TEAM HERALD
CURCHOREM: A senior group of parishioners of Guardian Angel Church, Curchorem, have strongly criticised diocesan authorities for asking the deputy collector to take strict action against those responsible for confronting a senior diocese official at the church on September 15.
Refuting allegations that they had ‘gheraoed’ Episcopal Vicar (South) Fr Lucio Dias for almost three hours, besides creating ‘law and order’ problem, the parishioners on Friday warned diocesan authorities that they would not be subdued by threats and are “prepared to go to any extent to unearth the truth and get justice for Fr James Torres e Silva.”
Speaking to reporters on Friday evening, Parish Pastoral Council Moderator Desmond Cardozo issued a statement in the presence of Confraria President Anthony Menezes, Church Bulletin Editor Paxiao Pereira, former Confraria president William Fernandes, former Fabrica treasurer Leonard Pereira, parishioners Mathew D’Costa, Prisca Fernandes and Olga Fernandes.
Responding to the diocese’s claim that the archbishop is the only competent authority to send a suitable priest to any parish, as per the needs of the church, Cardozo asked: “Who decides about the needs of the church? Are parishioners not part of the church? Can we think of the needs of the church, without considering the needs of the parishioners, who collectively form the church?”
“It may be true that Fr James had himself asked to be relieved. But what are the circumstances that led him to take such a step? Since he took charge of the parish, Fr James has been subjected to mental torture and trauma.”
Claiming there had been no support from the Fabrica committee, Cardozo asked: “Was the diocesan authority not aware that a Fabrica committee member was not signing cheques and attempted to totally paralyze the functioning of the church? Fr James bore all hardship anticipating that the Fabrica committee would be changed at the end of their tenure in March.”
“However, this was not done and the diocesan authority tried to justify their action by saying the accounts have not been approved. If the treasurer refuses to finalise or sign accounts, was it not the Diocesan authority’s responsibility to direct the treasurer to cooperate or resign,” asked Cardozo.
Cardozo alleged that during a meeting of parishioners in June, “Fr James informed that one superior at the Archbishop’s House had accused him of creating division and ruining peace in the parish. Fr James was very upset at this false allegation. Did the diocesan authority try to verify these accusations by consulting parishioners?”
Commenting on allegations that parishioners had ‘gheraod’ Fr Dias, Cardozo clarified: “Fr Dias was confronted by parishioners after Mass on September 15, as he announced that 200-300 parishioners had attended the meeting of parishioners on September 9, although a list of 802 signatures was attached to the memorandum submitted to the archbishop.”
“We wish to warn the diocesan authority that no such threats will affect parishioners, who are prepared to go to any extent to unearth the truth and get justice for Fr James,” Cardozo added.
Commenting on the diocese’s request to the deputy collector to act against those who had held Fr Lucio hostage, Cardozo said: “why did the diocesan authority not show the same eagerness to pursue the cases of the Rs 30 lakh lottery scam, desecration of statues and graves at the cemetery?”
“We wish to state that if our request to reinstate Fr James as parish priest and the new Fabrica committee is not appointed immediately, we shall resort to a chain hunger strike in front of the church until the diocesan authority accedes to our request,” reiterated Cardozo.
