Re: [Goanet] SCHEMES ANNOUNCED BY AAP CONVENOR
The BJP continued with doles to remain a popular government and it appears from pronouncements by the AAP Chief Minister designated candidate that they promise to outdo the BJP in this respect! This is bad and a disgraceful policy which no self respecting goan should encourage. What is the use of Christmas if it has no meaning and we do not sponsor an ethical government? We have also have had enough of arrogance. Generation of revenue by plugging leakages is generally vague. Exactly how must be at least hinted; instead used to generate employment for goans and render good governance, not allowances to unemployed youth and doubling BJP benefits in popular doles? Also praising himself as the best CM candidate and crying being framed on being called by the ACB in a corruption case does not indicate a new political behavior expected of a Chief Minister heading the AAP. Leave it to others to draw this conclusion by careful and meaningful word and deed ? Honesty, transparency and minimum arrogance are sorely lacking commodities these days! On Sat, Dec 24, 2016 at 10:25 AM, Stephen Dias wrote: > -Dear Elvis, > Goa Convenor > Candidate for AAP CM > > Just for info what I wrote; > > AAP announced doubling the Govt schemes plus Rs 5000/- p.m. for unemployed > youth and many other schemes which is a welcome step. Now that CM has > become shaky wants AAP to come clear on revenue generation rise for such > schemes? My question to Parsekar whether he made any provisions earlier and > whether there is any accountability and transparency of these schemes which > is presently on record? > Earlier nobody questioned you as you did now. > Definitely if AAP fails on these promises, then the people has full right > to reiterate. > > Stephen Dias > Dona Paula > Mob: 9422443110 > date: 24.12.2016 > > >
[Goanet] 2016 Christmas letter
To All Goanetters: Wishing you-all a Merry Christmas. Please see the attachment for my family Christmas letter to all our friends Blessings to your family and you. Best wishes to you-all for the New Year. Gilbert
[Goanet] BJP REWARDS R.K.SRIVASTAVA WITH A RETIREMENT POSTING
As was expected the Government has rewarded R.K.Srivastava with a post retirement plumb posting as State Election Commissioner so that Goa can be his retirement haven and resting place for the next six years. R.K Srivastava who was due to retire on June 30th was given two extensions as the BJP chose to continue with the very incompetent and pliable Yes-man Chief Secretary to enable it bulldoze through without any hindrance all the illegal moves it had up the sleeve. The bureaucrats should be independent and impartial but sadly in Goa they have totally surrendered to the political rot. The Chief Secretary who heads the bureaucracy should have led by example and kept the administration free from political interference, but the lackluster R.K.Srivastava shamelessly bent, bowed and crawled all over, while blindly signing on the dotted line at the dictates of the political bosses. Government cannot be using bureaucrats as pawns in their political games. We need to stem this interdependent chronic relationship that exists between Ministers and Civil servants. For Good Governance and Rule of law to prevail, the political neutrality and impartiality of the civil servants is extremely vital. With bureaucrats acting as colluding caged parrots, the government has been able to carry on with the further destruction and degradation of Goa. Once the Pearl of the Orient, it has now been reduced to a Corruption embedded gambling, prostitution, narcotics and crime hub. Slimy Officers like R.K. Srivastava cannot be allowed scot free, they must be held accountable, prosecuted and punished for being responsible for Goa’s further decay. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
[Goanet] (no subject)
Season’s Greetings to you all, While we ready to usher in the New Year, may I say a very big thanks for your overwhelming affection and support. Am ever so humbled with your towering strength. May we be always empowered with the might and spine to fearlessly speak out against any injustice and nepotism, which very sadly has become the order of the day, with the rich getting richer and the poor turning poorer. Let our firm resolve always be to relentlessly strive for a Better, Greener and Corruption free Goa, where only Justice always prevails. We owe it to this great land of ours. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
