[Goanet]Re: GEORGE PINTO'S QUERY ON CHURCH AFFAIRS
--- Gabe Menezes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have seen only one man's post regarding other instances of Priests abusing. If there are indeed others out there they should come out in the open. Here are three others posted on Goanet. Fred Noronha wrote on Sept 9: such as persistent allegations against some priests at Calangute, would suggest that it needs to be much more alive to the situation. If there is a problem of this kind across the globe, there is no reason whatsoever to believe that Goa would be immune from it. Was just reading in the National Inquirer newspaper that the Church in the Philippines had to deal with some 200 cases of sexual misconduct over a 20 year period! A bishop resigned too. JoeGoaUK in an email on Dec 31: Two days later, it was found out that the bride has run away with none other than her ex-lover Pad-Kur (Fr.Curate). Anthony Frois has also recently posted on Goanet. I suggest they send an email to the Archbishop of Goa. I believe all reports indicate the Archbishop's house has been contacted but has been met with a deafening silence (including my two emails). However, I noted the Archbishop's house has had time to communicate the proper dress code for the exposition (also reported on Goanet). You tell me: which is the more important issue? I think Goan Catholics should inquire of the Archbishop's house the same questions I asked: has a formal study on these priests sex abuse matters been done? What are the conclusions? Is there a problem? Why should thousands of innocent priests/nuns be guilty by association because of the Archbishop's silence and the actions of a few? Gabe, it is time Goan Catholics also inquired about any victims and if they have received restitution, counseling, rehabilitation. Assuming of course there are victims. The Church's silence FORCES speculation, conjecture, rumor and gossip. Let the Church speak up and soon. CyberGoan Catholics should speak up too, less their hypocrisy be even more evident - especially the ones who write with enthusiasm about the communal 'history' video, Hindu caste system, sati, RSS ideology. Regards, George
[Goanet]Re: GEORGE PINTO'S QUERY ON CHURCH AFFAIRS
Gilbert's post does not do justice to his considerable intelligence. Let's put it down to end of year fatigue and not being defensive about the Goa and Catholic Church. See my specific comments below. George --- Gilbert Lawrence [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have no ax to grind. Neither do I or others who seek the truth. Both your posts on this thread and others on Goa's Catholic Church have very little factual information. You are plain wrong here. If you re-read my posts I am going to the source (the Goa Archdiocese) to get the facts. They are silent. They are FORCING conjecture, speculation and rumor by their silence. I am requesting they speak publicly as they have not to date. This is not the time to bury their heads in the sand, not with so many people on Goan beaches celebrating the New Year. You are claiming that the US Catholic church has a problem; so the Goa church has the same problem. I have made no such claim. Again, please re-read my posts. I have asked if a formal study was done by the Archdiocese and if the problem is pervasive or isolated (just Ribandar) or non-existent. A number of people in Goan cyberspace have made the claim there are other instances in Goa. Why have you and other Goan Catholics not asked for a full inquiry? Is it easy to lecture about a communal video (which it is), the Hindu caste system, sati, and not deal with the mess in your own house? That seems to be the attitude of Goan Catholics in this case. Consistency brings credibility. This is called guilt by association. And the Church is 'guilty until proven otherwise'. No, it is not. It is called transparency and accountability and responsibility. Post Vatican II, the laity has an equal standing with the church authorities - they serve different roles. It is not a heirarchy to be deferred to. You seem to put the Church authorities on a pedestal, I do not. In fact a few months ago with respect to the Passion of the Christ DVD shown in an Aldona Church, you requested that people should have first approached the Church authorities and inquired there. In this case, I wrote to them first (not once but twice). Their silence led me to believe they are copying the USA model (denial, sweep under the carpet, bury heads in the sand). This is why I am asking these questions openly in Goan cyberspace so learned people like you can add to the discussion. Perhaps, even some Archdiocese members can speak up with the same enthusiasm as they discuss a communal video, Hindu caste system, and sati. While you are quoting the case in California, I can forward you the story in our newspaper, where the priest was vindicated. Precisely the point I made in my posts. There are many innocent priests (probably 99%) and because of the silence of the Church they as treated as guilty by association. You obviously did not read my post carefully. Or are you simply being too defensive about the Church? I saw the same attitude from many Goan Catholics with respect to the lack of Goan saints problem and other Church issues. Just because some Goans somewhere in the world have extra-marital affairs, or other sexual transgressions, should all Goans be investigated to satisfy the paranoia of their spouses or the gossip of others? This is a red-herring and a bogus argument. The issue is serious enough as we know from the USA experience. Are you saying is does not exist in Goa? On what basis? By the same people who throw out fancy tourist statistics? I would suggest (and hope you'd agree) that the Goa church should embark on education courses for priests (and nuns too) on sexual harassment. Such courses never hurt. But first determine if the problem exists, if it is isolated or pervasive. The cure will then fit the disease (if it exists). But could you have a 'pathological fixation' against the Church on this and on several other Church issues that you have publicized? To their credit, many injustices in the Church have been brought out by Catholics themselves, including the priest sex abuse scandal in the USA. It is important to clean the mess inside a glass house before stones are thrown at another glass house. Happy New Year to all who celebrate it at this time (Greco-Roman calendar?). To the others, best wishes as always. Regards, George
[Goanet]Re: GEORGE PINTO'S QUERY ON CHURCH AFFAIRS
