Diocesan Role After Church Attacks: IFKCA Chairman Ronald Colaco Clarifies
Media Release
Mangalore, Sep 22: With regard to the role of Mangalore Diocese after the church attacks of September 14, 2008, NRI businessman and chairman of International Federation of Karnataka Christians Association (IFKCA) Ronald Colaco says that blaming the priests of Mangalore diocese was uncalled and unwarranted for and has been done without trying to know the actual facts.
In a written communication to daijiworld.com in response to the special report on the 2nd year of church attacks, Colaco says that the diocese was greatly concerned by the attack on the churches and was and is still actively involved in providing help and legal assistance to the unfortunate brave people who are facing trials. “The diocese has made sincere efforts to collect financial help from the public through various churches and has created a fund to pay Rs 200/- per person whenever they attended the court trials following their release and also to meet the expenses of the advocates attending Justice Somashekar Commission of Enquiry”, he asserted.
He further stated that though he was in Europe during the unpleasant incident he could provide timely financial help through Austin Peres of the State Bank of Mysore on the next day, that is, September 15, 2008 to meet the various expenses involved in releasing those who were put in Mangalore and Madikeri jails and in preventing the police from taking the youngsters to Bellary jail by using his clout and contacts.
“I used my contacts with top police officials including my cousin F T R Colaco, former director general of police, by placing before him them facts of provocation from the fundamentalist forces that led to the natural outbursts from our community people”, he stated.
He also lauded the efforts of advocates M P Noronha, Mariamma Thomas, Elizabeth and Ivan D Souza and other prominent community leaders like Louis Pinto, Roy Castelino, Stany Alvares and Dennis D Silva and many others who have provided timely succour and their leadership and hardwork which has gone a long way in releasing the youngsters from jail within two days.
Ronald Colaco also pointed out that it was the Belehonnur unit of IFKCA which had filed a criminal complaint against Mahendra Kumar, chief of Bajrang Dal in Karnataka when the authorities failed to take action against him. “During the Annual Day programme of IFKCA held in Bangalore attended by the chief minister, home minister, Bangalore Archbishop and other eminent personalities and a large number of Catholics, I used the opportunity to expose the wrong doings of Bajrang Dal activists following which both the CM and home minister publicly committed to withdraw the cases against our people soon after the expiry of the Somshekar Commission of Enquiry”.
He, however, stated that this response/clarification was not aimed at self-praising but to make it known to all those concerned including the well-wishers and those who have criticized our Mangalore Diocese and the priests that a large number of people including those whose names are not mentioned have extended their sincere support, co-operation, financial assistance to ensure that our struggle to get justice reaches its logical end.
He states: “Let us not forget that whatever name or fame we as Christians enjoy is due to the selfless service and sacrifices rendered by our missionaries, priests and nuns in the field of education, healthcare, social service etc. They are the true face of our Christian faith”. He called upon the people not to bring the missionaries into any public controversy and to uphold our dignity in this multi-cultured society.
He added that he had to issue this clarification following the criticism of our diocese and priests. He said that IFKCA has been formed to protect our religious and spiritual leaders, places of worship, institutions and also to get adequate representation for our community in politics, state administration and judiciary. IFKCA is trying its best to get due privileges and benefits to our community and he called upon all to strengthen the hands of IFKCA and asked people to desist from interfering in church and diocesan administration.