This is with reference to the front page news report ' Tense moments at Benaulim over transfer of parish priest (TGE, May 30). It is very unfortunate but not uncommon for parish priests to be accused of lack of transparancy and mismanagement of church funds, even to the extent of embezzlement and fraud in some cases. In the present case, the matter confronting the parishioners of Holy Trinity church , Benaulim and the parish priest appears to be of a serious nature, so as to warrant the presence of the police to quell the disruption of law and order within the church premises. Secondly, it must be remembered that the exercise of ecclesiastical authority in the Catholic church follows a different logic, wherein priests, and parish priests in particular, are called to be pastors, shepherding their flock. This is the quintessential requirement of every ordained minister . It is unfortunate that this is happening only in theory and never in practice in our parishes today.
