-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 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 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Pinto (GP) asked: 1. Were nuns consulted in the process? Or was it a male only decision process? Herman D'Souza (HP) 1:. Do nuns take all the decisions of the church and the parish or only the priests?
GP II: I take it that nuns were not consulted. Assuming that is true, the paternalistic male-centered approach would benefit by consulting nuns. Nuns after all run schools, orphanages, hospitals, and could offer input. ******* GP 2. Were lay Catholics consulted? Or was it a religious directive from people who have not spent time in the challenges of marriage? HD 2 Ans: Maybe they have contacted the lay catholics. but lay people too have different opinions just like you and me. GP II: On such a significant issue concerning lay Catholics, I am surprized that consulting them is considered an option, and not a necessity. ******* GP 3. Does the policy reflect an underlying intolerance of and superiority over other religions? Btw, other religions are restrictive too when it comes to marriage. HD 3. Ans. Its not an underlying intolerance of superiority but on the contrary it is the diminishing number of catholic girls who marry in the church with other faiths as a fashion and land up following the other religion. (although some girls stick to catholism). GP II: This works both ways as you point out. In a multi-religious & secular society, respect for each religion or lack of religion is important. I am not sure the directive promotes that. Why not merely suggest people marry within their religion if that is the goal, why the need for a directive? ******* GP 4. Are more Catholics going to marry Catholics under the policy or move away from the church - and marriage? HD 4: only time will tell. but the point is with this policy the priests are trying to do what is in their capacity to avoid the catholic girls specially marrying into other religions. GP II: Religion is one aspect of a marriage, there are other significant issues. Would a Hindu boy and Catholic girl both from North Goa have a better chance at a successful marriage than a Catholic girl from North Goa and a Chinese Catholic boy? Regards, George
