MARGAO
While Episcopal Vicar, South Goa Fr Lucio Dias, led the parishes across the district, exhorting the faithful to come out and exercise their vote for clean and good candidates, issues such as the Investment Promotion Board and the destruction caused by the projects rent the air in many churches.
It is learnt that in many parishes priests urged the people to remove the masks of politicians, who fool them at the time of elections and change their decision after coming
to power.
In other parishes, the flock was advised to vote for candidates, who would protect the freedom to practice religion of his or her choice guaranteed by the Constitution of India. Yet, in some other parishes, the priests guided the flock to take close look at the party hoppers, who change parties, for their own selfish benefits.
Fr Lucio told The Goan that the Church guidelines were explained to the flock, laying stress on exercising their Constitutional right to vote. “I have exhorted people from my Parish at Benaulim to vote for honest and sincere candidates, who would not only protect their interests but the interest of the state as a whole,” Fr Dias said.
Fr Eremito Rebello, Parish Priest Rachol, said: “I have told the laity that we cannot tell them who they should vote for. It is up to them to choose wisely taking into account the good of Goa.
People must realise they have suffered due to decisions
taken by the previous government.”
Fr Eremito said he placed before the people how the MoI policy still hangs in balance, and the manner in which the Investment Promotion Board was set up, causing destruction. I have also raised questions on the airport
issue, which remain unresolved till date.
“I told the faithful to exercise their right and choose the right candidates who will truly work for them and for the state. I made it a point to explain to the people that we have to save Goa and also save the rights of the people,”
he added.
While the Sunday Masses came in handy to guide the flock on the guidelines issued by CSJP, many parishes in Salcete conducted prayers over the last one week to
help people chose the right candidates.
