-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 3rd Annual Konkan Fruit Fest, Goa - May 6-8, 2005 | | | | Today's Events include Fruit Carving & Decor & Watermelon eating | | Fancy Dress. Check out http://konkanfruit.swiki.net | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- >From: Cecil Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Dear Gilbert, As a Goan I do not appreciate what it means for a diocese to declare bankruptcy. Could you please educate me? I vaguely know that the Catholic Church in USA had to pay out in millions to victims of child abuse by priests. That made many parishes bankrupt. But surely that cannot happen in Goa? The physical properties of the Church are owned by the Fabrica and if I'm not mistaken these properties cannot be sold without the explicit permission of the representative parishioners. I could be mistaken of course. But if a child abuse victim in Goa does sue a priest it would be that priest's individual responsibility to prove his innocence and pay any compensation if proven guilty. I am sure the Church will not be obliged to shell out any money under Indian law. So there's no question of bankruptcy, of the monetary kind, threatening the Catholic Church in Goa. Or am I not seeing something here? ===== Dear Mr. Cecil Pinto, re: Declaration of Bankruptcy ( aka Chapter 7, or Chapter 13, or Keep a "ponnti" at your front door in India ), Please review the necessary information. There are reasons why counsel will advise a client to declare bankruptcy. One of them being to counteract the appearance of BOGUS law suits. Based on what you have written on the subject (and quoted above), I will submit that you will benefit from additional reading about the matter before commenting again. I will also point out ( and I will stand corrected by any legal eagle on this list) that IF a you are expecting any ABUSE allegation to be brought up against anybody in Goa, where a person is expected to PROVE HIS INNOCENCE, it will have to be brought about under (what I will call ) the poorly and hurriedly drafted (read -> copied from another source and then modified) Goa Children's Act of 2003. As a criminal offence - as per this 2003 act, I do not see HOW a civil case (child sues) can be brought about using the same rules of litigation. There are specific remedies which are included in the Goa Children's Act 2003. In light of that, I don't understand the Fabrica comment either. BTW: when you have the chance, please review the debate in Indian circles on Art 375 & the possible assault on Human Rights. my only public comment on this matter. jc http://www.colaco.net ----------------------------------------------------------------------- * G * O * A * N * E * T *** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Make your mother in Goa happy on Mothers' Day. http://www.goa-world.com/goa/expressions/mothersday/ Limited "Mother's Happiness" packages. First come, first serve. -----------------------------------------------------------------------