the goan I network
PANAJI
Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao on Saturday asked Goans to not vote for those candidates who “corrupt, communalise, exploit and divide” the people.
In his customary Easter Sunday message released to the media on Saturday, Ferrao said: “As we stand on the threshold of parliamentary elections as well as by-elections in some of our constituencies, let us pray that our electorate will vote for the forces which empower the weak, the marginalised and the exploited, rather than those that corrupt, communalise, exploit and divide”.
The Archbishop also extended his “cordial wishes” for Easter to his flock.
“I would like to extend my cordial wishes to all those who believe in what Christians worldwide celebrate today: the triumph of Jesus over death and evil and his promise of eternal life to all who believe in him,” Archbishop Ferrao said.
“Easter encourages to infuse our society with newness of life and purpose,” he said, and mentioned the proximity of the elections to make his pitch for prayers so that the electorate votes for forces which empower the marginalized and exploited, rather than those who corrupt, communalize, exploit and divide.
Ferrao’s message laced with the general political advisory ahead of the April 23 elections in Goa, comes a couple of days after Raia parish priest Fr Conceicao D’Silva tendered an unconditional apology to the election authorities after a video of his went viral in which he referred to BJP national president Amit Shah as a ‘demon’ and also advised people to not vote of the party for its persecution of the minorities across the
country.
In the video, Fr D’Silva is also heard saying that the cancer suffered by the late chief minister Manohar Parrikar was the “wrath of god” earning him widespread criticism and condemnation. The Goa Catholic church too slammed the video.
The video had gone viral a week ago and Fr D’Silva tendered the apology following an inquiry ordered by the Goa CEO based on a complaint filed by the BJP.
