Indian Constitution in danger, writes Goa’s Archbishop


Panaji, Jun 5 (NIE): With the 2019 elections approaching, Goa’s Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao has advised Catholics to play an “active role” in politics while warning that the “the Indian Constitution is in danger” and that “a kind of monoculturalism” has gripped the country.

In his annual pastoral letter for 2018-19, which was released Sunday, Ferrao wrote: “It is advisable that the lay faithful play an active role in the political field; they should, however, follow the dictates of their conscience while doing so and shun ‘sycophantic’ politics. They should thus strengthen democracy and, on the other hand, help to improve the functioning of the state administration. The ideals of social justice and the fight against corruption are of utmost importance.”

Stating that people across the country are being “uprooted from their land and homes in the name of development”, the Archbishop warned that “human rights is being trampled” as “in recent times we see a new trend emerging in our country which demands uniformity in what and how we eat, dress, live and even worship, a kind of monoculturalism”.

Ferrao’s letter comes weeks after Delhi Archbishop Anil Couto wrote in a letter that India is “witnessing a turbulent political atmosphere” and the community should begin a “prayer campaign” ahead of the elections. Couto’s remarks faced criticism, including from Home Minister Rajnath Singh, following which he clarified that they were not directed at the BJP-RSS.

This is the first time that Ferrao has openly urged Catholics in Goa to prepare for the elections. Catholics account for over 25 per cent of the state’s population of 1.5 million.

In the letter, Ferrao wrote that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India had declared in its plenary assembly that the Church should “diligently promote and stand by values like secularism, freedom of speech and freedom to practise one’s religion enshrined in the Indian Constitution”.

While focussing on poverty, Ferrao wrote that the need to “work hard to protect the Constitution” is more urgent now.

“At the time of elections, the candidates confuse the minds of many people by making false promises. And the people, on their part, often sell their precious vote for selfish, petty gain,” he wrote.

Pointing to the agenda of the Bishops’ conference, Ferrao urged parishes and small Christian communities to take forward the “values of secularism and freedom of speech”.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Kishore Kumar, Mangaluru

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Ask the archbishop what his views are regarding Portugese persecution of Goan hindus. Has he asked Portugal for a appology?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • kumara, abu dhabi

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    when the queen beewas in power these people have nothing to say, now ngo's are being asked to show their sources of income and expenditure then they see problems everywhere,,,dongi's

    DisAgree [4] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sandesh, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Please Ban all religious people to participate in politics.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Goan Archbishop is absolutely right, after 2014 Constitution and India under threat by our own people..

    DisAgree [9] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lily Grace D Silva, Mangalore/Mumbai/Dubai

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Thank you Archbishop Ferrao for your advise to your flock, that we all Christians. You rightly said, democracy of India is in danger. Let us recall the years before the last 4 years and you will notice how peacefully people of India were living without ANY DIFFERENCES IN CAST AND CREED. I do not remember if I ever had asked the cast of anyone who comes in contact with me. This is precisely the religion we are following where, love one another as told to us by our Lord Jesus Christ as He loved you and me without any differences.

    So there is no harm in the advise of our Archbishop. He tells you and me, to care for one another and save the democracy of the country. Let each one of us stop making any differences among the people we deal with. All are one and creature who created you and me is one. So respect each other and stop releasing anger in words. Let there be peace.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinayak Prabhu, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    He wants to be in news like Delhi Archbishop

    DisAgree [46] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna Kant, Moodbidri

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Vinayak Prabhu, Mangalore they are not talking anything wrong but they are advising their Christians to the vote the right party, they are not asking to not vote BJP, everyone has the right to talk. Why are you worried?

    DisAgree [13] Agree [52] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinayak Prabhu, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Who is worried? I dint talk about party

    DisAgree [30] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    all indians r worried. india is gone 30 years back economically.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [26] Report Abuse

  • PenMightierThanTheSword!, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Vinayak Prabhu, Mangalore — your intention was clear and obvious in your comment. Please don't deny!!!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Report Abuse

  • Rathan, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Ferrous
    Don't miss use freedom of speech
    Why don't you become an open canvassing agent of sickular khangress?
    Where were you when 100 of amendments were made to our Constitution and the main Charactersticitself has been changed ?

    DisAgree [38] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    ananth kumar hegde, shiroor swamiji, sakshi maharaj, yogi adityanath, illiterate chaiwala, etc., etc., r mis-utilising freedom of speech

    DisAgree [9] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harish Hegde, Mangalore/Aramco

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    David.... Rathan as issued Licences to them to bark as they like.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Instead of Development they want Hindutva ...

    DisAgree [8] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Chetan, Udupi

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Archbishop Ferrao is absolutely right. Vote for those who assure the safeguarding the Constitution. Dump those who are playing with it and disgracing it.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • El En Tea, Mumbai

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Whatever said is 100℅ true constitution in danger where BJP Minister MP from karwar said in public will change the constitution.
    That's why major secular parties made a ghatbundhan to defeat the Communal Party.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [41] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Once upon a time 100 UPA laws makers signed a petition against giving US visa to Modi... In 2014 elections those 100 MPs bite dust...

    DisAgree [34] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    He is a Rahul Gandhi fan!

    DisAgree [43] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alfria, Mumbai/Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Sri: he is nobody's fan he is only a fan of God and the position he holds its his moral duty to advise his flock deligently for their own good, he is not like ramdevs, Sri Sri or yogi and Sakshi who canvas for BJP.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mark Dcruz, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Ferro simple words. Vote for congress ..

    DisAgree [8] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, USA

    Tue, Jun 05 2018

    Mark Dcruz, Mangalore : Your symptoms are called " Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)"

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse


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