[Goanet] What I want to be when I grow up
Whether private schools (public in the English system) in Bombay like Cathedral and John Connon or Scottish Orphanage or Jesuit schools like St Stanislaus or St Mary's or parish schools like Antonio de Souza or St Sebastian's, the most striking feature of them all was the group of teachers that taught there. Their dedication and perseverance in the face of schoolboy naughtiness and oftentimes reluctance to apply themselves to learning was legendary. We were too young to recognize it then, but teachers like those are hard to find in today's world. Tuitions had not much of a role then. It was reserved for the dullest of the lot who in turn were learning-handicapped because of home and neighbourhood environment. What the teachers brought to the table had nothing to do with their backgrounds. They were priests, lay people, Christian and Hindu. They came from cities and many times from rural areas on their first teaching jobs just after their BEd degrees. Some of them were many years experienced and some of them green as raw cabbage but they all brought with them a desire to impart something valuable their charges would take with them for life. We too, like the CBC article says of young ones in Grade 4 in Canada, were made to write almost the same thing. "What do I want to be when I grow up". We were at the end of the day made to take and show those paper slips to our parents at home. In all seriousness, I had written "Cardinal". Not priest, not bishop, verily Cardinal. When my parents read that they laughed and praised me at the same time. Later on I understood why: the laugh was for Cardinal - Aiming for the top. The praise was that it was something noble, service to others. Nothing bad for me in their minds could come of that. The Jesuits are nothing if not super detectives at things like these. From then on, I was secretly earmarked for a vocation and future as a Jesuit. My bright academics would have confirmed their silent selection. It was not until the last year of school when it is customary for Jesuit schools to send their Catholic students to a week's retreat at their Bandra sea face Retreat House that they were finally disappointed, as Hitler must have been when his deputy Rudolf Hess sought refuge in enemy England. What happened is: the constant preaching about God and his saints all day long except for meals and a little recreation, got to us gregarious types. We were the alpha-males though I was then more a follower than alpha or beta or anything else. So when Walter Pires who knew that part of Bandra fairly well, suggested we have a party when the priests go to meditate prior to turning in, we said yes with great enthusiasm, not knowing what was involved. Walter first led us in jumping the wall and onto the public road. It was about 10pm and we marched to the fisherfolks village in Chuim where Walter easily procured a bottle of liquor followed by a few bottles of soda water from a next door shack. Tightly clutching these we returned, this time jumping the wall with some acrobatics due to our party possessions. Settling down in a dark room, we had just got around to enjoying the contraband when the meanest of all the priests pushed open the door, switched on the lights and was dumbstruck on seeing us with glasses, the liquor and soda bottles. We were then between 15 and 16 mind you. He barked twice only: the first was "Walter we need to talk", the next was "Roland? You?" But he didn't summon me like he did Walter. On returning to school on Monday, no one talked to me about a vocation again. No more one on one sessions with various priests on the joys of priesthood. Thankfully, I was unceremoniously "dumped". To me, it made no difference. In fact I was relieved of that ever-hanging sword of Damocles, sorry priesthood. All these memories brought on by those Canadian kids writing in 1954: What I want to be when I grow up. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/favourite-teachers-reunion-62-years-later-1.3908639 Roland Francis Toronto.
