Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Aug 24: Catholic Sabha has condemned and denied the financial misappropriation allegations against former president of Catholic Sabha and current director of MCC Bank Anil Lobo.

The clarification was issued at Press Club here on Friday, August 24. 

A clarification issued by its spiritual director Fr Mathew Vas, president Rolfy D'Costa and Vivid D'Souza states that Catholic Sabha is an organisation which has the recognition of Mangaluru diocese and is an authorised organisation. It has more than 16,000 registered members. It has units in most of the churches and zones. 

The organisation has its own constitution and publishes 'Amcho Sandesh' monthly magazine. The magazine has more than 11,000 subscribers. The organisation was established under the leadership of Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes, Walter D'Souza, Casmir D'Souza and other elders and has completed 39 years. It organises several pro-society programmes every year. The mass social conference in Moodbidri and mass women conference held on Women's Day in Mangaluru are two of the recent pro-society programmes held by Catholic Sabha, the statement adds. 

Catholic Sabha has its own constitution and bye laws as per rules of government registered organisations. It has to conduct audit by registered auditors as per law, prepare annual reports, call annual general body meetings, present accounts, get them approved and submit them to the government within stipulated period. The members are able to object if there are lapses in annual report and annual accounts. If information is denied the members are able to obtain it from concerned government offices, the statement reads.

“In the circumstances, it has come to our notice of the propaganda that former president of the organisation and current MCC Bank director Anil Lobo has conducted financial irregularities in programmes of Catholic Sabha and not given accounts of the amount collected as contributions for the programmes. We condemn with one voice this propaganda. Catholic Sabha is involved in impartial social service for the last 39 years,” the clarification says.

“In fact there is no connection between MCC Bank and Catholic Sabha. Catholic Sabha has its own office bearers and members to look after its affairs. It has its spiritual director and auditors. It also has concerned government officials. We have accounts of all the programmes held by Catholic Sabha. Official auditors have scrutinized them. Those are approved in annual meetings. Former Catholic Sabha president Anil Lobo does not owe money to Catholic Sabha. Instead of that he has organised programmes such as social conference and women's conference and brought repute to the organisation.,"says the statement.

"Anil Lobo has shouldered several responsible positions from church level, deanery level and diocese level and proved as an excellent organizer and community leader. All of us are proud of our former president Anil Lobo. We express our gratitude to him. We request not to listen to unfounded allegations about Catholic Sabha programmes,” Catholic Sabha says in its statement.