Vasco: Catholic legislators in Goa have come under severe criticism from their co-religionists for their silence over attacks on Mother Teresa and Christian institutions.
Thousands of Christians and people of other faiths Tuesday converged at St Andrew Church, Vasco, a port city in Goa, to take part in a penitential peace rally to condemn the vandalism of churches in Delhi and Mangalore.
They also protested controversial remarks against Blessed Mother Teresa by Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghby RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and VHP leaders against Mother Teresa.
Bhagwat, who heads the umbrella organization for Hindu groups that strive for a theocratic state in India, questioned the motive of Mother Teresa in serving the poorest people.
The rallyists, comprising priests and parishioners, expressed their dismay over the Catholic legislators failing to speak out against these issues.
Catholics from nine parishes in the Mormugao Deanery consisting of Cortalim, Sancoale, Chicalim, Bogmalo, St Jacinto Island, Baina, Desterro and Harbour, joined the peace rally.
Speaking to the local Herald newspaper, Dean of Mormugao deanery Fr Vithal Miranda said the rally was organized to show solidarity with Christians of Delhi and other parts of the country, who are suffering silently at the hands of the fundamentalists.
Reacting to the statements made against Mother Teresa, Fr Miranda said Mother Teresa was recognized as a living saint by India and other countries. “It’s sad that such statements are coming much after her death and it is not fit for such a person to make remarks against the work of Mother Teresa.”
Fr Gabriel Coutinho, parish priest of St Andrew Church Vasco, said the main objective of the rally was to condemn the incidents against the Christians across the country. “Things are getting from bad to worse and this has to be stopped at some time and that is why we staged penitential peace rally of nine parishes of Mormugao deanery,” said Fr Coutinho.
“The government at the Centre and in Goa should stop all the atrocities against the minorities, as everyone is living in fear. It is very sad that some people are talking against Mother Teresa’s work, which shows their hollowness and they are jealous as they cannot do the same good work which Mother Teresa did,” he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian people’s party), the political arm of the Hindu groups, now rules the federal and Goa state governments.
Fr Coutinho condemned the silence of the Catholic MLAs in Goa and said it was surprising that the elected Catholic representatives have remained tight lipped over the atrocities and vandalism of the churches.