Don’t interfere, Bishop tells CM and others at Old Goa
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 03 December 2016 19:22 IST
The Old Goa Feast has come with a strong message to the politicians, especially the BJP government in Goa.
“Please give us the freedom to live and practice our faith. Please don’t interfere with our education, our activities and our work. Whichever party you belong to.”
Archbishop Theodore Mascarenhas, General Secretary of the All India Catholic Archbishops’ Conference, made this fervent appeal while delivering the sermon at the St Francis Xavier Feast today morning.
Present in the audience at this moment were Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Congress leader Alex Reginald Lourenco, Goa Forward leader Vijai Sardesai, BJP MLAs Michael Lobo and Glen Ticlo.
“The Catholic community is a peace-loving community, involved in nation-building. We are probably the most patriotic community, I have no doubt about it”, he reminded the politicians sitting in the audience along with thousands of devotees.
Chief Minister Parsekar later told the media that the speciality of Goa is that we know to respect each other’s religion and each other’s faith.
“This age-old communal harmony needs to be preserved and matured with changing times”, he said.
i would like to quote jijus christ for all those hatemongers and communal bigots " God please forgive them for they dont know what they are doing"
India is having a democratic rule and not rule of clergymen . let them preach in churches but dont try to dictate govt what to do and not do . christian people are very nice ,humble and god fearing absolute no problem with them but the church in Goa which controls their life from birth to death has got vice like grip on their lives .The teach them what to do what not to do whom to vote ,whom not to vote . we hindus are the most tolerant people in this world so nobody should give us sermons of tolerance . we dont take our order from Bhatts/pujaris on our life . europe has long given up on dadagiri of clerymen .India is a secualr country and everyone has right to profess his religion but it this right only limited to minorities in india .i read in this column some person commenting on temple coming on island of diwar . what kind of tolerance is this gentlemen telling .that means Hindus cant construct temples on dewar island .are will living in free secular india or in times of inquizition where barbaric portuguese missionaries destroyed thousands of temples . are such inquizition minded people secular ??? when any organisation takes Govt ,grants for his institution ,he cannnot dictate his own dictates and dadagiri .Karl max has famously commented saying Religion is opium for the mases .reading the venomous comments of some people it confirms that this bishoptypes have pumped enough venom of hatred in their sermons . In Goa its alright to construct churches in Hindu dominated regions .its secularism but when a temple is constructed in christian dominated area its communalism .This is worst type of communal hypocrisy shown by those who support such bishops .regarding application of rule of law .all temples are subjected to scrunity and are scrutinised for accounts every year .I find why holy church or any madrassa should have any problems with scrunity .All religious institutions irrespective of religions has to be audited by Income tax and relevant department . there should be no biases in that.
Atrocities towards Christians are on the rise with reason that we are "Convertors". Converting others into the Christian faith. Whereas there are so many conversion of Christians being done by the ISKCON throughout the world...when such conversion takes place then it is the work of faith and when a Hindu converts, ther question of conversion comes up. Bloggers like Ajit Vadakayil is posting rampantly against Christians as he knows that we are only 1.5% of the total India's populatio and therefore very minor community. He doesnt have the guts to write any blogs againts the Muslims. The reason is obvious that this so called pundit, Ajit will be hewn to pieces in seconds.
We Christians love our motherland India much more than these pundits and that is why we are more of a peacemaker. We dont poke anyone's religious sentiments as it will create disunity in our own beloved motherland but definitely these bloggers like Ajit Vadakayil seem to break our country in the name of religion. Obviously not daring to utter anything against the Muslims. Such cowards have only one agenda - to break our motherland's unity. What a disgrace.
Thanks to the Bishop for raising a voice as India is our Motherland too and we love her with all our hearts.
Thanks.