In connection with another post, Gilbert Lawrence wrote It is always enjoyable to read some factual informative stories about Goa rather than the never-ending posts on ABSOLUTELY non-Goa related topics. Dear Gilbert: You are right, Goa-related topics are important. Please offer your comments on the Goa-related topic below. Not on the specific Ribandar case as that matter is working its way through the legal system, but your comments on the overall situation in Goa vis-a-vis your experience of this situation in the USA. We can benefit from your insights. Regards, George --- Aires Rodrigues [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: George Pinto wrote, Aires I believe you wrote at least once there are other cases of sexual abuse by the clergy in Goa. I had written to the Archdiocese twice and did not get a response. Is there a formal study done in Goa regarding this issue? I hope the Goa church is not turning a blind eye or burying their head in the sands. In the USA, we witnessed the tremendous harm done to the victims and innocent priests two years with a similar scandal. The Church's silence and denial finally took the issue to the courts and matters are now settled with huge monetary sums - some of it could have been avoided. Just today, another settlement here in California. I hope the Goa Church is not going down the same path. I notice very few are asking for transparency and a public report. This way everyone can avoid speculation and gossip. When the Church sex abuse scandal first broke in the USA, innocent priests were walking around convicted by association simply by being a priest. It is not fair to the priests or the victims. I am hoping there is formal investigation and study in Goa and the findings made public. The laity have a right to know if the problem is pervasive or isolated or non-existent. Regards, George - Dear George, After the details of the Ribandar Church molestation case were made public I have received a lot of written and oral complaints about grave sexual and financial improprieties going on in other Parishes across Goa. I requested that all these complaints be sent directly to the Archbishop's palace. As you now the Church is very powerful and unresponsive to the people's pulse. Till date instead of attempting to fix the problem the Church seems to do everything possible to cover its unholy acts. And for this they shrewdly use the services of a cotorie of some wise lay people that evolves around the Church to do the dirty job of damage control. I took up the Ribandar Church molestation issue after deep thought and ascertaining all the facts. Before we went public on the issue I pleaded with the Co-ordinator of our Ribandar Parish Council to call a open meeting of all parishioners so that this issue could be discussed and the facts be faced dead on. This they dared not do and expected that the truth could be supressed and that they would be able to hush up the matter. Early this year I personally met the Archbishop Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao and pleaded his intervention on the Ribandar issue. The spokesman of the Archbishop made a public statement a few days later that the Archbishop was seized of the matter and that an inquiry had been ordered. That's all we have heard. Till date the findings of this inquiry have not been made public. And the not so suprising silence and inaction on the part of the Archbishop is solely to be blamed for allowing this issue to be dragged into the Courts and public domain. Turning a blind eye is no solution to a serious problem. It only aggravates the issue and this is exactly what is happening in the Ribandar Church molestation case where on Dec 24th last year before the X'mas midnight mass Parish priest Fr. Newton Rodrigues is accused of allegedly taking a 13-year-old Ribandar girl to a room in the church on the pretext of taking confession and molesting her. Aires Rodrigues Ribandar
[Goanet]Re: GEORGE PINTO'S QUERY ON CHURCH AFFAIRS
See responses below. George --- Aires Rodrigues [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: After the details of the Ribandar Church molestation case were made public I have received a lot of written and oral complaints about grave sexual and financial improprieties going on in other Parishes across Goa. I requested that all these complaints be sent directly to the Archbishop's palace. Given the lack of response from the Archbishop's house, what is the next step for victims? In the USA, there is a Survivor Network of Abused Priests, see http://www.snapnetwork.org/. Perhaps, there should be a meeting of similar cases in Goa, although I fully recognize the shame people may have in coming forward and the fear of not being supported publicly, especially by a laity complicit by its silence (including most cybergoan Catholics). Perhaps some of the Goan priests/nuns on this forum will have the courage to speak out assuming they will not suffer any retribution by their Catholic orders or teaching institutions they might be affliated with. As you know the Church is very powerful and unresponsive to the people's pulse. Till date instead of attempting to fix the problem the Church seems to do everything possible to cover its unholy acts. And for this they shrewdly use the services of a cotorie of some wise lay people that evolves around the Church to do the dirty job of damage control. In the USA, after the initial denial, stonewalling, burying-the-head-in-the-sand and sweep-under-the-carpet approach, the Church was forced by legal claims to come clean. It has cost the US Catholic church over a billion dollars to settle claims and counting, over 11,000 claims of sexual abuse have been reported, at least 3 dioceses are in bankruptcy and counting, and several parishes have been closed. Not to mention the negative publicity, etc. Perhaps the Goa Church might learn a lesson here? I took up the Ribandar Church molestation issue after deep thought and ascertaining all the facts. Before we went public on the issue I pleaded with the Co-ordinator of our Ribandar Parish Council to call a open meeting of all parishioners so that this issue could be discussed and the facts be faced dead on. This they dared not do and expected that the truth could be supressed and that they would be able to hush up the matter. You might recall the Irish singer Sinead O'Connor who found the church unresponsive in this matter about 10 years ago. She tore a picture of the Pope on US national television and took a lot of heat for it, including an adverse impact on her career. In retrospect, she was a prophet and needs to be commended. You are in a similar position and naturally the powerful and those who do not seek the truth will challenge you, including those who are defensive about the Catholic church (notice the silence of many cyberGoan Catholics). May justice prevail. Regards, George
