Everything is not going
well in some of your Diocesan Schools. In my neighbourhood Diocesan
School, the school management under the
supervision of the Church Pe. Vigar who is also the principal of the school,
issued “Raffle” lists in aid of the projects of the Parish school. Each list costs Rs. 210/- and these lists are
distributed to collect the money thru the students. Every student is given one list and even in
one house where there are 2 or 3 students, each house will have to 2 or 3 lists
in which case there will be an unbearable burden on every such house.
To collect this amount
is not a joke; it is a big pressure not only on the young students but even on
their parents. I know some children are crying at their homes in front of their
parents to help them to collect the money and because of this unwanted burden
on them some students are suffering from tension and mental stress.
The Goa Church headed
by the Bishop House at Panjim Altinho is very rich and as such it can easily
finance the School projects instead of exploiting the poor students thus giving
our enemies an opportunity to defame Catholicism. This whole business of the Raffle looks like
extortion of money which is against the teaching of the Christ. Besides, the said Church every Sunday
collects about 40,000/- from the faithful.
From this collection the Diocesan school in my neighbourhood can easily
finance the school project instead of begging with the aid of Raffle.
Last year in a similar
incident when one young girl approached one young boy to help her to collect the
money for her Raffle list, the boy replied thus “if you allow me to have sex
with you then I will do the needful”.
These Raffles are become a source of mental stress, financial burden on
poor students and their parents and a big source of sin for our young girls who
in order to fulfill their obligations to make the Pe. Vigar/Principal happy are
ready to do anything. This has to be
stopped otherwise Senhor Bishop and Senhor Gaumcho Pe. Vigar you both will be held
responsible for any untoward incident happening because of this Raffle business.
The Village Pe. Vigar is not interested in
anything other than collecting money by any means. This school was built thru
the contribution and donation of the locals with Zero investment from the
Church authorities. Government is paying
so much for this school including the Rent to the Church. Where this money goes? Concerned Church authorities has to answer to
this query.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349. 
