Despite the Supreme Court verdict and the Election Commission of India’s clear directive divorcing Religion from Politics, the Ribandar Parish Priest Rev. Fr Antonio Lourenco Fernandes has clearly and very deviously misused the Church’s sacred pulpit to very malafiedly propagate his political agenda.
Every 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 who to vote for. 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." Religious institutions are intended for the inspiration of the flock and certainly SHOULD NOT be a den for political chicanery. Rev. Fr Antonio Lourenco Fernandes has clearly exceeded his brief by acting contrary to our cherished holy values and converting the Ribandar Church into a local headquarters of the BJP and himself acting as one of their acolytes. All this by Rev. Fr Antonio Lourenco Fernandes when Goa and the nation has been facing the brunt of the BJP, with even the Archbishop of Goa His Grace Filipe Neri Ferrao having very vocally spoken out against the rampant corruption and environmental degradation in our State by the BJP Government. Rev. Fr Antonio Lourenco Fernandes’s repeated distasteful defence that he has to oblige Manohar Parrikar and current BJP MLA Sidharth Kunkolienkar and that if the BJP is not around, the government funds for the repairs of the Ribandar Church would not be forthcoming is totally detestable. One is flabbergasted and stunned by this horrendous justification. Should a man of GOD be swayed by such considerations….? Given that Jesus said “Render unto God what is God’s and unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” The financial help, if any, comes from the Government and not the BJP. In an attempt to woo the voters of Ribandar, the BJP on last Christmas day, laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the Annexe building of the Ribandar Church. These works are supposed to be carried out by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) reportedly at a cost of over a crore but the GSIDC does not have the mandate of law to carry out such works. The North Goa Planning & Development Authority and the Corporation of City of Panaji are currently examining the legality of the works which were sought to be carried out illegally and in clear contravention of law. It is surprising that the Church which preaches good virtues has failed to Walk its Talk by itself attempting to violate the law. There is talk in Ribandar that the BJP has made a huge cash donation to the Ribandar Church. But for lack of transparency and that veil of secrecy the exact figure is not known. Only Rev. Fr. Antonio Lourenco Fernandes would be able to clear the air. But the moot question is would we sell our faith for thirty pieces of silver? And that too with money derived from corruption. Over the last month Rev. Fr. Antonio Lourenco Fernandes has worked overtime to promote his LOTUS. Whether his tricky, manipulative and deceitful actions will reap benefits for the BJP, we would only know on March 11th when the votes are counted but for now Rev. Fr. Antonio Lourenco Fernandes has undoubtedly desecrated the solemnity, holiness and serenity of our Church. God Save Ribandar. 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
