Why should the priests lead their flock to the Gram Sabha?

Letter To Editor Published in GT, 4/5/2013 This is in reference to the views expressed in the article "Who to blame for Goa mess?" (GT,02/05/2013), wherein the author advises Church bodies about their role in driving priests and the faithful to attend Gram Sabha meetings. It would be futile if people are just herded to the Gram Sabha meetings if, like the author herself, they do not have mental clarity on the structures of Government and their roles and responsibilities. It is exactly the lack of such clarity on issues of governance that result in 'Mob Fests' at Gram Sabha meetings as is being alleged by the author. It is not known how the CM's suggestion for a plebiscite is going to remedy the confusion and ignorance prevailing in Goan society which the author herself has apprehensions about. The author needs to understand that in an institution like the Church, there are defined structures just as in Government with clearly defined roles and boundaries. Being an enlightened member of the Church herself, the author should have understood the roles and limitations of the various Church Bodies. Parish priest and and their assistants are transferable every 5 years and have a lot of spiritual as well as administrative responsibilities which are often not visible to the public. As an enlightened and capable citizen and a member of the catholic Church, what stops the author to assume lay leadership and lead the people of her village at the Gram Sabha meetings? Why should a priest only be required to lead his flock to the Gram Sabha meeting in an era when the emphasis in the Catholic Church is about the laity assuming a greater role? Or, is it the BJP influence of communalising issues doing the talking? -Soter