With some States including Goa going to the polls soon, the Supreme Court verdict divorcing Religion from the rot of Politics could not have come at a better time. Hopefully Ribandar Parish Priest Rev. Fr Antonio Lourenco Fernandes has had a careful read of the Supreme Court judgment.
Religious institutions are intended for the inspiration of the flock and certainly SHOULD NOT be a den for political chicanery. Rev. Fr Antonio Lourenco Fernandes has clearly exceeded his brief by acting contrary to our cherished holy values and converting the Ribandar Church into a local headquarters of the BJP and himself acting as one of their acolytes. All this by Rev. Fr Antonio Lourenco Fernandes when Goa and the nation is facing the brunt of the BJP with even the Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao having spoken out against the rampant corruption and environmental degradation in our State by this BJP Government. Rev. Fr Antonio Lourenco Fernandes’s repeated distasteful defence that he has to oblige Manohar Parrikar and BJP MLA Sidharth Kunkolienkar and that if the BJP is not around, the government funds for the repairs of the Church would not be forthcoming is totally detestable. One is flabbergasted and stunned by this horrendous justification. Should a man of GOD be swayed by such considerations….? Given that Jesus said “Render unto God what is God’s and unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” - You decide! The financial help, if any, should come from the Government and not the BJP. In an attempt to woo the voters of Ribandar at the forthcoming Assembly elections, the BJP on Christmas day, laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the Annexe building of the Ribandar Church. These works will be carried out by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) at a cost of over a crore. That the GSIDC does not have the mandate of law to carry out such works is another issue. The North Goa Planning & Development Authority and the Corporation of City of Panaji will examine the legality of the works which are clearly being carried out illegally and contrary to law. The Lokayukta will also be urged to examine the role of the GSIDC in this entire work which is blatantly a ruse meant to buy votes. It is surprising that the Church which preaches good virtues has failed to Walk its Talk by violating the law. A Priest has an obligation to proclaim the Church’s teachings. It is up to each of us, examining our individual conscience, to discern which party and candidate affirms, believes and appreciates those teachings, and hence who to vote for. Pope John Paul II asked in his 1993 address for Priests to remember their roles and to follow Jesus’ example: "Like Jesus, a priest must renounce involvement in political activity, especially by not taking sides, which almost inevitably happens." There is talk in Ribandar that the BJP has made a huge cash donation to the Ribandar Church. But for lack of transparency and that veil of secrecy the exact figure is not known. Only Rev. Fr. Antonio Lourenco Fernandes would be able to clear the air. But the moot question is would we sell our faith for thirty pieces of silver? And that too with money derived from corruption. God help Goa. I write this with a heavy heart, a very heavy heart indeed! But, I have no choice … In speaking out I may be hurting some people but by maintaining silence I would hurting many many more and also failing in my duty to stand up for something that is intrinsically wrong. 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