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BIG BLOW TO RULING PARTY
While it is not being spoken officially by the religious body, which holds sway over the state’s 25% Catholic population, emerging trends have indicated that the ruling government has fallen out of favour with the church, which could change given that the extremely fluid situation before the elections.
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NOT YET ON GUIDELINES STAGE
* It is clear that the BJP is not an option. Based on the decisions the government has taken, they have taken as well as the governance in general it is clear that they are out of favour with the people
* Unlike in the past, it is also clear that the Congress is not the automatic choice. In the past it was one or the other. The situation has not crystallised as yet
- Fr Victor Ferrão (Dean of Philosophy at the Rachol Seminary)
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* We are in the process of getting feedback from parish priests as well as heads of institutions. We will come out with a statement when it’s done
* The Church statement is more of a reflection of government and not meant to favour or go against any particular political party.
- Fr Savio Fernandes (Executive secy of the Council for Social Justice)
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* Even the Aam Aadmi Party does not have a face and has failed to elaborate its vision or ideology for Goa. In the absence of that, it would be difficult to make a decision on them
* At the end of the day the church might have to opt for a lesser evil
- Fr Eremito Rebello (Veteran campaigner)
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PANAJI: The influential Catholic Church in Goa is avowedly apolitical. Yet no one will deny that the stand the church takes is a proverbial bellwether to the fates of political parties.
This time round, however, as the church fathers sit together to scratch their heads over what direction to ‘guide’ the flock towards, the picture isn’t so clear.
Church leaders, have made it clear that it is yet to arrive at a decision, but that they are gathering data.
“It is clear that the BJP is not an option. Based on the decisions the government has taken, they have taken as well as the governance in general it is clear that they are out of favour with the people. The church will of course keep its cards close to its chest,” Fr Victor Ferrão Dean of Philosophy at the Rachol Seminary said, insisting that he was not a spokesperson for the church.
“Unlike in the past, it is also clear that the Congress is not the automatic choice. In the past it was one or the other. The situation has not crystallised as yet,” Ferrão said adding that the possibilities of the independents or third fronts or third parties would be explored but that they didn’t really inspire confidence.
He added that the church is yet to send out instructions on which way to ask the people to vote but it was being deliberated at the highest levels in the Church hierarchy.
For his part, Fr Savio Fernandes the executive secretary of the Council for Social Justice and Peace, which issues the Church’s official statement each election, made it clear that the Church does not back either one party or another but instead issues broad guidelines on the way people vote.
“We have not yet reached that stage yet. We are in the process of getting feedback from parish priests as well as heads of institutions. We will come out with a statement when it’s done,” Fr Savio Fernandes said stressing that the Church statement is more of a reflection of government and not meant to favour or go against any particular political party.
A similar statement was echoed by Fr Valeriano Vaz, the Church procurator who said that the church statement is never a straight command in favour or against any party, but only to serve as a guideline for the voters.
While it is not being spoken officially by the religious body, which holds sway over the state’s 25% Catholic population, emerging trends have indicated that the ruling government has fallen out of favour with the church, which could change given that the extremely fluid situation before the elections.
“Ultimately the people might have to end up having to vote for individual candidates depending on who stands for elections. The way things stand, I do not see any party as being worthy of the votes of the people of Goa,” veteran campaigner Fr Eremito Rebello said adding that his opinion was his own as a campaigner on various issues afflicting the state.
Fr Rebello had campaigned alongside the late Matanhy Saldanha at the hustings in 2011.
“Even the Aam Aadmi Party does not have a face and has failed to elaborate its vision or ideology for Goa. In the absence of that, it would be difficult to make a decision on them,” he said. “At the end of the day the church might have to opt for a lesser evil,” Fr Victor Ferrão concluded.
