Dear Prof Newman Fernandes, As a university academic in the UK over many years, I have always been pleased to note what goes on at your College through information on Goanet.
Indeed, when visiting Panjim in April 2006, and on the spur of the moment, I had called at your College, on the suggestion of Frederic Noronha. Unfortunately, you were away when we called that afternoon but I informally met some of your academic staff in the pleasant ambiance of your College. The next time I am in Goa, it is my hope that I will have the opportunity to meet with you personally by making prior arrangements. I was most pleased to note particularly, what Arcbishop Ferrao reportedly said at the National Seminar on Migration on 1st April 2008: > Though the Government must regulate the movement > of migrants depending on its ability to take care > of them, the status of migrant does not change > the fact that all of us are brothers and sisters > belonging to one human family, said Msgr. Filipe > Neri Ferrão, Archbishop Patriarch of Goa and > Daman, while inaugurating the National Seminar on > Migration-Issues, Challenges and Implications Clearly, the emphasis on "all of us are brothers and sisters belonging to one family" was an important point among the many issues raised by Bishop Ferrao, as well as those raised by you and your excellent speakers at the Seminar. This is the first time I have noted this key aspect, articulated by Arcbishop Ferrao, personally, or from his Office. I am therefore encouraged to hope that his Grace will extend his expressed sentiment, reasonably soon to say that, caste adherence among many Catholic Goans is wrong and and cannot be acceptable in his Church, especially among those converted historically as early as 500 years ago. Further, in order to counter those caste apologists and adherents engendering endogamy, segregationist tendencies and indoctrinating offspring in caste, there should be a Church led directive on the perception and treatment of people as equals at birth as indeed emphasised by Christ himself. I would further respectfully suggest that this issue be made a theme for a Seminar at your much respected College at a future date and to which I would gladly send a scholarly paper on an aspect of Caste and the Catholic Church in Goa, if unable to attend personally. With kind regards, Sincerely Prof Dr.Cornel DaCosta