Dear Bishop, You have hit the nail harder in their heads. This message will be difficult to digest by our politicians. I wonder what the Catholic MLAs in the ruling party have to say. Why are they silent on such issues? They don't care of their religion vis-a-vis money making. While we appreciate your courage at this occasion we would be happy if you could raise this issue at All India level to make them shake and show them we are equally strong, patriotic and peace loving.
Dear Bishop, You have hit the nail harder in their heads. This message will be difficult to digest by our politicians. I wonder what the Catholic MLAs in the ruling party have to say. Why are they silent on such issues? They don't care of their religion vis-a-vis money making. While we appreciate your courage at this occasion we would be happy if you could raise this issue at All India level to make them shake and show them we are equally strong, patriotic and peace loving.
Archbishop Theodore Mascarenhas, gave strong message, but our own Archbishop Filipe Neri is sleeping and will wake up on 24th December to give is yearly sermao.
Bravo, Your Grace. Similar sentiments must echo at every opportunity, all over India and even abroad (where possible), for the message to sink in. A simple, hard hitting message, which couldn't express the feelings of the community any better. God Bless.
We will interfere whether it is Konkan Railway, Language issue, whom to vote in election, etc. Our organized religion will do whatever we want but YOU GUYS DON'T INTERFERE.
CONGRATULATIONS.....MY SALUTATIONS TO YOU...BISHOP....YOU HAVE CONVEYED THE MESSAGE OF THE MASSES...A TRULY BOLD STEP.....
Well said your Lordship. The entire christian community is with you. Together we will show these communalists and Hindu bigots their place.
Well said your Lordship. The entire christian community is with you. Together we will show these communalists and Hindu bigots their place.
How the bishop told there is no doubt about our religion and our faith and it is true that is the bigest religion in the world dosent matters if we are minority's in India but our religion is powerful than any other religion that is enough for a wise people to think if any one want to know about religion
The problem is not within the communities inGoa they are peace loving people (susegad) but the culprits are a few politicians who bank on the ' divide and rule' theory. May God give them the wisdom to understand that they are damaging the fabric of our Great Nation.
Hats off to Arch Bishop. This message is for all the states in India. We Christians are peace loving people not just in INDIA but all over the World..
Indeed a courageous n bold approach for a clear message sent out yo the Zpoliticians we would request the defense Mimister to stay out of Goa politics and handle his own
Portfolio
We would prefer he stays aloof
God Bless you Bishop you are always in our prayers to keep the faith of us cristians may mama Mary shower her love on you & jesus always guide & kerp you
wITH " PEACE" AND FOR " PEACE" tIME FOR GOD TIME FOR PEOPLE
Right message at the right time because people of different religion attend the feast mass of St. Francis Xavier.. All the best to the Bishop for the courage he had shown in front of thousands of devotees...
Bravo My Tribesman ..your speed was "food for thought".
Goan Christians visit Goan Hindus house for Diwali and so on Goan Hindus visit Goan Christians House for Christmas and so on with Goan Muslims for EID. This is the Peace-Loving Culture of Goans. It is the BJP & Congress who plays with the religion and want to bring hatred among Goans. Why they always bring religion in politics? Goans in one voice must say to Congress & BJP “DON’T BRING RELIGION IN POLITICS – LET US LIVE IN PEACE”. I like Diwali as well as Eid and their other festivals and I also welcome them in my house for our Christian festivals.
Bishop T Mascarenhas congratulations to you to take this bold step to speak out for us Goans. It could be any political party involved . It's just a message which you have conveyed. Keep up the good work, your strength and support lies with us all Goans
Gutsy Bishop ! Everyone should unite for a secular India envisaged in the Constitution where each one is free to practise his faith.
please do not hurt our religious sentiments and let us live in peace. As we are God Fearing People. Nothing can divide and hamper our Catholic faith. One should not take things for granted.It is high time we are tolerating the issues created.PRAYERS ARE ONLY ANSWER TO THIS MAN MADE PROBLEMS.
please do not hurt our religious sentiments and let us live in peace. As we are God Fearing People. Nothing can divide and hamper our Catholic faith. One should not take things for granted.It is high time we are tolerating the issues created.PRAYERS ARE ONLY ANSWER TO THIS MAN MADE PROBLEMS.
