In the Herald dated 17th of this month, on page
No. 5, there appeared a news item which says: “Parents confront school head
over lottery sale”. The incident taken place in Chandor where according to the
report, parents of the students of St.Joseph’s Educational Institute, Chandor,
strongly protested against the school for forcing the students to sell the
Christmas Hamper Lotteries otherwise they will not be accepted back in the
school. The pressure on the students of
selling these Lotteries was so high that some of these students even having no
other choice started begging with the people to purchase these Lotteries. The parents of the students reprimanded the
School authorities saying “we are sending our children to the school to study
and not to beg” and also not to sell these Lotteries.
I strongly protest over
this type of policies implemented by our Schools mainly the diocesan. Some time back in my locality our Diocesan
school gave Lotteries to the students and put heavy pressure on them to sell these
lotteries by all means. One school girl when she approached some young boys with
a plea to purchase some lotteries, one of the boys said “Not some lotteries but
I will buy the whole book provided you allow me to have sex with you. Having no choice the young girl showed thru
her body language, inclination to surrender to the lust of the boy who
volunteered to buy the whole book. But
her friend and collegue prevented her from falling into the sin.
Likewise, during the
same time in one household there were 3 students who were given 3 lottery books
by the school and since these students coming from the poverty stricken
parentage, they were along with their parents were shattered because they
neither could sell three books nor were able to absorb these books for them by
paying the money from their own pocket because they were very poor.
It is very disturbing and disgracing on the part
of our Dicocesan schools and nuns
convents too to act like leeches to suck the blood of the poor.
I don’t know in what way they are following the path given by Jesus Christ.
These schools are receiving lot of money as rent for the school premises
from the government when the investment in the building of these schools from
the diocese is Nil. These schools including from my locality were built thru
the fund raised by the locals. Inspite of having such a vast amount in the
kitty of diocesan schools, I can’t understand why these diocesan schools are
taxing the people for more and more money?
Besides, the Churches attached to these schools are getting average
50,000 rupees as weekly collection. Can’t
they utilize some money from this fatty collection for any necessity instead of
making the students beggars and whores?
Is this the way our Goa Church under the current Bishop Neri Ferrao
dignify our children?
There is no
transparency of where the money collected thru weekly collection is going. Some
say it is going for the luxuries of the local priests such as purchasing of
luxurious vehicles, for drinks and for
their mistresses. Some say it is going for the extravaganza of the Panjim
Altinho where against Christian principles they live the life of feudal lords. !! If this is correct, then can we respect
these priests and bishop? If
you see the limousine of the big man of Altinho you will say that his Jesus
Christ was born not in the stable surrounded by the animals but in the Palace
with all the Worldly luxuries. Further, time
will come I think slowly the Church leaders will issue a statement saying that
the Jesus Christ came from very rich parents with all the luxuries and
befitting His status all the clergy and Bishops must live. As it is the current Pope has come out with
the changes in the prayer of Jesus Christ “Our Father” as if all those learned
people running the affairs of the Church for the last 2000 years were idiots.
Meantime, my advice to
the parents not to rely your children especially the young girls into the hands
of priests who for the sake of money may even dole their young female students
to those who sell out money and more money for the church run schools and
activities. Many of the current priests are become worldly, they want to lead
the life of Maharajas. Our Church in Goa is least bothered to provide
protection for us, the Catholics when our Church is so rich. What use our Church is making of its vast
land and huge financial “pottlo”? If at
this moment our Church in Goa fails us then we as Catholic community will be
failed. Church as our guardian has to
take responsibility for our protection in all respects because our enemies are
making preparation to liquidate us and along with us the Catholicsm as well
from our soil. But still I think our Church will never think something good for
us, our Church will go on putting constant pressure on us to dole out money for
them to do this and to do that. On the contrary our Church leaders and Clergy
will say “makham kiteak poddlam tem”. This is happening because our Church is
in the hands of Corrupt people. People must stop as a first step to put money in
the collection tray on every Sundays and Holidays because this money is
utilized for filthy luxuries by the priests who because of this money flow are
tempted to indulge in sinful luxuries.
A.Veronica Fenandes.
