PANJIM: Archbishop Rev Fr Filipe Neri Ferrao on Monday said Goa was getting into a new and ever greater form of intolerance with instances of wives and kids being hacked to death, gruesome murders over petty quarrels and fiery speeches on public platforms attempting to incite hatred between the communities.
Addressing the traditional annual civic reception on the occasion of Christmas, he reiterated on the importance to awaken families to their social mission or dharma, inaugurate a new society in India, particularly Goa, ‘a society where the age-old family values are cherished and strongly relied upon, while meeting with ever new and difficult challenges, so typical of the present time’.
“By and large, our families were abodes of peace. The whole of Goa was a haven of peace. On the social front, people from different walks of life, religious and social traditions lived in harmony and mutual respect. But what do we see today? New and ever greater forms of intolerance. It has become quite frequent to read in our newspapers stories of wives and kids being hacked to death, of gruesome murders caused by petty quarrels and, what is more, of fiery speeches made in public platforms, trying to incite hatred between communities and polarizing the majority against the minorities in this State,” he said.
“Most of us were brought up in traditional families, veritable schools of love, of understanding, of forgiveness, which are values that we not only lived within our families, but cultivated in our social and professional life, irrespective of the religion we professed,” the Archbishop added.
He also slammed the present situation in the State wherein far-reaching decisions are taken by a few people without taking into confidence legitimate stakeholders.
“If we want to live joyfully in this world and attain serenity of heart, we must let go anger, violence, intolerance and revenge,” the Archbishop said, referring to the year of mercy.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Governor Mridula Sinha, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, MPs, MLAs, defence personnel and other officials of the State were present
