RTI: Rights and Wrongs - For the Eyes of Goans Only

Very Beautiful Letters to the Herald.

Church out of RTI scope By Joaquim de Souza

The reported move by Antonia Michelle Abel to seek to bring the office of the Archbishop under the preview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act appears to be out of lack of understanding of the purpose behind the Act.

First and foremost, one must understand that there are civil laws for the enforcement of which there are several bodies appointed and financed by the central and state governments. The Church, on the other hand, is governed by Canon laws regulating the spiritual needs of its faithful. The central or state governments have no say whatsoever in the formulation or enforcement of the laws of the Church.

The Church is an independent body with its own rules and regulations, and transparency is part of its religious teaching. Any attempt to bring the provisions of the RTI Act to the Office of the Archbishop would amount to unwanted interference in the religious affairs of the Church.

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Absurd suggestion by Col Cyril P D'Souza (Retd), Calangute
This is with reference to the news report on bringing the Bishop’s office under the RTI Act (Herald, 28 July). It is surprising that Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza, who heads the panel, should have even entertained Antonia Michel Abels' strange request, which is absurd, insulting and recommends an invasion into the independent and secular functioning of the Church in Goa.
Ms Abel has made ridiculous suggestions about Portuguese laws, culture and customs, which we Goans have so uniquely imbibed and follow for centuries together. We are very proud of our culture and traditions. In fact, it is our unique culture which binds and brings us Goans together, no matter what faith or creed we belong to, unlike other states that constantly experience communal riots and tensions instigated by communal outfits and parties.

Thankfully, by clarifying that neither his panel nor his party want to bring the Church under RTI, Mr D’Souza has set the record straight. I hope the Mapusa MLA realises that he also represents a sizeable number of Catholics and other Goans from his constituency, and shouldn’t give in to mischievous suggestions like that of Antonia, maybe because she is his constituent. Instead of directing such queries to the Law Department, he can guide and direct such those who make such silly suggestions to the Commission for Social Communications set up by the Goa Archdiocese.

With reference to the letter by Francis A Soares (Herald, 31 July) claiming it is wise to bring the Bishops ' office under the RTI Act, he claims that old churches are renovated with funds from the government, which is absolutely wrong. Only those churches, temples and other heritage sites that have been acquired by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are entitled to repairs and maintenance. The Bishop cannot move a stone from these structures without permission from the ASI. All other churches have their own governing bodies to look after the affairs of the church.

People like Mr Soares should take more interest in church affairs, to see how they function. He too can get all the information he wants from the Commission for Social Communications of the Goa Archdiocese.

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Embarrassment! By Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo

The Ad hoc Legislature Committee on Law and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have stated clearly that they are not interested in bringing the Office of the Archbishop Patriarch of Goa and Daman under the purview of the RTI Act, in a press release. However, the suggestion by Antonia Michelle Abel to the ad hoc committee appears to be in self interest.

Exactly a year back, a politician of yesteryear had attempted to bring Church properties under the purview of state law. He later backed out realising his mistake. Interestingly, both interested parties are from the same religious background, but probably not aware of the functioning of the Church. They have needlessly embarrassed the Catholic community.


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Who is Antonia? By Schubert S Vaz, Guirim

One Antonia Michel Abel has requested that the Office of the Archbishop should be brought under the purview of the RTI Act. Her request does not make sense. The Bishop has nothing to do with the Law and Judiciary Department.
Why is this lady interfering in Church affairs? If she has the guts, let her go directly to the Bishop’s Palace and talk. Nobody has stopped her from approaching any Church authority. She can even approach any Catholic priest for guidance. Going directly to the Legislative Assembly suggests hidden motives. But why did some of our Hon’ble MLAs buckle at her suggestion? We Goan Catholics wish to know who this lady is. What are her credentials, what are her real motives, and why is she so obsessed with the Church in Goa? Who is she instigated by? Is she the same lady who was last seen moving around with a famous historian-turned-agnostic who constantly writes hate literature on the Catholic Church from his cosy flat in Lisbon? Will the real Antonia Michel Abel please stand up!