PANAJI
Voicing concern over increasing intolerance and open conflicts, the Church in Goa has appealed to Catholic faithful to work beyond mere co-existence with people of other religious traditions and move towards a more pro-active collaboration with them, particularly in matters that demand mutual respect and understanding.
"This would imply that we, as a human community, live with and for each other," said Fr Olavo Caiado, Director of the Diocesan Centre for
Social Communications Media, in a statement issued on Saturday.
The appeal comes in the backdrop of recent turmoil and tension at Sonsodo-Margao, where two senior priests were humiliated and asked to vacate the premises, where a crowd had gathered to address claims for a Kabrastan from the Muslim community of Salcete.
Fr Caiado referred to Pope Francis' recent address to members of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, where he had underlined the importance of active collaboration and peaceful coexistence between people of different religious traditions.
"Pope Francis said that "an attitude of openness in truth and love must prevail in dialogue with believers of non-Christian religions, leading to peaceful co-existence with them, despite various obstacles and difficulties, particularly fundamentalism on both sides"."
Fr Caiado stated that Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, on his return from the Holy Land, had directed him to state that the Church in Goa would also like to reaffirm that the faithful are to work beyond mere co-existence with people of other religious traditions and move towards a more pro-active collaboration with them, particularly in matters that demand mutual respect and understanding.
"For the Church, the question of the Kabrastan is also one that touches deeply the dignity of the human person. To bury the dead with the dignity they deserve is a sacred duty that the Catholic Church deems as one of the essential works of mercy."
"It is the last rite conducted on a person who has passed from this life into eternity. This obliges the Catholic faithful to be respectful of similar duties performed by
people of other faiths and therefore not to interfere
with their legitimate endeavours in this direction," said Fr Caiado.
Stating that Goa has always been considered as an oasis of peace, Fr Caiado said people have always taken pride in the way they have lived in communal harmony.
"Sadly, in the present times, we see increasing intolerance and even open conflicts drifting us apart. We must reclaim our traditional social relations and once more be the peace-loving sisters and brothers that we always were. Hence our earnest appeal for communal understanding and peace among the different communities in Goa," he added.
Voicing concern over increasing intolerance and open conflicts, the Church in Goa has appealed to Catholic faithful to work beyond mere co-existence with people of other religious traditions and move towards a more pro-active collaboration with them, particularly in matters that demand mutual respect and understanding.
"This would imply that we, as a human community, live with and for each other," said Fr Olavo Caiado, Director of the Diocesan Centre for
Social Communications Media, in a statement issued on Saturday.
The appeal comes in the backdrop of recent turmoil and tension at Sonsodo-Margao, where two senior priests were humiliated and asked to vacate the premises, where a crowd had gathered to address claims for a Kabrastan from the Muslim community of Salcete.
Fr Caiado referred to Pope Francis' recent address to members of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, where he had underlined the importance of active collaboration and peaceful coexistence between people of different religious traditions.
"Pope Francis said that "an attitude of openness in truth and love must prevail in dialogue with believers of non-Christian religions, leading to peaceful co-existence with them, despite various obstacles and difficulties, particularly fundamentalism on both sides"."
Fr Caiado stated that Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, on his return from the Holy Land, had directed him to state that the Church in Goa would also like to reaffirm that the faithful are to work beyond mere co-existence with people of other religious traditions and move towards a more pro-active collaboration with them, particularly in matters that demand mutual respect and understanding.
"For the Church, the question of the Kabrastan is also one that touches deeply the dignity of the human person. To bury the dead with the dignity they deserve is a sacred duty that the Catholic Church deems as one of the essential works of mercy."
"It is the last rite conducted on a person who has passed from this life into eternity. This obliges the Catholic faithful to be respectful of similar duties performed by
people of other faiths and therefore not to interfere
with their legitimate endeavours in this direction," said Fr Caiado.
Stating that Goa has always been considered as an oasis of peace, Fr Caiado said people have always taken pride in the way they have lived in communal harmony.
"Sadly, in the present times, we see increasing intolerance and even open conflicts drifting us apart. We must reclaim our traditional social relations and once more be the peace-loving sisters and brothers that we always were. Hence our earnest appeal for communal understanding and peace among the different communities in Goa," he added.
