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* G * O * A * N * E * T **** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S *
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Sangath, www.sangath.com, is one of Goa's leading NGOs.
Sangath is looking to build a centre for services, training and research
and is looking to buy land of approx 1500 to 2000 sq mtrs
betweeen Mapusa and Bambolim and surrounding rural areas
If you have land to sell, please contact:
contac...@sangath.com or yvo...@sangath.com or phone +91-9881499458
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-July/180028.html
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From: <mgov...@sbcglobal.net>
Mario wrote:
If Fr. Prakash wants to become a politician he should resign from the
priesthood. You cannot honestly serve both God and Caesar, ...er,
Shivaji, at the same time.
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:52:18 +0530
From: Marshall Mendonza <mmendonz...@gmail.com>
Mario, may I place a query before you. I would appreciate if you could
answer it to the point and with supporting explanation.
Mario responds:
My opinion has to do with conflicts of interest between vows that REAL
priests take versus whom they would be required to represent in a secular
democracy. For example, the Vatican places stringent restrictions on
Catholic politicians in matters of abortion and gay marriage, which may
clash with secular policy. This would apply ten fold to priests.
***Precisely at this juncture we need prophets who will live and die for
Truth in the "secular" democracy. Catholic priests and lay people have the
duty to speak against abortion, which is a crime, and "gay marriage", which
is a contradiction in terms...scientifically, medically, biologically,
sociologically and ethically... What Fr.Cedric is doing is not against his
priestly vows, but the concrete expression of his commitment and ministry
for the people of God, particularly for the oppressed ones.
Even the Bible recognized that God and Shivaji should be kept apart.
***God is the "hound of heaven" who must have been after Shivaji also...
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:20:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: Samir Kelekar <samir_kele...@yahoo.com>
So, if a priest speaks against the ills of society, it is fine.
Mario responds:
Of course this would be fine. However, I don't believe the debate is about
Fr. Prakash simply speaking out, but about becoming a politician and running
for office. It is about the conflict of loyalty when one takes an oath of
office in a secular democracy and an oath to serve one's God at the same
time.
***The work of Fr.Cedric Prakash is a priestly ministry, it is not the work
of a politician only but of every citizen, within their limits. Fr.Cedric is
not "running for office". The work that he is doing excellently is already
influencing the Indian society and defining the role of religion in the
economic and political issues.
Regards.
Fr.Ivo
