The answer to the question as to "Where is the tolerance of the Church?" (The Goan Everyday, January 10) has been answered by the opinionator himself by the very fact that he felt empowered to voice a detractive opinion on the Vanxim land issue without fear. In what seems to be an attempt to nitpick and demoralise the Church from taking forward its social justice ministry, the facts and the status of the Church land which was sold to some mundkars of Vanxim has been cleverly brushed under the carpet.
Unfortunately, authority bashing has become a fashionable pass time for a section of the Catholic laity, who like some disoriented Catholic priests, seem to reduce Christian spirituality to land, money and canon law. Does responsible Christian action not require that the laity get properly and adequately informed and exhaust all designated Church forums to express opinions before descending into the marketplace with public dissent? Before questioning the moral right of the 'social justice ministry' of the Church, does responsible Christian action not require the laity to also question their own moral right to remove the log from another's eye? Does responsible Christian action not require the laity to first put into practice the Catechism of the Catholic Church in their own lives before applying Canon Law to judge the actions of those in Church office? The present social and political behaviour of lay Catholic citizens win them the moral right to demand transparency and accountability from others in authority?
Soter D’Souza, Porvorim
Poor arguments
The Supreme Court has now decreed that there will be no Jallikattu this year in Chennai, but the lifting of the ban by the Centre on the ‘sport’, for want of a better word, does toss up a lot of questions. Chief among them will be the status of Dhirios here in Goa. Will bull fighting here get a reprieve? There has been a severe backlash regarding the lifting of the ban, with many bringing Hindutva into it, wondering how the slaughter of bovines for consumption can be banned but the brutal sport where bulls will be injured can continue. The protestors do have a point. It's not right to allow slaughter of cattle so that people who have a right to eat can eat this meat. But, the Centre allows them to fight to the death. Hypocritical isn't it?
Insia Mendonca, Fatorda
No work done
Four Mayors - Yatin Parekh, Vaidehi Naik, Surendra Furtado and the present Mayor Shubam Chodankar all spoke to The Goan Everyday, and give information on the work done by them in Panaji. In fact nothing concrete has been completed by them. Funds were never utilized and had to be sent back to the treasury due to their incompetency. Panaji is still suffering. No development has taken place during any of these mayors’ tenure.
In fact it is suggested that no Mayor post is required for CCP, as their voices are never heard by the government which renders them powerless. Alternately two Commissioners should be appointed by the government - One for administrative work and other for technical matters
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