Re: [Goanet] Goanet Digest, Vol 11, Issue 664
With reference to the below info. after 55 years of the invasion and colonization Goa is not a priority but a spoils of war. Anni enkam kitem munpachem Doutor Jose Colaco? BC - GL responds: Of course for many Goans, December 18, 1961 is a day etched in stone. ?But for most of the world, the day then and that day now is a fleeting and insignificant moment in time and history. There is a now a book published of Kennedy's diaries and what was on his mind at every given time / week when he was in the White House. ?The events unfolding in Goa was more of a distraction to the US administration from the many pressing events going on in the world. ?All that Kennedy wanted to avoid is some pesky problem in some corner of the world disturb / distract the big picture of USA and Soviet Union, the Nuclear Threat, and Europe.? Even Nehru did not prioritize Goa and did not want to use force - see his biography. ?There were three unrelated factors that forced his hand. 1. Contrary to Nehru's advise, the leaders of Goan freedom fighters (to embarrass Nehru) ?were doing things that were endangering their lives and that of their followers; and mouthing off (aka giving interviews) to the Bombay press to embarrass Nehru. 2. The African leaders at Non-Aligned meetings were prodding Nehru to do something about the Portuguese colony in India; as that was the first step for Portugal relinquishing its African colonies. 3. Portugal's intransigence even in the face of United Nations actions and resolutions. ?Portugal's act of making Goa part of "Geographic Portugal" and the colonies as "overseas provinces" was a clear act that Portugal was not going to relinquish its colony in India like France did vis-a-vis Pondicherry and Mahe - which was / would have been a great road map for all parties. ?This tom-foolery of "Greater Portugal" even caused?the NATO allies to give up on Portugal. >From Wikipedia: On 14 December 1960, the?United Nations?General Assembly?(UNGA) passed Resolution 1514 (XV) urging all countries to take steps to place their colonies and non-self-governing territories on the road to self-determination in accordance with Article 73 of the?UN Charter.??Portugal claimed this resolution did not apply to them, as her colonies were overseas provinces, constitutionally integral to the nation, and thus exempt. On 15 December 1960, the UNGA passed Resolution 1541 laying out 12 conditions by which the UNGA would determine the definition of a non-self-governing territory.???This was immediately followed by Resolution 1542 declaring that nine Portuguese overseas provinces met these conditions and were to be considered "non-self-governing" territories for the purposes of Resolution 1514, even if the Portuguese constitution did not recognise them as such. Regards, ?GL
[Goanet] GOANET: AMONKAR NACHOIA KUMPASAR?
---DR.PRITHVIRAJ AMONKAR NACHOIA AMIM KUMPASAR? Never expected with so called intelligent people and that too being a doctor by profession and leader of the AAP group in Siolim to act in this manner, where I was told many times by my cousin who is a supporter of AAP about his qualities and capabilities. I was surprised to know that the same person has acted now, in so crookedly manner, reasons for you not visiting the voters at their residences. Whether right or not but being a doctor by profession, he should have known before making nasty statement on his own party. He did "volta facia" probably whether he received "lollipos" or not from BJP because AAP is a cashless party.. Now he made a Press statement could be out of frustration in Navhind Times today on the day of Christmas ; Quote; "the broom can be used to clear garbage but if the broom is not strong then it itself is garbage" Comments; "Senhor Dr Prithviraj Amonkar ' " if you cannot use your stethoscope properly then it itself is garbage" In Konkani there is a saying " Nachonc Noko Zalear Hangon Vankdem" If Dr. Amonkar thinks that AAP is losing out in Goa it could be because of these kind of people like you. I am confident that AAP is going stronger day by day, under the leadership of our Goa Convenor Elvis Gomes who has been projected as future CM of Goa, and my advice to Dr. Amonkar is WAIT AND SEE how the broom will be used. Stephen Dias Dona Paula -
[Goanet] What I want to be when I grow up
Incredible childhood story by Roland, the moral is that hooch can also lead you in the right direction. BC What happened is: the constant preaching about God and his saints all day long except for meals and a little recreation, got to us gregarious types. We were the alpha-males though I was then more a follower than alpha or beta or anything else. So when Walter Pires who knew that part of Bandra fairly well, suggested we have a party when the priests go to meditate prior to turning in, we said yes with great enthusiasm, not knowing what was involved. Walter first led us in jumping the wall and onto the public road. It was about 10pm and we marched to the fisherfolks village in Chuim where Walter easily procured a bottle of liquor followed by a few bottles of soda water from a next door shack. Tightly clutching these we returned, this time jumping the wall with some acrobatics due to our party possessions. Settling down in a dark room, we had just got around to enjoying the contraband when the meanest of all the priests pushed open the door, switched on the lights and was dumbstruck on seeing us with glasses, the liquor and soda bottles. We were then between 15 and 16 mind you. He barked twice only: the first was "Walter we need to talk", the next was "Roland? You?" But he didn't summon me like he did Walter. On returning to school on Monday, no one talked to me about a vocation again. No more one on one sessions with various priests on the joys of priesthood. Thankfully, I was unceremoniously "dumped". To me, it made no difference. In fact I was relieved of that ever-hanging sword of Damocles, sorry priesthood. All these memories brought on by those Canadian kids writing in 1954: What I want to be when I grow up. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/favourite-teachers-reunion-62-years-later-1.3908639 Roland Francis Toronto.
