The Diocesan Clergy has its work cut out for it. In fact, there is a
shortage of Diocesan priests to attend to the parishes and some of these
have now been handed over to other Religious Orders/Congregations. There are
also schools, HSS and Colleges to manage. Electoral Politics is definitely
not its cup of tea. The Church, however, has a role to play in informing and
advising the faithfull. It also has a responsibility to pull up the wayward,
even if they are fullgrown men and women....and wealthy to boot!
It is difficult to imagine how a Parish Priest is equipped to identify "five
good and prominent Hindus" and that too for electoral politics. Can one
decide on mangoes using the indices of a chickoo? The benchmarks differ. To
some a ghagra- choli is okay, skirt and short-cropped blouse is not, or
vice-versa. Gosto e relativo. Tastes differ. IMHO, the Archbishop did well
not to permit such foolish and unwaranted action. Who would underwrite the
morality of a newly elected politician for whom the word GOD soon becomes an
acronym for the "Good Ole Dollar".
If Fr. Antimo Gomes really wants to clean up a system, he can devote all his
attention to the DSE administration, over which he presides. One lifetime is
not enough to put all its records in order. In addition, he has to manage
the parish of ICC in Panaji. It may be nice to involve the committed persons
among laity in running the temporal affairs of the church [like properties,
printing press, schools and colleges] rather than involve priests in the
affairs of the political establishment. The priests can help NGOs but should
not become a part of them. They have a bigger role to play as guides and
advisors.
Viva Goa.
Miguel
Sachin Phadte wrote
I had mentioned about the move by some priests to do something about
cleansing the election system in Goa.
Sachin Phadte.
UCAN: Priest-initiated campaign to fight corruption divides Catholic
clergy 10/10/2006
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21562
