Should the Church or priest dabble in politics?
By Nisser Dias
nisserdias at gmail.com
SMS to 9422437029
We are on the threshold of state assembly elections 2012, sitting MLAs
and aspiring candidates have already kicked off their campaigns in their
respective constituencies. One can see banners, flexes along the
roadside. Some ministers have started sponsoring dramas, tournaments in
a bid to appease the voters to win over their voters.
During elections time the politicians who have amassed huge illegal
wealth, loosen their purse strings and dole out huge amounts of money
surpassing the expenditure ceiling imposed by the Election Commission
and the majority of voters grab this opportunity to make a quick buck.
Some of the politicians like Churchill Alemao, Ravi Naik, Digambar Kamat
and lots others sing a common tune when elections are nearing, ‘people
vote for us because of the affection we have showered upon them and the
development we have brought in our respective constituencies’. So many
years, they have been contesting from the same constituency and yet they
need to develop it. It is basically an indication that they are not
going to retire from active politics as they have made it their
business. In Churchill Alemao’s case this is very evident as even after
voters of Benaulim constituency rejected him and subsequently was
rejected by the people of south Goa, he continues in politics.
The question that comes to my mind is if these politicians say that they
contest because the voters force them, why do they spend colossal
amounts of money to win elections. As I said before lakhs of rupees are
spent on banners or flexes wishing people on festivals, sponsoring
chicken and beer for parties and picnics, funding tournaments. Huge
advertisements on news dailies. If people urge these politicians to
contest, why do the politicians not advice the constituents to fan out
in the constituency and convince people why they should elect them. Why
do the politicians need to pay the workers to fix banners, party flags,
canvass among other things.
Be that as it may, over the period of time politicians have seen the
power of the church or rather the parish priests to change the tide in
their favour. For decades now priests have been using the pulpit
specially in the Salcete taluka to canvass for Congress candidates. I do
not know whether it is the dictum of the church or whether the parish
priests are doing it on their own. In any way it is wrong for the church
or the priest to use place of worship to carry out a crusade for a
certain party or a candidate. The church or the priest can educate its
laity on how vote and what to see in a candidate or a politician party
while casting the ballot, but surely not whom to vote.
As recently as last week, Fr. Tadeo – parish priest of Vaddem in Sanguem
constituency was quoted in the advertisement on a local daily singing
praises of Yuri Alemao on his birthday who is aspiring to contest from
the said constituency. Fr. Tadeo said, “Yuri is young and shown that he
is capable of doing work. He is blessed with the natural qualities that
attract people, he is mild, humane, easily approachable and can speak to
people’s heart. He will make a good MLA since he can deal with people
and has good administrative qualities. He has helped my parishioners by
providing generator, he has built a chapel and sponsored pilgrimages of
the faithful to Vailankanni. I wish him God’s choicest blessings on his
birthday and for his political career”.
Did, ‘His Grace’ Bishop Filipe Neri Ferrao give his assent for such a
statement if not have the officials at Bishop’s house demanded an
explanation from Fr. Tadeo. The faithful have a right to know.
We have seen in the last five years that Urban Development Joaquim
Alemao father of Yuri has been hauled up by the High Court for building
of sun bays illegaly at Baina Beach which were ordered to be demolished
by High Court and cost be recovered from the officials. Joaquim was
exposed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for criminal
waste of public money for ordering sweeping machines worth crores of
rupees which were not even used once. Then wasting Rs. 7 crores to
set-up a treatment plant at Sonsoddo with untested technology. If this
is not corruption what is? Lest one should forget Joaquim Alemao is
being investigated for illegal mining in the state too.
Could Fr. Tadeo tell us the source of income of Yuri Alemao to be able
to build a chapel and to sponsor pilgrims to Vailankanni? If he is using
his father’s allegedly ill-gotten wealth to win over votes then Fr.
Tadeo is equally responsible of promoting corruption and dynastics
politics. The question is what is Fr. Tadeo’s interest in promoting
Yuri? Fr. Tadeo be better adviced that one does not have travel almost
50 kms from his place of residence to undertake social work. Yuri has
seen huge mining potential in Sanguem and through politics he want to
exploits it.
Of course Fr. Tadeo is not an isolated case of a priest in this practice
of promoting candidates by motivating the laity to cast their ballot in
their favour, there are many others. Fr. Conceicao D’silva hobnobs with
most of the catholic politicians and in times of political crisis also
helps in mediation. His birthday parties are lavish with most on the
ministers on the invitees list, bestowing him with equally lavish gifts.
With all the politicking he has indulged in, he could be a politician in
his new avatar.
Controversial priest of Colva Fr. Diego also indulges in politics.
During last assembly election when he was the parish priest of Colva his
sermons were more political than spiritual. And as if that was not
enough on the day of polling he was in the church yard which is in close
vicinity to the polling booth showing his hand to the voters – as if
trying to wave out to them but in reality he was urging them to vote for
Congress whose symbol is ‘hand’.
Then we have Fr. Eremito Coutinho currently posted at Seraulim. An
ardent fan of Churchill Brothers football tea but over the years his
passion has spilled on to politics. Fr. Eremito wanted to allegedly
print lottery coupons with Churchill Alemao’s picture on it. He was
stopped in his tracks by some donors who contribute money to the church
as well wishers.
Bishop Filipe Neri Ferrao during his annual interaction with politicians
and the media preaches about curbing corruption and upliftment of the
poorer section of the society but here are his priests urging the laity
to vote for the most corrupt ministers and their families. God forgive
them for they do not know what they are doing. (ENDS)
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First published in Gomantak Times, Goa - November 24, 2011
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