Turf Wars and the Goa Inquisition Who ever thought of such an association? (written with tongue-in-cheek) Teo's article in the Herald reinforces what is apparent to anyone who looks at the Goa Inquisition and analyzes its dynamics. It would appear that Fr. Constantino was a young 28-yr old hot-head, not withstanding that he was a Jesuit. With Teo's well-described "background perspective" the young man (priest) was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong attitude. He did not fit into the workings and 'balance of power' between and within the colonial "troika" of military, civilian and religious authorities (my theory about the Goa Inquisition). Fr. Constantino was his own worst enemy. His real crime was visiting hostile territory and for a minimum 'giving comfort to the (Portuguese) enemy' - the Marathas. In this respect, is that very different from what we see today, even in the USA? I know a local Iraqi cancer specialist still in jail for helping Iraq (actually their orphaned children) during Saddam Hussein's rule. Once the doctor's fate was sealed for allegedly "helping Saddam Hussein with foreign currency" (this was in the heyday of the anti-Saddam / anti-Al Qaida fervor in USA), many other charges (trumped and otherwise) are piled-on. This is routine legal prosecutorial practice. We see similar piled-up charges against Fr. Constantino - three centuries ago in Goa. These charges as Teo states, "declared a hardened heretic and apostate, pretender, falsifier, dissimulator, guilty of praying to Hindu deities, etc, etc." I am always intrigued by these 'new findings'. Present day history readers should note, that is why we call the Portuguese reign in Goa as colonialism and not democracy. The other point one can make of such examples, the inquisitor and the colonial powers were an "equal opportunity offender". Yet we today mistakenly describe one or another targeted individual as part of a group (which the reader or writer may be associated with) as "special targets" of the Goa Inquisition. Regards, GL