[Goanet] Pope Francis: Christmas has been ‘taken hostage’ by materialism (The Guardian.com)
Pope Francis: Christmas has been ‘taken hostage’ by materialism
Birth of Jesus should remind
world of the suffering of
children today, pontiff says in
Christmas Eve address at
Vatican
Pope Francis said Christmas has been "taken hostage" by
dazzling materialism that puts God in the shadows and blinds
many to the needs of the hungry, the migrants and the
war-weary.
Francis, leading the world's 1.2 billion Roman
Catholics into Christmas for the fourth time since
his election in 2013, said in his Christmas Eve
homily in Vatican City that a world often obsessed
with gifts, feasting and self-centredness needed
more humility.
"If we want to celebrate Christmas authentically, we need to
contemplate this sign: the fragile simplicity of a small
newborn, the meekness of where he lies, the tender affection
of the swaddling clothes. God is there," the Pope said at St
Peter's Basilica.
At the solemn but joyous service, attended by about 10,000
people as well as dozens of cardinals and bishops, Pope
Francis said the many in the wealthy world had to be reminded
that the message of Christmas was humility, simplicity and
mystery.
"Jesus was born rejected by some and regarded by many others
with indifference," he said. "Today also the same
indifference can exist, when Christmas becomes a feast where
the protagonists are ourselves, rather than Jesus; when the
lights of commerce cast the light of God into the shadows;
when we are concerned for gifts, but cold toward those who
are marginalised."
He then added in unscripted remarks: "This
worldliness has taken Christmas hostage. It needs
to be freed."
Security was heightened for the Christmas weekend in Italy
and at the Vatican after Italian police killed the man
believed to be responsible for the Berlin market truck
attack, while other European cities kept forces on high
alert.
St Peter's Square was cleared out six hours before the mass
began so that security procedures could be put in place for
those entering the church later.
Francis, who has made defence of the poor a trademark of his
papacy, said the infant Jesus should remind everyone of those
suffering today -- particularly children.
"Let us also allow ourselves to be challenged by the children
of today's world, who are not lying in a cot caressed with
the affection of a mother and father, but rather suffer the
squalid mangers that devour dignity: hiding underground to
escape bombardment, on the pavements of a large city, at the
bottom of a boat over-laden with immigrants," he said.
Outside the basilica, thousands of people who could not get
inside watched on video screens.
"Let us allow ourselves to be challenged by the
children who are not allowed to be born, by those
who cry because no one satiates their hunger, by
those who do have not toys in their hands, but
rather weapons," Francis said.
On Christmas Day, the pope will deliver his twice-yearly Urbi
et Orbi ("To the city and to the world") blessing and message
from the central balcony of St Peter's.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/24/pope-francis-christmas-eve-vatican
[Goanet] Atheist China could have largest number of Christians in the world by 2030 (Sutirtho Patranobis, HT)
Sutirtho Patranobis Hindustan Times. Beijing PHOTO: People attend a Christmas Eve Mass at a Catholic church in Shanghai, China, on Saturday. (REUTERS) The Amity Printing Company in Nanjing city in eastern China is the world's largest producer of Bibles. Between 1987 and July 18 this year, it produced 150 million copies in 90 languages and sold them in 70 countries. If that's surprising, here's the controversy: Officially atheist China, according to an estimate sharply criticised by Beijing, could have the largest number of Christians in the world by 2030. Actual numbers are hard to come by. The Chinese government, which differentiates between Catholics and Protestants, pegged it at between 23 million and 40 million in 2014. It counted those who take part in religious activities in government-sanctioned churches. Independent estimates vary. A 2011 Pew survey said around 5% of China’s population in 2010 -- or around 67 million -- were Christians. It took into account those who are part of non-registered or "home" churches that function informally out of sitting rooms, attics and garages. Then there are experts who suggest the number of Christians in China is easily more than the number of Communist Party of China (CPC) members, currently 88 million. Take the cases of young professional Ling and Lily, an undergraduate student at a top university in Beijing. Neither visit formal churches but are regulars at informal gatherings where they read the Bible and sing hymns. "The gathering spot varies. We used to go to a fellow student's home or a coffee shop or restaurant. Because it's not very convenient to sing hymns in public, we would pick a comparatively private place," Lily said. "My friends