From: "U. G. Barad" <[email protected]>
In this context, Gabe Menezes asks: "Does it mean that to bring about a
complete reversal, Catholics will have to revert to Hindu names and also
renounce their Religion?"
Gabe, I did not know that Catholicism originated in Portugal.
**No, but it is the Portuguese and other unknown harbingers of Faith who
brought the wealth of Christian Faith to India and Goa.
We should understand that the objective of the protest is to ensure that
the
Portuguese as a colonist are not glorified. It is my impression that the
present day Portuguese do not empathise with those Portuguese who did so
much harm to others in colonies all over the world. They also do not
empathise with the regime of Salazar and others.
**Let us not judge them with our modern eyes... They saw things in a
different light.
What is wrong is wrong, but time gives a different perspective to them...
Salazar lived in his own times, doing what was needed for those times...
"Present day Portuguese" do not have interest in Goa, as their ancestors
had.
Our present day Indians have more interest in the "Portuguese passport"...
Present day fundamentalists of India should also not be glorified.
Regards.
Fr.Ivo
