Fr Desmond de Sousa CSsR wrote: [1] Was colonization of Goa by the Portugese (1510-1961) an asset or a liability for the Church in Goa?
[2] The native Americans protested the 500th anniversary of Columbus' "discovery" of America (1992) that established the faith in the American continent. They perceived colonization as an unmitigated disaster. [3] A paradigm shift in faith formation is needed. They (the laity) need a more inductive reflection on the daily realities of life to discover the challenge of God acting within these ealities, rather than the traditional deductive process of learning abstract truths of faith by heart. Dear Fr. Desmond, It is always good to read scholarly articles. Your was a long but exquisitely fascinating article. I do have a few points to make wrt the points (yours) that I have listed above: re #1: Is that an oxymoronic question or what? Would there be a Church in Goa without the 'colonization of Goa by the Portugese'? I ask you to (please) reflect on the following: (a) Has the Catholic Church done anything beneficial for the betterment of the poor and downtrodden on the subcontinent? (b) As an example, have you reviewed the lives of the poor and oppressed Parava pearl-divers on 'Fishery Coast' before their encounter with St Francis Xavier? (c) Has the Catholic Church esp the Jesuits (never mind that infamous VideoCD) not been instrumental in leveling the playing field for the poor oppressed by the apartheid caste System AND for women ...by way of education? re #2: I wonder if the 'protestors' are aware that the person known as Christopher Columbus may not have been named Christopher Columbus, and that the said person is NEVER known to have set foot of land held by native Americans of North America. BTW: If you visit the native American communities, they are flush with 'casino' funds but heavily beholden to alcohol. There is so much money that there is NO impetus to study. Do you agree with the nonsense that America is an unmitigated disaster? Would you have preferred Goa to remain the constant battlefield of the Hindu Vijaynagris and the Muslim Golcondis .....with the women caught in the midst .....as toys for the victors ....till the next battle? re #3: I am sorry but the Church in Goa missed the boat a long time ago i.e. during the time of Raul. The hierarchy of the Church resected the main artery for the transmission and formation of 'Faith and Values' i.e. the family. It did so by forcibly introducing a strange hyperSanskritised form of Konkani into the conduct of the liturgy. So, young and not so young Goans went to Sunday mass and heard priests either struggling to preach or preaching in the strange-Konkani, and when they returned home, there was silent bewilderment. For a decade+, Nobody followed a word, after that Nobody really cares. BTW: Additionally, (that VideoCD apart) even Catholic priests (present and ex) would be slamming the Church without even attempting to present a reasonably balanced picture. It just became the fashion to do so. Hence, Goan Catholics attend Mass to 'fulfill the obligation', but many were just 'outstanding Catholics' as in 'standing out of the church' Catholics. I would be outstanding too, if I did not know Marathi (the present Church Konkani IMHO is a bad sounding nasal dialect of Marathi). What also would drive me 'outstandingness' is the long boring sermons delivered listlessly (Redemptorists like you are known exceptions to 'boringness') and the example (or lack of it) set by the clergy. (The sale of Church property & the hand over of the Old Goa churches are topics by themselves) Despite protestations to the contrary, I submit to you that RC priests are technically unequipped, and hence, incompetent to offer meaningful guidance on 'the daily realities of life'? For instance: What do priests really know about some of the common problems which affect Goan Catholics i.e. Marriage & Contraception? Time to pray in silence. The damage has already been done. Thank you for nothing ....Raul! jc
