As a Christian Catholic and with my head down in shame, I pen down these lines to express my disgust over the events unfolding now in the West with regards to the Sex abuse systematically conducted by the priests. One Bishop has already resigned in Ireland for mishandling the Child Sex abuses done by his priests there for a long period of time. Switzerland has been rocked by similar incidents where young Swiss boys were continuously molested and sexually abused by the priests there. Worst part of it was that these abused kids were physically handicapped. Now, the news appeared that the current Pope is also involved in not taking appropriate action against an American priest who molested and sexually abused small children some years back when this matter was under the supervision of the current Pope who then was the head of this particular area and department. Because of his leniency then, the current Pope is accused for siding with these Sex abuser priests. There is heavy pressure all around the Pope to submit his resignation because of His inefficiency in handling difficult issues. But as a matter of fact, Pope resigning on this count is very highly unlikely and secondly to whom He will submit his resignation? It is a very complicated proposal.
Sexually abusing children by the priests is become very common in the West and sexually abusing women in Goa by the Goan priests is become more common. One thing is certain if appropriate actions were taken by the head of the Churches in the West and in Goa at an appropriate time, lot of discipline would come and many of the scandals would not have erupted as it is erupting now. Church leaders in the West and in Goa have very bad habits of keeping silence over the scandals committed by the priests, whether these are Sex scandals or Financial scandals or scandals related to the subjects beyond the priestly duties of the priests. Take for example in the case of Goa: The late Pe. Alvito Vaz was going out of his way in Candolim and when complain was made to the then Bishop Rebello of Goa, Bishop Rebello slept over this and got up only when things went out of the way when Pe. Alvito Vas was suspended from his priestly duties under Goa Church. Meantime damage for the Catholic Church in Goa was already done everywhere including the birth of new Church in Goa known as Independent Church of Cuncollim. Similarly there were many such incidents took place and it all happened only because of the lethargic attitude of the Bishop at Altinho, Panjim, Goa in taking appropriate actions at an appropriate time against the erring priests who disgraced not only Catholicsm but also Christianity.
Many Priests in Goa are become corrupt, they are rampantly after Sex, Money and Wine. There was a time in Goa when Priests were treated on par with Jesus because those priests were really following the true doctrine of Christ but now, no. Faithfuls are afraid of Priests now in Goa because Goan priests are suffering from the sin called “Narvenkarism”. Parents are afraid to leave their young children into the hands of Priests especially young girls. In some places some parents have even stopped their young daughters from joining the Choir groups in their localities because they lost their confidence in the priests. The credibility of the priests now in Goa is damaged and people do not trust them any longer. The recently CD released by Calvert Gonsalves “Dogui Bodmas” is a perfect example to know the dubious character of the priests in Goa, what example of one priest Calvert gave in this CD is enough for the Bishop of Goa and all the priests to put down their heads in shame. If Goa Bishop had to entertain the complaint and appropriately acted immediately when complaint was lodged, neither the CD would come into existence nor such a big row would have erupted. All the unpalatable incidents in Colva took place only because of the silence of Goa Bishop in taking corrective action against the culprit priest. I feel the current Bishop of Goa is not capable to handle the abusive priests in Goa. Should there not be pressure on Goa Bishop also to tender his resignation for failing to take appropriate action when complaint was lodged to him against the misdeeds of Colva priest or any priest for acting in anti-Christian way? Now in Rome there were demonstrations and demand for the Pope to resign for failing to do justice for the sexually abused children by the American priest Fr. Lawrence Murphy.
In Goa lot of money is flowing into the hands of Secular priests. Many of the young boys are aspiring to become secular priest because of the easy access to Sex, Wine and Money. The Church schools into the hands of priests give them access to lot of money which many of the priests spend recklessly after their concubines and other worldly luxuries. In some places in Goa, priests are charging money to offer Communion to the old people at their residences. No more priesthood is vocation now, it is become a commercial activity and the whole image of Goa Church is spoiled by the Secular Priests only who like corrupt politicians want cheap publicity thru newspaper reviews, photos and advertisements. When priests go for such cheap and worldly publicity then they lose their true priestly colours. These Seculars under the current Bishop are become very much money and Sex conscious. The Church properties have been misused for the benefit of the priests and Bishop. The Church funds accumulated thru weekly collections and donations are kept in secret without any transparency. Faithfuls must stop giving their contributions during the weekly collections if there is no proper accountability and transparency. It is not enough just to disclose the amout collected as it is done in some Churches but it is imperative to disclose how and where it is spent. This is called real transparency. Many of our Churches are into the hands of “Chor” priests and “chor” Bishops. They want us faithfuls to close our eyes for their misdeeds but by closing our eyes we are only encouraging misdeeds and making rascals of our priests and bishops. The scandalous and rogue priests and their supporters tell not to judge the priests with an excuse that Heavenly God will judge them. This is just an excuse for the priests to allow them to do all their dirty acts against the teachings of Christ. If we do not stop priests from acting bad then these bad priests will turn our religion into bad. Do we want our religion to be bad and into the hands of bad priests and bad Bishops?
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
