmodern governments show something between hate or indifference towards Christianity.

[Cole]

No, forced conversion is never allowed.

Non-Catholic religions can be given a degree of tolerance in order to keep the civil peace.

Ideally, the State should work towards encouraging (not coercing) its citizens to maintain/embrace the true Faith by favouring that faith through its legislation, giving the Church responsibility for social services such as education and health, and by censoring the public spreading of errors.