NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The church in Goa has refuted reports of its involvement in the selection process of any candidate of any political party or in the drawing up of party strategies.
In a press note issued here by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, Archbishop’s House, Panaji said that some misleading and mischievous reports, statements and comments have been appearing in the print, electronic or social media with regard to the alleged involvement of the Catholic Church authorities in local politics, particularly in view of the forthcoming assembly elections in Goa.
The note further states, “We wish to categorically state hereby that the Church authorities in Goa are in no way involved in the selection process of any candidate of any political party or in the drawing up of party strategies, as it is being made to appear. In this regard, it is truly regrettable that a well-known politician should publicly accuse the Church authorities for opposing his nomination “tooth and nail,” without even seeking to cross-check with the same authorities the alleged information he claims to have received from his party higher-ups.”
A similar and rather wild and malicious accusation had been made some weeks ago on the social media that the Archbishop had convoked a meeting of some highly placed political leaders (followed by a “lavish dinner”) in order to plan out strategies against the leader of a certain recently-formed political party. The reported date of the alleged meeting-cum-dinner was November 20, when the Archbishop was actually out of Goa, on an official engagement in Kerala, the press note adds.
It further states, “We wish to reiterate that the Catholic Church authorities in Goa are deeply concerned about the well-being of the population of this state and the various dimensions of its life, including the socio-political dimension. In this connection, they have once again taken up their duty-bound task of guiding Catholics and people of good will on how to exercise their franchise according to their conscience during the forthcoming elections to the legislative assembly, without, however, promoting any particular candidate or political party.”
“Catholic priests have always been advised not to use the church platform to promote a given candidate or party. Nothing, however, impedes them from revealing to others whom they are personally going to vote for and why. Such disclosures will always remain personal and are not to be taken as the official position of the Church,” the press note concludes.