-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Organised Loot Of Antiquities From Churches And Chapels In Goa On The Rise By Fr Desmond de Sousa CSsR, SAR NEWS
PANAJI, Goa (SAR NEWS) -- The theft of an antique crucifix after a break-in at Panjim Church November 21 only highlights the recent spate of burglaries in churches and chapels in Goa. Every Church in Goa possesses priceless works of Indo-Portugese religious art. The thieves are after only old wooden and ivory statues. It is a matter of deep concern to the Church authorities and heritage lovers who fear that the churches and chapels will be stripped of all religious antiques if the thieves continue to go undetected. Church leaders are baffled by the now regular thefts and the ability of the thieves to escape undetected. Barely does the dust settle after one theft when the thieves strike again elsewhere. "It is evident now that it is a well organised racket with the culprits well connected with the sellers of religious antiques of inestimable value on the international market," observes Father Lucian Fernandes, secretary of the lay organisations in charge of the local churches and chapels called Fabricas. The Church authorities have written to the police providing a list of recent thefts and requesting a thorough follow-up of the matter. But as the Director General of Police Ujjwal Mishra admitted, "We have some clues that we are working on, but there is no real breakthrough in a single of the recent cases." Observes one parish priest, "Police patrolling is needed in the wee hours of the morning and not before midnight. Anyway, are the police conducting any raids at probable outlets where antiques are sold?" Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao of Goa has discussed the matter in depth with key figures in the Church organisations and some possible solutions have emerged. One is to remove the statues and antiques from the altars and keep them locked in a safe place. But as Father Lucian admits, "We are in a dilemma, because people are accustomed to pray at certain statues and will be upset if they are removed." One parish priest agrees, "We know that the images are priceless, but they are kept for people's veneration. How can we maintain churches without statues?" The problem occurs only in age-old churches and chapels with an abundance of antique wooden and ivory sculptures, not in the modern churches, which hardly have any statues and even the ones they have are of recent vintage. Will parishioners' vigil help? So can the parishioners maintain vigil by turns? But for how long? Engaging of security guards is another possibility but not a foolproof solution. Electronic systems or alarm devices for huge structures like churches are also hardly feasible. Observes a senior priest, "The way the antiques are being robbed and sold indicates the dimension of the racket. Given the lethargic attitude of the police, it is unlikely that it will stop. It is time that we understand that the Church is of the poor and keep only bare essentials and remove everything else." ( http://www.sarnews.org )