and I don't go to normal churches, most of the church-style buildings in China are Three-Self Churches (run by the CPC-approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement). We generally go to family churches. Those churches are not legally recognised, so they’re illegal in a way." Then there is the phenomenon of large but unregistered churches in big cities, said Carsten Vala, an associate professor of political science at Loyola University, Maryland, who studies Christianity in China. "The most interesting development to me is that of large, unregistered churches in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, where hundreds of high-status, white collar Chinese participate in churches not officially registered but which nevertheless exist due to permissiveness of local officials," Vala said. An example, he said, is Early Rain Church in Chengdu, which neither fits into the typical, small-scale "house" churches nor the large-scale, official churches of Protestant associations. The informal churches fill two requirements -- first, they make up for formal churches, and, second, they keep things private for those who want to keep their faith away from the CPC's prying eyes. Beijing has kept a wary eye on, and strictly regulated, Christianity since the CPC adopted a conciliatory approach to religion four decades ago. The growth of Christianity in China began at the end of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), a period when all religions were suppressed, often brutally. This coincided with economic reforms. As the economy boomed, a gradually wealthier China needed a spiritual belief system to invest in; the purely political CPC wasn't able to provide succour for the soul. Sociology professor Yang Fenggang, founding director of the Centre on Religion and Chinese Society at Purdue University, Indiana, explained the phenomenon in terms of economics and globalization. "Every convert has a uniquely personal story to tell about their change of faith. However, so many Chinese have been converting to Christianity in the last few decades, which amounts to a social phenomenon that I would call 'mass conversion' in modern times," he told Hindustan Times. "Sociological speaking, the social, political, and cultural changes in the process of modernisation are the contextual factors for this mass conversion." Yang, author of *Religion in China: Survival and Revival under Communist Rule*, explained it in his article Lost in the Market, Saved at McDonald's: "The crucial contextual factors are the increasingly globalised market economy under political repression. Christianity provides peace and certainty in facing wild market forces. The Christian faith is liberating amid a stifling political atmosphere." It hasn't been liberating all the time, with the CPC launching intermittent heavy crackdowns on Christianity. A high-profile crackdown in the past two-three years was carried out in Zhejiang province, China's Christianity heartland. Authorities took down crosses from nearly 2,000 churches, including government-registered ones. Vala said: "In one province (Zhejiang), there has been a much greater crackdown (with one church
[Goanet] ACB summons - Truth must prevail
Keeping politics aside, Goa would be much better if we had dynamic people like Elvis Gomes in the new Legislative Assembly. An ex senior bureaucrat with a wide range of experience in governance, someone known for his efficiency, toughness and quick decision making - what more could one ask? I had the opportunity to interact with him on quite a few occasions, particularly when he was the Executive Director in the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG). The best thing about him was his direct approach, the ability to grasp issues thoroughly and no dilly dallying on matters. Rarely would one find files lingering in his office and he was always quick to clear them. He was all for transparency and very supportive to bring Sports Associations under the ambit of the RTI act. His works on prison reforms are well known and need no further elaboration. He supported the cause for construction of a Football stadium in Campal, one of the long standing demands of Goa's football loving fraternity. In fact, Mr. Gomes was one of the key officials, entrusted by the then CM Mr. Manohar. Parrikar, with the job of putting the stadium plans and approvals in place. ( A state-of-the art stadium is expected to come up in Campal in the near future). Elvis Gomes took the brave decision of quitting his distinguished service to enter politics. Whether he wins or not, time will tell but it takes a great lot of courage to do that which we must respect . I sincerely hope a person of his calibre who has served Goa for so many years does not become a victim of political tussle or one- Upmanship and that the Government and the ACB treats him fairly. May the truth prevail! warm regards, Sandeep Heble Panaji-Goa 9326129171
[Goanet] George Michael dies.
. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38432862#%22 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
[Goanet] Christmas at 'Jesus tomb' (?) in Srinagar.
https://scroll.in/article/825099/this-christmas-was-just-another-indifferent-day-for-jesus-tomb-in-srinagar --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
[Goanet] Easy listening Christmas Season selection.......Hallelijah.......Andre Rieu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_psFfD9Ib4 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
[Goanet] Pope's message to the world at Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hLkptrpFA4 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
Re: [Goanet] (no subject)
Dear Joan and all: It's delayed but still working it out. Please send us your contacts so that we can keep you informed. Offlist, please. FN On 24 December 2016 at 04:57, joan tellis wrote: > Dear Mr Frederico > > What happened to the get together/ > > regards >joan > -- _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ Frederick Noronha http://about.me/noronhafrederick http://goa1556.in _/ P +91-832-2409490 M 9822122436 Twitter @fn Fcbk:fredericknoronha _/ Hear Goa,1556 shared audio content at https://archive.org/details/goa1556 _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Re: [Goanet] ACB summons - Truth must prevail
Goa Suraj party has similar objectives to AAP and if what Sandeep Heble and Stephen Dias say about Elvis Gomes is true, then Floriano and his colleagues would be a good fit with him. The GSP should really grab this opportunity to do good for Goa because on their own, sad to say, they have no leg to stand on. Also if Gomes comes to power, Floriano and company would be a good reality check to his initiatives. For after all, power corrupts. Roland Francis Toronto. > On Dec 25, 2016, at 12:54 PM, Sandeep Heble wrote: > > Keeping politics aside, Goa would be much better if we had dynamic people > like Elvis Gomes in the new Legislative Assembly. An ex senior bureaucrat > with a wide range of experience in governance, someone known for his > efficiency, toughness and quick decision making - what more could one ask? > I had the opportunity to interact with him on quite a few occasions, > particularly when he was the Executive Director in the Sports Authority of > Goa (SAG). The best thing about him was his direct approach, the ability to > grasp issues thoroughly and no dilly dallying on matters. Rarely would one > find files lingering in his office and he was always quick to clear them. > He was all for transparency and very supportive to bring Sports > Associations under the ambit of the RTI act. His works on prison reforms > are well known and need no further elaboration. He supported the cause for > construction of a Football stadium in Campal, one of the long standing > demands of Goa's football loving fraternity. In fact, Mr. Gomes was one of > the key officials, entrusted by the then CM Mr. Manohar. Parrikar, with the > job of putting the stadium plans and approvals in place. ( A state-of-the > art stadium is expected to come up in Campal in the near future). Elvis > Gomes took the brave decision of quitting his distinguished service to > enter politics. Whether he wins or not, time will tell but it takes a great > lot of courage to do that which we must respect . I sincerely hope a person > of his calibre who has served Goa for so many years does not become a > victim of political tussle or one- Upmanship and that the Government and > the ACB treats him fairly. May the truth prevail! > > warm regards, > Sandeep Heble > Panaji-Goa > 9326129171
Re: [Goanet] [Goanet-News] Pope Francis: Christmas has been ‘taken hostage’ by materialism (The Guardian.com)
May the melody and spirit of the Christmas fill your home with love and
peace. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas filled with memories you’ll
always treasure. Merry Christmas wishes to you!
On 25-Dec-2016 10:19 pm, "Goanet Reader" wrote:
Pope Francis: Christmas has been ‘taken hostage’ by materialism
Birth of Jesus should remind
world of the suffering of
children today, pontiff says in
Christmas Eve address at
Vatican
Pope Francis said Christmas has been "taken hostage" by
dazzling materialism that puts God in the shadows and blinds
many to the needs of the hungry, the migrants and the
war-weary.
Francis, leading the world's 1.2 billion Roman
Catholics into Christmas for the fourth time since
his election in 2013, said in his Christmas Eve
homily in Vatican City that a world often obsessed
with gifts, feasting and self-centredness needed
more humility.
"If we want to celebrate Christmas authentically, we need to
contemplate this sign: the fragile simplicity of a small
newborn, the meekness of where he lies, the tender affection
of the swaddling clothes. God is there," the Pope said at St
Peter's Basilica.
