THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024
Priest transfers and Covid-19
I have read, one after another, two letters, from Christian’s faithful appealing to the Archbishop to withhold implementation of parish clergy transfers till Covid-19 subsides. Both give reasons, which are substantially the same as had led the Archbishop Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao to suspend it one year back.
I make my own all these reasons and respectfully urge the archbishop to suspend the parish clergy transfers orders till the crisis passes away or atleast become meek. I am sure that the Archbishop will heed the plea of the faithful like me.
Roselyn Periera, Nagao
Scathing indictment of Govt policy
With the State spiralling down a vortex of Covid annihilation, the High Court of Bombay at Goa in it's interim order on a slew of PILs filed by civil society members has directed that only those who produce a Covid -ve certificate should be allowed entry to the State; this is a much needed rap on the knuckles for the government.
The court has also directed that professionals be involved in dissemination of information, sufficient police force be posted at hospitals, a transparent admission policy be adopted for admissions, and that testing/reporting facilities be ramped up. The interim order also seeks an affidavit from the government regarding the vaccination drive, home collection of samples, facilities extended to the marginalised and elderly sections of society and other measures taken to mitigate the Corona disaster.
The order is a scathing indictment of this clueless government which does not have any coherent policy to tackle the pandemic except to remain in power. But wonder of wonders, our CM was quick to respond that insisting on a Covid -ve certificate would be extremely difficult , this is nothing but statement of criminal intent and abdication of responsibility. It is also rank injustice to us poor Goans who have been left to our own devices to tackle the virus.
All political parties, the IMA and the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) are insisting on a strict 15-day lockdown to check community transmission as partial lockdowns have not been effective (we have almost breached the 4000 mark in case count with a 51% infection rate), of what use is economic revival without human survival. On this aspect too the CM is procrastinating, saying that a decision on the clampdown shall be taken in 2-3 days time; this for the last 10 days mind you.
The HC order also makes a mention that the State should have imposed a lockdown on it's own, I fail to understand why the CM is blind to the elephant in the room. Such utter incompetence warrants that the administration of the State be handed over to a court appointed committee or better still to the army.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
You need two hands to clap!
This has reference to the Edit ‘Who is responsible for the current situation?’ (Herald, May 7). That's a very good question, yes, who is responsible for this state of affairs today not just in the State of Goa but in the rest of the country as well? The answer may not be difficult to find. It is said, you cannot clap with one hand! True, you need two hands to clap!
Even in Maharashtra when the government & other authorities were appealing to the public to adhere to at least the basic Covid norms, they did not seem to cooperate. That however does not absolve the government of all blame. What was the government, both the centre & states, doing by way of building infrastructure to deal with the expected increase in Covid cases? What about the States where religious festivals like the Kumbh Mela was held with lakhs of devotees assembling together, without any scope for social distancing? What about the massive election rallies where also social distancing was thrown to the winds?
Well the government needs to set an example themselves, both the centre and the States. Let them understand, charity begins at home. And now, the government would do well to answer that question posed in the editorial, Who is responsible for the current situation?
Melville X. D'Souza, Mumbai
Transfers of priests
With reference to the news item, “Archbishop house and offices closed till May 15”, and the letter to the Editor “Priests should go virtual” by Adelmo Fernandes and the third letter “An Appeal” by Fr Mousinho Athaide from Saligao. I would like to state certain points that come to my mind in the above connection.
The above things are rightly done and written considering the safety of our priests first and secondly the lay faithful. Some churches had stopped their service to the faithful much before the announcement made by the Archbishop regarding transfers and regarding closing of its offices till May 15. Therefore, what sense does it make to transfer the priest at this odd and crucial hour?
If one has to walk the talk, one should work voluntarily and selflessly like the recent examples of Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and right here in Goa on the medical field, we have Dr Anil Mhendiratta, Pulmologist who has voluntarily become a Covid warrior and many more like minded have volunteered joined this brigade to work selflessly with the frontline warriors and the Covid affected patients.
Therefore, I humbly request Your Excellency to keep this transfer orders on hold till the mighty wave of this Covid-19 pandemic subsides. You and your transfer committee must be aware by now as to how many priests & nuns have fallen to this sickness in India and elsewhere in the world. Therefore, as it is said, “Prevention is better than cure” and “A stitch in time saves nine”. It would be a wise decision if The Archbishop keeps the transfers of priests on hold till further notice.
Felix Xavier Gonsalves, Quepem
