PANAJI
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão had some stern words to offer to the State’s political and administrative class, raising particularly the issue of rampant mining at the cost of the environment, while also defending its ‘duty’ of informing the faithful to perform their democratic duty of voting wisely.
In his message issued on the occasion of the civic reception held on Wednesday, the Archbishop was at pains to insist that his thoughts have been shared in a spirit of friendship and should be accepted as such.
“...what we see is an extensive environmental and social damage to Goa, which has generated rampant corruption and even weakened governance. It has been an assault on our community and on our natural wealth. More distressingly, it has been a loss to our children and to our future generations. Are we not answerable to them? Or are they going to remember us as an irresponsible generation that has squandered natural wealth for the benefit of a few?” the Archbishop asked.
The Archbishop also used the words ‘intergenerational equity’ and quoted Pope Francis who had said that “Each community can take from the bounty of the earth whatever it needs for subsistence, but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for the coming generations” to point out that: “It is our solemn duty to ensure that the value of the land is passed on to our children and future generations. Only then may we enjoy the fruits, shared equally.”
The Archbishop, however, defended the Church's directives to its parishes ahead of elections.
“We do issue guidelines to our faithful on how to exercise their franchise and thus fulfil one of their sacred civic duties; these guidelines are read out in our churches, but they never mention the name of any candidate or political party. The people are sovereign. They decide…. If, as a result of the Church’s advisory, some party comes to power, it does not follow that the party was canvassed for by the Church,” the Archbishop emphasised.
His statement assumes significance in the light of the fact that the margin of BJP’s victory at the State Assembly elections in 2012 was said to be a result of the Church’s advisory.
In an apparent reference to the recent meeting between Fr Zeferino D'Souza, Secretary of the Diocesan Society of Education, and Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar recently which sparked speculation of an election related meeting, the Archbishop said that such meetings were often misunderstood.
“Our institutions work under the law of the Church, but also under the law of the land. For their optimal functioning, there is need of maintaining a regular contact with government authorities. It is regrettable that sometimes such contacts are not understood in their proper context and are even criticised in the public square,” the Archbishop pointed out.
The Archbishop also raised other issues like that of the Proposed Draft of the New Education Policy which has been brought out recently without taking into confidence “a recognised stakeholder as the Church”.
“There are elements today who accuse the Church in India of engaging in proselytization and conversions. Our charitable works are looked upon with suspicion and as an allurement for conversion,” the Archbishop added.
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"..what we see is an extensive environmental and social damage to Goa, which has generated rampant corruption and even weakened governance. It has been an assault on our community and on our natural wealth. More distressingly, it has been a loss to our children and to our future generations."
- Fr
