MARGAO: The parishioners of St Sebastian Church, Aquem, have taken a strong and serious exception to the order of Margao Municipal Council (MMC) asking St Sebastian Church to demarcate some portion of the church cemetery for burial or cremation of any person professing any faith.
The parishioners have called it a conspiracy of MMC to polarise the people on basis of religions, eyeing forthcoming elections.
The people allege that the MMC has not sought opinions from any religious community, before passing the order.
In an order passed on September 16 and signed by the chairperson and chief officer, the MMC has directed the church to demarcate an area, within the church cemetery, for burial or cremation of people belonging to any other faith.
Similar order has also been sent to the Mathagramastha Hindu sabha crematorium and the Sunni Jamat Ul-Muslameen Masjid of Malbhat Margao.
Vigilant parishioners intercepted four people who came asking for space for burial at the St Sebestian burial ground and when asked whether there is permission from the Church office the persons produced the order of the MMC.
The parishioners of Aquem asked the persons to leave and later found that the order was passed by the MMC.
“How can the Hindus provide burial ground and the Christians provide cremation space in b”rial ground?” asked Chris D’Costa.
“The parishioners have utmost reverence for persons of all faiths, but the cemetery being an integral part of the Roman Catholic Church, burial of persons of other faiths, is not permissible as per the Catholic tenets and sentiments of the Catholic community,” said the parishioners of Aquem.
“The said order is also passed without jurisdiction and powers and in complete violation of the law. Apparently, no hearing was given to the Church or the other religious institutions before passing the said Order,” pointed out Andrew Sequeira.
“The St Sebastian Cemetery is a cemetery owned by the St Sebastian Church, a minority religious institution, and the Margao Municipal Council has no control over the same, and has no right to dictate terms to the Church. The parishioners demand the immediate recall of the said order of the Margao Municipal Council, failing which we will be forced to hold a dharna in support of our cause,” said Sequeira.
“The MMC is responsible for providing burial/cremation grounds to the citizens, and cannot shirk its responsibility and impose the burden on the religious institutions,” parishioners said.
“This is done by the politicians and people are not going to be misled. We are making statement as parishioners and not on behalf of the church,” they said.
When contacted, MMC Chairperson Babita Angle said: “All municipalities were directed by the government to reserve burial place for persons not professing any faith. A few citizens also approached us to fulfil the request on humanitarian grounds. Provision of such space and infrastructure for the dead is a noble cause. It is with this in mind and to abide by the order of the government the MMC made the reservation of space.”
“In view of objections and apprehensions expressed by citizens and by religious organisations I have decided, in consultation with the CO, to revoke the order of reservation. As a human being, it pains me to revoke a humanitarian order. However, as a chairperson I respect the voice of people,” Angle said.
