Be on the watch against communal discord: Archbishop (Herald)

December 31, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM : Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão today highlighted the need to be continuously on the alert against anything that can cause communal tension or hatred, saying that such activity is usually politically motivated and “strikes at the very root of our integrity as a people and a nation.” Stressing on freedom of religion and inter-religious dialogue and understanding, he said that these were sometimes unscrupulously trodden underfoot by the powers that be for selfish gains, and this contributed to the deterioration of the social fabric of a nation or a state. “Sadly, we have experienced such tensions in our own state, so famous for its communal harmony and bonhomie,” the archbishop said while addressing a distinguished gathering at the annual civic reception on the occasion of Christmas at the Archbishop’s House. He also said that the government could count on the church support in any initiatives taken to promote the development of human resources and communities, and the conservation and responsible use of land; but added a rider – “within acceptable standards and safeguarding ethical principles” – and pointed out that governments should treat “mother earth” with respect and “not exploit her as an object for the economic gain of a few.” Present were the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Souza, cabinet ministers, MLAs, MPs, members of the judiciary, top adminstrative officials, police, defence personnel, and consular authorities. Saying that it was Jesus who helped create an environment where human beings can worship God in freedom and according to their convictions, opening the way for freedom of religion and for inter-religious dialogue and understanding, he stressed that these values constitute “a most cherished sacred heritage of humankind which is sometimes unscrupulously trodden underfoot by the powers that be for selfish gains, contributing to the deterioration of the social fabric of a nation or a state and of cherished human and democratic values.” “We need to be continuously on the alert against anything that can cause communal tension or hatred, for such activity, which usually is politically motivated, strikes at the very root of our integrity as a people and a nation,’ he said. “We believe that Christ came precisely to give us this liberation and to enable us to live as a community, having not each one’s good but the common good at heart,’ he said adding, “When we learn to live as gifts to others, we learn the pure joy of reaching out to those who are marginalized and despised by society, because we discover that they too have the same human dignity that we would like others to recognize in us.” Speaking on conservation he said that the “created world is holy” and it has been “entrusted to our stewardship to be used in ways that will bring glory and honour to the all-holy Creator.” Arguing that the church had dedicated two previous pastoral years to the spreading of awareness about the ecology and environment, “in the hope that our citizens and also people in governance would treat mother earth with the respect that she deserves and not exploit her as an object for the economic gain of a few.” He extorted all to remember that it is only when we all join hands with one another and together work for the genuine development of our people and of our land that we shall be able to conquer the demons of selfishness and greed and help liberate our people from all types of shackles that bind them, so that they may enjoy a better quality of life on this earth. http://heraldgoa.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Be-on-the-watch-against-communal-discord-Archbishop/83739.html 'Be on alert against causes of communal tension in Goa' TNN | Dec 31, 2013, 02.27 AM IST PANAJI: Archbishop patriarch Felipe Neri Ferrao on Monday stressed the need to be on the alert against causes of communal tension in Goa and assured the church's support to initiatives for promoting the integral development of people and protection of the environment. Delivering his Christmas message to an audience comprising Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza, ministers, MLAs, MPs, bureaucrats, businessmen and citizens, Ferrao also called for unity because "only when we all join hands with one another and together work for the genuine development of our people and of our land that we shall be able to conquer the demons of selfishness and greed and help liberate our people from all types of shackles that bind them, so that they may enjoy a better quality of life on this earth," Ferrao said. Reminding that Goa has experienced communal tension in the past, he stressed the need to be continuously on the alert against anything that can cause communal hatred, which usually is politically motivated, adding that it "strikes at the very root of our integrity as a people and a nation." Ferrao spoke of the ongoing work of the Church for upliftment of the downtrodden, in the fields of education, health care or socio-economic development. He also assured the government authorities that they can "count on the sincere and responsible collaboration of the Church in Goa in any initiatives taken to sincerely promote the integral development of human persons and communities, of course, within acceptable standards and safeguarding ethical principles." The archbishop said the collaboration would extend also to the conservation and the responsible use of our God-given earth. "The created world is holy and it has been entrusted to our stewardship to be used in ways that will bring glory and honour to the all-holy creator." Ferrao hoped that "our citizens and also people in governance would treat mother earth with the respect that she deserves and not exploit her as an object for the economic gain of a few." The programme included singing of Christmas carols, a glimpse into the life of Pope Francis and a tea party. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Be-on-alert-against-causes-of-communal-tension-in-Goa/articleshow/28157498.cms