I appreciated your courage to speak in public and giving warning to politicians. More and more should come n join hands. Come on Goa unite join hands in support of of our goa.
Elections are announced and the major player the Church are warming up to the task. Lage raho Holy Father.
Good message, Bishop, great start, let us O christians speak out and stand firm together
it is good that realistic and important message needed was given to highlight the truth
Mgoanews.com
Not only the Bishop it is time Christians come together and speak out.Unless the laity unite and voice out there will be no impact
Religion is indeed opium to many. Look at the responses below! Heard mentality. Tomorrow if the Bishop say jump in the sea I think most will follow.
I was born in a "Hindoo" family in Kerala. Have numerous friends from all religions. I am 62 now, disabled in a wheelchair, openly gay and totally agnostic. I have been in Canada for 10 years now. The country is at its best when secular trends are at the forefront. It is at its worst when religion rears its head. I have come to the liberating conclusion that any religion is not my cup of tea (or drink of feni). No bishop (or swami or mullah or rabbi) can tell me to mend my ways.Same goes for any political party (BJP, MGP,Cong I etc)
Very bold of our Bishop. All of us must follow suit and stand against injustice fearlessly and protest against harassment. We are peaceloving Indians, doesn't mean we are weak.
Hats off to Arch Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.V d Catholic community r proud of u.
Which ever party you may belong to plz don't interfier in our religion leave us alone.let us continue our religion in Catholic Faith.it is not of now but yesteryears faith we r going. No one can force us to change our religion. We wl die d way we r but not going to change.GOD HAS POWER N SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER WILL SAVE US.
I am an ex serviceman from the Indian Navy, fought two wars with Pakistan, -and
was stationed at INS Hansa in Dabolim, Goa.
Goa had been a makority Catholic State, because of it'a Portuguese legacy, and is a tourist center for people
from not only all ove the world, but from India itself.
I had been on vacation recently, and was shocked to see a temple constructed in the heart of Old Goa, on the Island of Divar off the churches in Old Goa.
The public schools have been taken over by the BJP and students are told not
to mix with the othwr Christian children.
This is wrong, as the Christian
places of worship have been grandfathered and there are thousands of acres of land in other places.
The Hindu temples in Ponda have been treated with respect by the majority christian community, but what really irked me
was a mobile Hindu
temple
at
the
junctionnof the roads behind Bom Jesus Cathedral, with
Blaring drums, and bhajans, when the almost silent worship in the Cathedral is going on.
This seems to be a
needling by the BJP to create
communal
disharmony, and people need to be aware of this and take heed.
So the reminder to the BJP, of the contributions of the Catholic community and their
patriotism is well documented.
As Gandhiji said- All roads lead to God, and so one should not create a roadblock to somebody who is Catholic and trying
to seek his or her way to God.
Look into yourselves, as it is a tenet of Hinduism that" when one has found himself, and who he is, then he has found God.
Let not the
BJP and the RSS create turbulence in Goa, which would create
wide ramifications theoughout India, and the world.
Goans have been a
fun loving and peaceful people, celebrating festivals of all faiths
in amity and
goodwill.
It is a wise step to listen to the
spiritual leader of the Goan Catholics.
It is well known that the Catholic hierachy do not interfere in politics and follow the old saying
"Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and render unto God what is God's.
Jai Hind
Hindus love Catholics alot. The politicians want to destroy this harmony for political and some ideological purpose. Let's realise this n work for the betterment of our nations. May St. Francis Xavier guide us.
Hats off to the Bishop with guts. Wish our other religious too could send a strong message to the indian government.