At the solemn but joyous service, attended by about 10,000
people as well as dozens of cardinals and bishops, Pope
Francis said the many in the wealthy world had to be reminded
that the message of Christmas was humility, simplicity and
mystery.
"Jesus was born rejected by some and regarded by many others
with indifference," he said. "Today also the same
indifference can exist, when Christmas becomes a feast where
the protagonists are ourselves, rather than Jesus; when the
lights of commerce cast the light of God into the shadows;
when we are concerned for gifts, but cold toward those who
are marginalised."
He then added in unscripted remarks: "This
worldliness has taken Christmas hostage. It needs
to be freed."
Security was heightened for the Christmas weekend in Italy
and at the Vatican after Italian police killed the man
believed to be responsible for the Berlin market truck
attack, while other European cities kept forces on high
alert.
St Peter's Square was cleared out six hours before the mass
began so that security procedures could be put in place for
those entering the church later.
Francis, who has made defence of the poor a trademark of his
papacy, said the infant Jesus should remind everyone of those
suffering today -- particularly children.
"Let us also allow ourselves to be challenged by the children
of today's world, who are not lying in a cot caressed with
the affection of a mother and father, but rather suffer the
squalid mangers that devour dignity: hiding underground to
escape bombardment, on the pavements of a large city, at the
bottom of a boat over-laden with immigrants," he said.
Outside the basilica, thousands of people who could not get
inside watched on video screens.
"Let us allow ourselves to be challenged by the
children who are not allowed to be born, by those
who cry because no one satiates their hunger, by
those who do have not toys in their hands, but
rather weapons," Francis said.
On Christmas Day, the pope will deliver his twice-yearly Urbi
et Orbi ("To the city and to the world") blessing and message
from the central balcony of St Peter's.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/24/pope-
francis-christmas-eve-vatican
[Goanet] Fwd: LUCRE ILLUSION OR REALITY?
Dear Goanet Readers This article of friend of mine is published in Herald Edit page on Christmas Day title LUCRE, ILLUSION OR REALITY? He requested me to forward to Goanet readers. Stephen Dias Dona Paula-- - LUCRE ILLUSION OR REALITY? ELVIDIO MIRANDA The Reserve Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance have to answer some very fundamental questions. Big corporate that are the main financiers of the BJP supposedly have the bulk of the money, maybe not in notes but in value probably in very high proportions, a guess would be foolhardy to hazard, but none-the-less proportionately very high. The demonetization has had little if any effect on the black money, major proportion of which is stashed in safe havens outside the country and not within the control of the Indian authorities, it seems. The demonetization is definitely a cruel joke on the common men and women who have been taken for a royal ride, an exercise that was unnecessary. Where is the black money? Has it been allowed to disappear in thin airy in connivance with the government or have they had no power on it since it is mostly stashed abroad? Now it is up to this very majority to speak out through the ballot in the forthcoming Assembly elections to be held early next year. It is known beyond doubt that the rich pay through their credit and debit cards for luxurious purchases which the common men can only be window shoppers for. The BJP government led by Narendra Modi is definitely the colluders for the rich and the famous and do not give a damn to the common men and women, who work hard for their living. Narendra Modi is using a by now, almost a transparent subterfuge, that the common men have been able to see through. Now it is up to the common men and the women to make their voices heard loud and clear by summarily voting against the government who rode on their subverted support in order to win an absolute majority. Will this majority turn into a minority in the forthcoming elections due early next year? It is for the common men to decide whether enough is enough or to fall prey to the BJP’s cruel wiles that are only meant to deceive apparently. It is up to the the people to decide who has the last laugh. Does this allegation seem to be like an illusion or a reality?
[Goanet] Punjab, Goa... AAP, BJP, Congress...
In Punjab and Goa, the presence of AAP has upset the conventional poll dynamics and BJP, which is in power in both the states is trying hard to keep the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit at bay while battling its traditional rival Congress. Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/56167045.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst -- _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ Frederick Noronha | http://about.me/noronhafrederick | http://goa1556.in _/ P +91-832-2409490 M 9822122436 Twitter @fn Fbk: fredericknoronha _/ Goa,1556 CC shared audio content https://archive.org/details/goa1556 _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
