I apologise to Albert for jumping to the conclusion that he was taking pot shots at the Catholics because he had changed his church. His bit about ‘meeting the wrong saint and Mary not wanting us to say the rosary’, sent me awry.
The fact that he is still a practicing Catholic, I obviously welcome, but should have no bearing on anyone pointing out the flaws of my church. If someone rightly points out a fault, we Catholics must thank them and work toward correcting it. Albert's allegations about priests of the church is unassailable. No one can rightfully dispute his charge. I grew up being constantly told that ‘padricho sermao vhonienk nhoi’; a priest’s sermon is not meant for his sister-in-law. This I put down to human nature. Something we hope and pray that GOD in his mercy and magnanimity will help us overcome. I am feeling a bit sensitive about the church in Goem at the moment. I still am not sure of all the facts. However, one thing is clear: if the church in Colva was used as a base to mount an attack on someone who has been critical of a servant of Christ; irrespective of whether the criticism is right or wrong or vested or not; the teachings of our founder exhort us to turn the other cheek. Whether the critics of the ‘padri’ were driven by hatred for him or his church is immaterial. It is even not relevant that they were touting the truth. If malicious slander is being flouted proper legal channels should be accessed. Violence has never been acceptable to the church of the Christ. It is not an option for the church in Goem. The Patriarch must make this very clear. He must stress unequivocally this cornerstone of Christianity. Or the church in Goem will no longer have the right to claim it is Christian. Sincerely Xanno Moidecar
