In the Herald dated 17th of this month, on page No. 5, there appeared a news item which says: “Parents confront school head over lottery sale”. The incident taken place in Chandor where according to the report, parents of the students of St.Joseph’s Educational Institute, Chandor, strongly protested against the school for forcing the students to sell the Christmas Hamper Lotteries otherwise they will not be accepted back in the school. The pressure on the students of selling these Lotteries was so high that some of these students even having no other choice started begging with the people to purchase these Lotteries. The parents of the students reprimanded the School authorities saying “we are sending our children to the school to study and not to beg” and also not to sell these Lotteries.
I strongly protest over this type of policies implemented by our Schools mainly the diocesan. Some time back in my locality our Diocesan school gave Lotteries to the students and put heavy pressure on them to sell these lotteries by all means. One school girl when she approached some young boys with a plea to purchase some lotteries, one of the boys said “Not some lotteries but I will buy the whole book provided you allow me to have sex with you. Having no choice the young girl showed thru her body language, inclination to surrender to the lust of the boy who volunteered to buy the whole book. But her friend and collegue prevented her from falling into the sin.
Likewise, during the same time in one household there were 3 students who were given 3 lottery books by the school and since these students coming from the poverty stricken parentage, they were along with their parents were shattered because they neither could sell three books nor were able to absorb these books for them by paying the money from their own pocket because they were very poor.
It is very disturbing and disgracing on the part of our Dicocesan schools and nuns convents too to act like leeches to suck the blood of the poor. I don’t know in what way they are following the path given by Jesus Christ. These schools are receiving lot of money as rent for the school premises from the government when the investment in the building of these schools from the diocese is Nil. These schools including from my locality were built thru the fund raised by the locals. Inspite of having such a vast amount in the kitty of diocesan schools, I can’t understand why these diocesan schools are taxing the people for more and more money? Besides, the Churches attached to these schools are getting average 50,000 rupees as weekly collection. Can’t they utilize some money from this fatty collection for any necessity instead of making the students beggars and whores? Is this the way our Goa Church under the current Bishop Neri Ferrao dignify our children?
There is no transparency of where the money collected thru weekly collection is going. Some say it is going for the luxuries of the local priests such as purchasing of luxurious vehicles, for drinks and for their mistresses. Some say it is going for the extravaganza of the Panjim Altinho where against Christian principles they live the life of feudal lords. !! If this is correct, then can we respect these priests and bishop? If you see the limousine of the big man of Altinho you will say that his Jesus Christ was born not in the stable surrounded by the animals but in the Palace with all the Worldly luxuries. Further, time will come I think slowly the Church leaders will issue a statement saying that the Jesus Christ came from very rich parents with all the luxuries and befitting His status all the clergy and Bishops must live. As it is the current Pope has come out with the changes in the prayer of Jesus Christ “Our Father” as if all those learned people running the affairs of the Church for the last 2000 years were idiots.
Meantime, my advice to the parents not to rely your children especially the young girls into the hands of priests who for the sake of money may even dole their young female students to those who sell out money and more money for the church run schools and activities. Many of the current priests are become worldly, they want to lead the life of Maharajas. Our Church in Goa is least bothered to provide protection for us, the Catholics when our Church is so rich. What use our Church is making of its vast land and huge financial “pottlo”? If at this moment our Church in Goa fails us then we as Catholic community will be failed. Church as our guardian has to take responsibility for our protection in all respects because our enemies are making preparation to liquidate us and along with us the Catholicsm as well from our soil. But still I think our Church will never think something good for us, our Church will go on putting constant pressure on us to dole out money for them to do this and to do that. On the contrary our Church leaders and Clergy will say “makham kiteak poddlam tem”. This is happening because our Church is in the hands of Corrupt people. People must stop as a first step to put money in the collection tray on every Sundays and Holidays because this money is utilized for filthy luxuries by the priests who because of this money flow are tempted to indulge in sinful luxuries.
A.Veronica Fenandes.