By Matters India Reporter
Kolkata: A popular priest of Calcutta archdiocese has resigned as the principal of a prestigious school amid reports that he would soon join the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party.
Father Rodney Borneo, who was principal of Loyola High School for the past five years, on March 5 handed over resignation letter to Archbishop Thomas D Souza of Calcutta.
According to a report in The Times of India, Father Rodney, a household name in Kolkata’s Kidderpore area, is likely to join BJP soon.
The newspaper quoted Sabyasachi Dutta, the party’s state secretary, hailing Father Borneo as a person with exceptional qualities.
“We are about to induct Father Rodney on Wednesday (March 10), if all goes well. We will give him the responsibility of advising us on English medium education,” Dutta explained.
According to the report, Father Borneo prayed in the chapel before leaving the school on March 6 evening. At the same time, reports said the archdiocese was making efforts to hold him back.
“I have resigned and I have no right to stay on here. I have mentioned the reasons for which I was forced to take this step. I don’t wish to reveal them here because that is between me and the archdiocese,” Father Rodney told reporters.
Archbishop D’Souza responded to the news saying, “We follow rules and processes here. Even resignations and transfers cannot happen suddenly outside of a process. For me he is still the principal of Loyola School.”
Father Borneo’s letter to the archbishop complains about the “unwarranted interference” by the school managing committee’s secretary in his functioning as the head of institution.
The secretary’s “actions and inactions,” the letter adds, have put “the greater interest of thousands of students” in peril and that the priest was “left with no alternative but to tender my resignation.”
Father Borneo alleged that the school was not sanitized even once this year because of the secretary refusal to sanction funds.
“You will agree with me that this is absolutely necessary, not only in view of government circulars and mandates but also we owe a moral responsibility for the safety and security of our students who are left in our custody by their parents, trusting and believing that we will take all possible steps to ensure the safety of their wards,” the letter adds.
Father Borneo also said that he prayed over the matter and his conscience did not permit him to continue in his post as he was left helpless to address students’ interests and welfare.
The priest was not ready to speak about his joining party politics yet. “I have tried my best as a priest and a principal to stay true to my calling. If my trajectory changes, that will also be for the highest good. My aim is to be able to work for the greater good of humanity and whoever gives me an opportunity to do that, I will be with them,” he was quoted in the Times of India report.
Father Borneo was reportedly known to be close to the ruling Trinamool Congress. He had attended Mother Teresa’s canonization in Vatican with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Loyola High School, earlier known as St. Paul’s Secondary School, was started in 1961. In 1984, St. Paul’s Secondary School was renamed as Loyola High School..
Loyola High School functions under the rights and powers granted to religious and linguistic minorities of the Constitution of India (Art 29 and 30). The school is recognized by the Education Department, Government of West Bengal, under the Anglo Indian Board of West Bengal and affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.
Rodney, in view of this shocking news … of yur defection from the catholic church & Principal of Loyola high school … and going on the rebound to join BJP, we pray tat the Holy Spirit fills yu & makes yu reason for this defection deed. Satan looms large in this world in different garbs. Confusion confounded … sometimes the most intelligent person bears a split personality. This defection has certainly saddened the hearts of many in India …. but then, there’s no smoke without fire. I fully understand tat perhaps you were a square peg in a round hole, dominated & confused by different sets of ideology. I fully respect yur privacy & allow yu some space to unwind for a while, once the dust settles … and retrace yur steps back to the fold.
At this moment, I do not like to judge him. I pray that he may continue to become a blessing for the Church and for the nation. May God grant him good health and long life to serve God by serving the people.
The Catholic Church leadership should look at the resignation of Fr Rodney Borneo very seriously and try to address the issues of discontent in the church
Being an informed citizen of our country Fr Rodney should know what is the nature and ideology of political parties I personally feel that his decision is based not on real reasoning
This is obviously a case of “Identity Crisis” where this priest does not realize who he is and what is his mission. At least for some priests, this is a profession can be termed “Professional Priesthood”. According to Documents of Second Vatican Council ” A priest is a man chosen from among men and appointed for men to offer sacrifice to God. ” May be that he is ignorant of this truth. A priest is never his own, so that he cannot take a unilateral decision of this type. Let us pray for him to realize his folly and come back to the fold of Jesus.
If he is joining BJP it is very well for him personally and for the Christian community in India as a whole. The future of Christians in India is entwined with that of the Hindus. We need Hindus more than they do us. Let us she’d our distrust and treat Hindus as our brothers.
If Fr. Borneo’ s “aim is to work for the good of humanity” then what was he doing all these years? Does he feel that the BJP/RSS work for the good of humanity? He should study their NEP first and realise how they have ignored the immense contribution of the Jesuits and other Christian Educational institutions. Instead of inculcating the ideas of Universal Love , Justice and Brotherhood the party he will be joining is only concerned in spreading Fascism and Hindutva.
If fr. Rodney has a political inclination and wants to work for the humanity then I am of the opinion that he should join Aap.
Attacking Christians and burning churches is not humanity. Remember Staines killing. What ideology are you choosing? Think wisely.