What sort of rule is this temples are not subjected to accountability of all the donations they receive.Its only the churches and mosques that need to submit their cash status..Does the Gov't.has the guts to ask the madrasas and the mosques to submit their cash accountability...well if they are really honest and keen on getting the black money out.then they should start with all the temples then the madrasas and mosques..They have started on a wrong foot by attacking the micro minority community the catholic church who they very well know are soft target...They would enlighten their mind about how this community helped in educating the people by their institutions spread all over the country and how they have imparted ethics.manners.fluency in the English language to the citizens of this country who had the privilege of being educated in the catholic institutions..I hope better sense prevails into the head of those pig headed politicians who took this step to implementing the church in Goa to give the statement of accounts of their cash
To all my goans loving people....Please vote for good people and let our goa shine like before.God bless our goa.
so is any community above law or some special ones r ???
Good message 👍👍👍specially to BJP. Goans should never trust BJP . our old days time I remember even the Hindus is to carry flag of Indira Gandhi on their cars and even houses . Hope those days will come back.
We have kept quiet since liberation by turning the other cheek.No more now.
We stand strong along our religious as they work for us and know what is best for us we support any strong decision taken for our peace
Wishing all of Goa-ns Hindu, Muslim and All a Very Happy Feast of St Francis.....
“The Catholic community is a peace-loving community, involved in nation-building. We are probably the most patriotic community, I have no doubt about it”, Hope St Francis will bless us to Respect above statement of Archbishop Theodore Mascarenhas, General Secretary.
Our support will there always....Hope our Govt will understand our thought and respect Goans.....all d best BJP Govt....Viva De Goa..
DONT BELIEVE THAT SNAKE IN THE GRASS PARSEKAR AND THE OTHER REPTILE MICHAEL LOBO
THE OTHER REPTILES ARE THE BACK STABBING KIND
Well done bishop, God is with you n we all support your bold message
Excellent speech by Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas. It's time we voice out our opinion. We need to be sensible enough. Opportunity was given but it destroyed our faith in the present ruling party. All those who looked for big change is suffering today especially the lower and middle class. Communal harmony destroyed. We have learnt a lesson. Not going to be fooled anymore. Every one thinks only about themselves. Goa is not like before. It's beauty is destroyed part by part. Everything is changing don't see it for the betterment of Goa. It's easy to speak, n then everything is forgotten.
yes bishop you spoke truth petriotism is our bith right
My salute to the Archbishop for His strong message not only to Goa's government but all over India, on the Feast Day of St Francis Xavier, may God guide him further and protect him.
Why did the Income tax dept. Single out the Catholic institution for sending time bound notices on how many 500 1000 rupees notes in possession. Isn't this a biased decision??? Mr Parsekar is this not selective harassment? You talk of ages of communal harmony isn't your Govt trying to polarse Goan society. We Catholics don't trust your Govt any more. We doubt our safety in your governance.
Like the way Archbishop Mascsrenhas preached at the right time and right place.
Don't interfere in our Education but give us your money and let us run everything the way want it to be.
Just because you are minority doesn't mean you are above and beyond the law. Instead of speaking like a politician, the Archbishop should lay out the instances of interferences and singling out of his community. If they violate law, go to court and seek counsel.
Don't inflame hatred and divisions in Goa society.
Parsekar is talking out of his hat the Bishop is absolutely right
To the point..... well said n the huge crowd responded joyfully.
If this is the request of Archbishop I welcome it. In that case Church shouldn't take Help of govt during exposition. Goa Govt spent 40 crores on it. Church shouldn't take subsidy given by Goa Govt for people who went to SL for beatification of Father Joseph Vaz.
Is the Church ready to accept this.
Excellent speech by the bishop.
Last elections the arch bishop and parrikar had colluded to get catholics to vote for bjp with false promises. What they did is just communaly divide and loot us further.
This time does not matter whether the church tells u to vote or anyone at all. Go by ur heart and mind n vote for the right candidate and party. But not for congress or bjp.
They will destroy goa more than before.
Very stern warning to politicians.