"And he came and saw the people gathered there, near his house with Sticks and Bamboos ready to attack those who damaged his house against his preaching on human equality and against apartheid". Martin Luther King the Civil rightist in USA, 50 years back was using the Church Pulpit to preach evils of apartheid and since the Whites could not bear to accept this, they came and damaged his house. When Martin Luther King got this news in the Church, he came home immediately and saw his supporters ready with their weapons to destroy the Whites. When Martin Luther came out of his car, he told his supporters sternly but humbly “keep your weapons down, down with Sticks and Bamboos because Sword begets Sword”. Martin Luther made use of his Christian principles to make peace and he succeeded in averting chaos and disorder. Peacemaking is the doctrine of Christianity and as a Baptist Christian Congregation Pastor, Martin Luther King in reality practiced it.
As per the information received, Colva Church priests were scandalized in CD “Dogui Bodmas” produced by Calvert Gonsalves and as a mark of protest against this CD, the priests from Colva Church were leaving the Church. In support of the priests some residents of Colva and may be under the instigation of the priests stoned the house of Gonsalves and also damaged his two wheelers and Garage besides carrying out immense disorder in Colva. By doing this type of rowdism, Colvakars did more damage to Christianity than what the damage Gonsalves and his singing troupe did thru their songs scandalizing the priests.
I don’t agree scandalizing priests or anybody else in this way but I must also stress here that priests are not sacrosanct and infallible. They have all the rights in a civilized manner to file a defamation case against the culprits but never to instigate rowdism and barbarity to avenge their anger. By doing so those who did rowdism unnecessarily instead of using peaceful methods disgraced Christianity. It is sad to note that the very persons who are supposed to lead the people on the path of peace thru peaceful methods themselves encouraged Devilish action. In the bargain, by creating disorder in Colva, the enemies of Gonsalves CD gave a booster for the sale of CD thereby encouraging more Gonsalveses to embark in the production of such CD’s because priests are more prone to scandals as very many of them are living the life of scandals.
Some of the devilish and corrupt people amongst us are the priests. Many of them have destroyed many of the families in Goa. Many of them are only after sex, liquour and money. Almost every second priest is having a concubine, not one but many of them in dozens. These priests are so shameless that they don’t even care for their respect and sanctity of their priesthood. Some years back in Calangute one School Principal priest was boasting with the statement saying “this child is mine, I have produced her”. Many of the illegitimate children in Goa are the products of the priests. They come to your house as slaves to offer their assistance either material or spiritual but while going from your house they go as masters making your mother, sister and wife as their slaves. In this way they destroy not only you but your entire home.
Some of the most sexually perverted people in Goa are priests. They should be corrected. According to my information, many of the illegal abortions in a particular Clinic in Goa are done thru the referral by the priests only who were responsible for making pregnant these females.
Because of this scandalous CD, the Colvakars opposing this CD wants to punish the producer and other singers. Is it right on the part of Goa Bishop and his affected priests to support suppress freedom in this way? Is there no legal recourse to take? Great French writer Voltaire once said “I fully disagree with what you say, but to allow you to say what you want to say I will do everything within my capacity, even facing death to allow you to say what you want to say, though I fully disagree with what you say”.
According to our tradition and history Church Bells are rung during abnormal time only when there is a danger to the safety of the Church or Church inhabitants. And this ringing of the Church Bells done only with the approval of the Church Priests headed by the Pe. Vigar. Now the question comes, who authorized the ringing of the Colva Church Bells during abnormal time? And was there any danger at that time for the safety of the Church? Surely the priests are culprits. By acting in this manner they have harmed their priesthood and in the bargain Christianity was harmed.
Colvakars are somewhat different people and in Kuwait Colvakars are known to have created damage for the dignity of Goans in particular and Indians in general by acting as rowdies. They are on record to have stopped by force even by bringing their pregnant women on to the soccer ground to stop the smooth functioning of soccer matches at Sour Ground in Kuwait City. In Kuwait, Colvakars are equated with rowdies and rowdism. In Colva, because of one CD, with the alleged pushing of the Colva Church priests, Colvakars paralysed Colva even by burning Tyres in the middle of the road and thereby creating all round chaos. I understand, the Church leader at Altinho Panjim gave his silent nod for the creation of this chaotic situation. Religious gurus and priests must refrain from creating situation for unruly atmosphere. The image of Christianity and sanctity of the Church was shattered in Colva episode. The Bishop of Goa is equally responsible for this disorder along with his priests from Colva Church. To stop this violence in Colva I think we need Martin Luther King. But alas, he is dead and gone and such Christians come to this planet only once in centuries.
Once again the power of Konkani Stage Tiatrists came on to the fore. They have history to create upheavals and revolutions in society and in our community. In political and other fields they shook the authorities thru the foundation. Kid Boxer to express his viewpoint even underwent harsch imprisonement in high risk Nasik Prison for 6 months. To challenge the brute authority of Indian Government Kid Boxer sacrificed his future in Bombay even by losing his lucrative job at Central Railway in Bombay. In this CD episode, I advise the producer and other singers of this CD to be courageous and bold enough to face this brute opposition orchestrated in this way under the instigation of the priests and Bishop as it was given to understand. It is only a temporary phase which will disappear soon.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
