http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=031729
Prevent vandalism of crosses: Archbishop NT News Desk Panaji March 16: Expressing deep concern at the rise in the cases of vandalism and burglaries of the churches and chapels, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Reverend Filipe Neri Ferrao has urged the authorities to take prompt and effective steps and thereby restore the confidence of the people who are wondering whether the intelligence has collapsed in our state.In a statement issued today Archbishop said: "We address the administration of the state to remind them that this (Comba cross vandalisation) is not the first such incident in Goa. In the last 14 months, there has been a host of burglaries in our churches and chapels as well as a number of incidents of vandalism, affecting our revered religious symbols." He said in spite of repeated requests and appeals to the concerned authorities, there seems to be certain indifference in tackling the matter and nabbing the culprits. He said one more cross has been vandalised in Comba, Margao, one more symbol of Christian faith desecrated, and the spate of violence targeting the places and symbols of worship belonging to minority communities seems to go unabated. We are indeed deeply pained with this disturbing trend. In these circumstances, our heart reaches out first to our Christian brethren in their grief in a spirit of genuine solidarity. We appeal to everyone, specially the Christians, to remain calm and not to let themselves be provoked by such violent acts. In the footsteps of our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, we, Christians, are expected to be promoters of peace and harmony and, inspired by His supreme sacrifice on the Cross, be witnesses of love and reconciliation. We express our appreciation for the solidarity shown by the people of other faiths in rebuilding the vandalised cross and thus in restoring, to a certain extent, a sense of security in the aggrieved Christian community of the locality. This noble act surely goes to confirm that those who resort to such destruction do not belong to any religious community, since violence has neither religion nor God. -- TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM; DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England
