OLD GOA: Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Secretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas on Saturday requested politicians not to interfere in Catholic educational institutions.
Just before he delivered the final blessing at the end of the festive mass he concelebrated at Old Goa, Bishop Mascarenhas, speaking as the Secretary of the CBCI, and directly addressing the Chief Minister and other politicians who were seated in the congregation, said that Catholics are a peace-loving community involved in nation building and probably the most patriotic of the communities in Goa.
Though he was speaking in Konkani, he addressed the politicians seated in the congregation in English saying, “I have a simple request to make to you as General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. The Catholic community is a peace loving community, involved in nation building. We are probably the most patriotic community, there is no doubt about it, please give us the freedom to live our faith, practice our faith. Please do not interfere with our educational activities, this is our request to you, whichever party you belong to, we are asking you only what the Constitution gives us.”
He was interrupted towards the end of the speech, as spontaneous applause broke out at his words. Earlier, during the homily, he had said, “In the present world, it is not easy to live with strong faith…”
At the altar with Bishop Mascarenhas was Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman, who is the Vice-President of the CBCI. Moments earlier Archbishop Ferrao had addressed the congregation.
Though Bishop Mascarenhas did not specify any instance of interference, the Medium of Instruction issue that has been dominated the education scene in Goa comes to mind. A number of schools managed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education and the Diocesan Society of Education receive grants for the primary sections which have English as the medium of instructions.
While parents, under the banner of FORCE have been demanding that the cabinet approval to these grants be converted into legislation to make it official and binding, another group BBSSM has been demanding that grants to these schools be stopped.
Bishop Mascarenhas is also Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi and hails from Goa. He is a member of the Missionaries of the St Francis Xavier, popularly known as the Pilar priests.
