------------------------------------------------------------------------
**** http://www.GOANET.org ****
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This month's Goanet operations sponsored by Mrs. Daisy Faleiro
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Afra
With respect, nay with the greatest of respect, I have to say that the
extent of your naivity in your post simply amazes me. Please see my
responses to your questions below.
Cornel
----- Original Message -----
From: afra dias
To: [email protected] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 2:35 PM
Subject: Caste System in Goa vs Church
Hi Cornel,
1. Has the Church in Goa catagorically said that only brahmins should marry
their own caste?
Cornel responds: Afra, I am not aware that the Church in Goa has ever
circumscribed who should marry whom. Your question therefore has a mystical
quality about it as no one, as far as I am aware, has written anything about
an issue that made you ask your above question.
2. If a certain catagory wishes to pactice what their ancesters did, what do
you want the church to do, banish them and turn them into Hindus? What power
does the church has in this affair?
Cornel responds: If a certain category of people want to practise what their
ancestors did such as sati or bride burning, I would definitely endeavour to
invoke the law so that innocent women did not die unnecessarily. If the
Church could help in this matter I would expect it to do so as the moral
custodian against evil practices. As you did not specify what practices you
had in mind, I cannot say more than this at this point but I hope that some
of my thoughts are helpful.
3. If you are born a Sudir or Kundbi - tough! That does not give you the
right to question other peoples belief and practices.
Cornel responds: I am afraid, this is the daftest of your points to me. Now
just think about black people in the USA struggling in the 1950s and 1960s
against white supremicists, racial oppression in work, the law,
schooling/college, freedom to travel as of choice, residential choices etc.
As per your logic in 3) above, they ought to have accepted their lot and not
generated the Civil Rights Movement that so helped them and later arrivals
like our fellow Goans. How daft can you be?
The slaves in the USA were bought and sold as chattel. As per your logic,
are you seriously saying they should have accepted their lot? What kind of
stupidity is this?
As per your logic, the black people during Apartheid in South Africa, should
have accepted their lot. Would you have accepted the obscenity of Apartheid
that was internationally condemned? Your post hints that indeed you would---
but perhaps you will confirm this observation of mine.
Women the world over have been disadvantaged in many ways and even in the
economically advanced societies, earn much less then men when equally or
better qualified. The rationale often provided is that, women are less
productive in the workforce because they have to take some time off in late
pregnancy and following the birth of a child etc. As per your logic you
would say "tough" to women even when you are one yourself but a seriously
unthinking one for sure! However, as a man, I could never accept the
absurdity of your logical stance on this kind of point where you dismiss any
opposition and resistance to the status quo as "tough". Where have you been
all this time? Wasn't the Quit India movement all about resistance to
colonial rule?
To the downtrodden dalits, utterly oppressed by those deemed to be of a
higher caste, the Indian constitution and the legal system endeavours to
help such people and supports dalit articulation against oppression. Your
logic however, would say "tough" for they are not deserving of upliftment
and safety from the ghastly treatment from the upper castes. I therefore
wonder what kind of education you have had to rush into print over utterly
absurd notions or a clear lack of awareness about aspects of power and
control in society?
4. Cornel says that: your premise here is entirely false. a) you take caste
as a given when it is entirely a man made form of stratification solely
designed and intended to benefit some at the expense of others. b) you
haven't indicated how one asks your God anything! Perhaps you have a direct
line to your God and have thus been able to obtain answers that you are now
asking me to seek!
Raising questions with the clergy is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
Today, lay people ask the clergy more questions than ever before. This can
be seen on Goanet increasingly about a wide range of issues. Have you missed
many such questions ranging from homosexuality, paedophilia, women priests,
funding for priests, married priests, etc No one is being "bashed" re these
questions. Afra, it is merely to do with seeking responses to questions
whatever the old practices have been!
Re 5) above, Perhaps, you could tell us exactly what your determinants are
for a "stupid question" deserving a "stupid answer." Also please do not
speculate on whether the Bishop's Office will reply. We already have Fr
Loiola kindly requesting that he be reminded about my questions. He for one
has not envisaged anything stupid in what I have raised nor have other
clergy who have responded to similar questions of mine in the past including
Fr.Basilio Monteiro.
In all of the above cases, I want to suggest that civilised society needs to
help the disadvantaged anywhere because of their human rights. Have you ever
heard of human rights Afra? I want to state that I and other people have
every right to question other people's beliefs and practices.
Finally, you utterly contradict yourself. In a reply to Glenda, in another
post, you said, "If the Priest and Bishop does not try to put right what is
wrong, he will be seen as not doing his duty." I therefore put it you you
that your left side of the brain does not quite know what the right side is
thinking!
Cornel
