To, 26 June, 2009 Fr. Antimo Gomes/ Fr. Zeferino, Diocesan Society of Education, Instituto Nossa Senhora de Piedade, Panaji-Goa.
Reverend Fathers, The Archbishop of Goa & Daman and ex-officio Chairman of the Archdiocesan Board of Education has reportedly made a clear appeal to the Heads of ABE-DSE institutions, Managers of Diocesan Schools [ex-officio post for Parish Priests where the High/Higher Secodary School is located, with few exceptions like SX HSS and Rosary HSS] and other priests to inculcate in the Catholic community in Goa the values of " traffic discipline and safety". The GT has carried the report on its front page today [26 June, 2009] with the headline "Archbishop pitches for helmets" and quotes verbatim what the Archbishop himself quoted the pragmatic Pope Paul VI as saying about "Christian behaviour". The oHERALDo 26/6/2009 page 5 has quoted the Archbishop in its report headlined "Archbishop appeals for traffic discipline, safety" as saying "If not all, at least a good number of these tragedies are avoidable and it is our responsibility to avert them." The exhortation to the leaders of the community is clear "May the flock under our care and other people of goodwill experience the effects of the shepherding we exercise in the name of Jesus also in the area of traffic discipline." Ironically, HERALD 26 JUNE 2009 also carries a "Letter to the Editor" on page 8 entitled "Corrupt clergy?" by one Ann Marie Fernandes of Calangute,[in another context of "civil works" commonly known as "development" in Goa], but making a telling point just the same. It reads thus" QUOTE I have often read the messages issued by the Archbishop of Goa. I often hear that as Christians we should embrace Christ. The Roman Catholic Church is full of theories and has nothing practical to offer. What does the Church give its people? Today the Church has become part of the construction lobby, with huge, sophisticated churches in which Christ would hesitate to live. The Bishop should investigate the soaring accounts of priests and enquire into how priests are able to have lakhs of rupees in their accounts when their income is that of a daily wage worker. As long as the clergy engages in such corruption, Jesus cannot live in such churches and our lives too. Many priests are behaving improperly and are not doing anything to take the flock towards God. UNQUOTE While the law of the land [Motor Vehicles Act, 1998] clearly states that a person between the ages of 16 years and 18 years may only ride a UNGEARED two wheeler and BELOW 50 cc engine capacity, how is it that students [both boys and girls] of Higher Secondary Schools managed by ABE or DSE bring geared motorcycles and scooters of 100, 125, 150 and even 150 cc capacity to the institutions?? Most sutdents of HSS are in the age group 15 years to 18 years ...and children below 16 years should not be riding a powered vehicle at all. When the DSE and ABE schools have active PTAs, and so do the HSS, is this rule being brought to the attention of the parents seeking their cooperation and compliance with the law?? If the vehicle is required for mobility [and not for social status] will these parent agree to restricting their children to a TVS 50 [ 46 cc] or similar capacity two wheeler? If one goes through the statistics of accidents in Goa since 1975 [when the first batch of students joined HSS in Goa], a TVS 50 will rarely found to be involved in an accident, even in the case of doped out hippies in Anjuna. [Incidentally, today is NO DRUGS DAY]. So will we see the words of the Archbishop being converted into rules of HSS and schools regarding vehicles and sensitizing of parents to the need for traffic discipline in the age of affluence and influence?? If not, please revert to the Archbishop and tell him that what he says makes no sense ... just like the Archbishop's standing directive on the serving of alcohol in Church premises during Quermesse and feasts which is conspicuous by its non-compliance since 1995!! Sincerely, Miguel -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 miguelbraga...@yahoo.co.in -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
