MARGAO
Even as suspense reigns over the Christmas midnight masses at Parishes across the State, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral came out clear on Sunday to assert that Christmas midnight Masses and Zatras are not events but pure religious activities, where no loud sound is used to conduct these activities.
At the most, the churches and temples may apply to the police for traffic regulation and for security as was being done in the past, asserting that Christmas midnight Masses and zatras are normally conducted with low decibel sound, which do not disturb anyone, Cabral told The Goan on Sunday.
“I do not know why suddenly questions are being raised whether the Churches need to obtain permission to hold the ensuing Christmas midnight mass or the Temples should take permission in respect of the zatras lining up in the coming days. At the most, the churches and temples have been only applying for traffic regulation at these religious activities, Other than that, I do not think permission was obtained to conduct the religious activities”, he said, while demanding to know how come questions are now being raised whether the religious institutions should take sound permission.
Asserting that Christmas midnight masses and zatras constitute the religious and cultural traditions of Goa, Cabral said “certainly these religious activities are not events. They use the sound to carry out the religious activities, but with low decibel, which does not disturb anyone”.
Notwithstanding the categorical statement made by the Environment Minister, Nilesh Cabral, who also holds the PWD portfolio, suspense continues on the ground whether the Parishes should obtain the sound permission to hold midnight mass.
Episcopal Vicar, South Goa, Fr Lucio Dias, who is the Parish Priest of St John the Baptist Church, Benaulim, said he has indeed received queries from a couple of parishes how to go about the long tradition of holding midnight Masses and whether they are now required to hold the Mass service before midnight in view of the sound ban.
“I have advised the Priests from our jurisdiction, to wait for a couple of days to take a call whether to start the Mass service before midnight. So far, we have received no communication from the authorities on the midnight church services. I have advised our priests to wait for clarity from the authorities”, he said, pointing out that the midnight mass is being conduct with low decibel sound, without disturbing anyone.
A group of public spirited citizens on Sunday called on Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai to find out whether the Churches need to obtain permission to conduct the Christmas midnight mass. The Fatorda MLA is believed to have called up the Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral to seek clarity on the use of sound for the ensuing Christmas Mass. “I have been told by the Environment Minister that midnight Masses and zatras are religious activities. Cabral wondered whether anyone has insisted that the religious institutions should obtain sound permission to hold the midnight Masses”, Sardesai said, while seeking clarity from the government on the issue.
