Correction. I do know that he was STRICT … !!! On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 9:49 PM, Venantius J Pinto < [email protected]> wrote:
> For starter’s do not confess to this priest. And no one tell me anything > as to what the priesthood represents. I > > My maternal granduncle Pdr. Alvaro Lodovico Figuereido (Batim), was an > ex-Parish Priest of Ribandar. I truly hope he was not in the same league as > Fr. Fernandes. I hope he was a decent pastor to his flock, instead of some > zealous ( _ _ _ _ _ ). I do know that he was struck, perhaps being a > missionary in Karwar, Sirsi, Dharwar?! Some, or should we concur that way > too many priests are able to assault the sensibilities of even the more > corrupt. Imagine! Perhaps its about building a nest egg at whatever cost. > There surely is that element to contend with for many of them. More and > more one learns that the notion of a few bad apples in way too many fields > and vocations is redundant. > > —Venantius J Pinto > > > > On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 10:36 AM, Aires Rodrigues < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> I write this with a heavy heart, a very heavy heart indeed! But, if you >> read ahead, you will realize I have no choice but….. >> >> In speaking out I may be hurting some people but by maintaining silence I >> would be failing in my duty to stand up for something that is very >> basically wrong. >> >> At the outset let me say that I have the highest respect for the most >> Reverend Father Lawrence Fernandes who has been a very proactive Parish >> Priest of Ribandar since May 2014. He has tirelessly toiled to uplift our >> church in every way possible. >> >> But his very questionable conduct over the last fortnight in the current >> Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) polls has left me in great despair and >> in a deep sense of anguish. It has totally shaken that rock solid faith >> and >> trust I have had in Father Lawrence Fernandes. >> >> The background: - Ribandar has two wards which are part of CCP - Ward 29 >> which has this time been reserved for Women and Ward 30 which stands >> reserved for the OBC. >> >> In the current CCP poll, Ms. Vanita Fernandes alias Kshama, a known and >> liked Ribandar resident, was keen to contest from Ward 29. She had >> contested from here in 2011 and had polled a whopping 450 votes but lost >> by >> a mere 120-vote margin. Vanita, who is an active member of the Ribandar >> Parish was persistently pressurized and unduly coerced by Father Lawrence >> Fernandes to NOT contest the CCP elections against the BJP. >> >> When I discovered the fact of this undue, unwarranted and wrong pressure >> and intimidation being exerted on Vanita, I did call Father Fernandes to >> respectfully seek an explanation. His very distasteful defense was that he >> had to oblige BJP MLA Sidharth Kunkolienkar and that if the BJP candidate >> was not elected in Ribandar, the government funds for the repairs of the >> Church would not be forthcoming. >> >> Frankly, I was flabbergasted and stunned with this horrendous >> justification >> given. Should a man of GOD be swayed by such considerations….? You decide! >> >> Religious shrines are Institutions for the upliftment of the flock and >> certainly CANNOT be a den for political chicanery. Father Lawrence >> Fernandes has exceeded his brief by acting contrary to our cherished holy >> and democratic values. EVERY desiring candidate has a right to contest and >> EVERY voter has a sacred right to vote for a candidate of his or her >> choice. That is what Democracy is all about! >> >> A Priest has an obligation to proclaim the Church’s teachings. It is up >> to >> each of us, examining our individual conscience, to discern which party >> and >> candidate affirms, believes and appreciates those teachings, and hence >> whom >> to vote. >> >> Pope John Paul II asked in his 1993 address for Priests to remember their >> roles and to follow Jesus’ example: "Like Jesus, a priest must renounce >> involvement in political activity, especially by not taking sides, which >> almost inevitably happens." >> >> Dear Father Lawrence Fernandes, we will always remember your laudable >> service to the Ribandar Church. Sadly, however, we cannot forget that you >> high-handedly denied and punctured Vanita Fernandes’ aspiration to contest >> the CCP election and serve the community. Your defense as to why you had >> to >> do so defies all logic. The events have been very distasteful, but may God >> decide who was wrong. >> >> Would we sell our faith for thirty pieces of silver? If this can be the >> precursor to the run up to the 2017 Assembly elections, God help Goa. >> >> But for now, having emptied my aching heart, I feel lighter. Despite what >> has happened, we will continue to love and respect you Rev Father Lawrence >> Fernandes, for “…. to err is human and to forgive is divine” >> >> AMEN. >> >> >> >> Aires Rodrigues >> >> Advocate High Court >> >> C/G-2, Shopping Complex >> >> Ribandar Retreat, >> >> Ribandar – Goa – 403006 >> >> Mobile No: 9822684372 >> >> Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 >> >> Email: [email protected] >> >> Or >> >> [email protected] >> >> You can also reach me on >> >> Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues >> >> Twitter@rodrigues_aires >> >> >> www.airesrodrigues.com >> > >
