PANJIM: In his Workers’ Day message, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrão has said that the Church in Goa is always alert to the ever-changing social situations and responds to them through relevant action in every possible way to uphold the Gospel values of love, justice and equality.
One of the issues the Church in Goa is constantly addressing is ‘the condition of workers,’ says a statement issued by the Archbishop.
The vision statement of the strategic plan of the Ministry of Labour and Employment of the central government for the next five years looks at “decent working conditions and improved quality of life of workers, ensuring an India without child labour in hazardous sectors and enhancing employability through employment services and skill development on a sustainable basis,” the statement says.
The Archbishop says that the Church in Goa has been working to eliminate child labour and to see that all children up to the age of 14 years get suitable opportunities for schooling. The statement also cites Pope Benedict XVI who states that in many cases, “poverty results from a violation of the dignity of human work, either because work opportunities are limited or because a low value is put on work and the rights that flow from it, especially the right to a just wage and to the personal security of the worker and his or her family.” The Archbishop has called upon people to strive to uphold the rights of every human being through ethical and moral living: safeguarding the birthright of every human person, that is his or her dignity, making the aim of civil society the ‘common good of all,’ ensuring that specially workers in the unorganised sector receive just wages, adequate rest, recreation, health care for themselves and dependent family members and a share in the fruits of their labour; supporting them in their freedom to act within the law to form associations and enlightening them to adhere to work ethics, use their earnings judiciously, refrain from all addictions and all forms of violence and ensure the safety of the property of their employer.
Archbishop statement is for public consumption. We know what he pays for his workers who work in the churches like the Sancristian etc. in Goa. Since he lives in the Palace at Altinho he doesn't have the opportunity to know the difficulties of his staff. I know how he is served his food in his palace and by whom. It's a five star hotel. Ofcourse because i say this he will say I am anti Christian. Anyway your Highness, I am ready to go to Hell to speak the truth.
ReplyDelete@A to Z, I won't mind joining you in hell and tell the readers here that you are absolutely right. The Bishop wakes up from deep slumber only when he wishes or is influenced by the politicians. He is too happy to be portrayed by all the daily newspapers of Goa sighting a picture with the Corrupt Chief Minister of Goa at Christmas, Easter and other festivities in a joint greeting session that upgrades the status of the Corrupt Cowmuth as his closeness to the Bishop is portrayed in a picture to influence Christians for votes. The Bishop palace is a fortress where ordinary faithful won't be able to meet or see the Bishop to vent his or her grievances if any. It is easy to meet the Chief Justice of India by appointment but not the Bishop. I speak of my own experience a few years ago when I wanted to meet for the cause of my friend but three trips were futile since either he could not keep up the appointment because of his unscheduled trip to US or Europe or something cropped up unexpectedly. My appointment or meeting me and others was less important. The previous Bishop was known for meeting people if only he was told that someone came to Deliver Black label.
ReplyDeleteBishop issues statements when it suits him or to influence the interests of certain politicians but otherwise dumb and blind like Fr. Maverick. When the Palace itself is involved in selling Communidade land, whom shall we call for salvation of our land? I know that the Secretary of the Bishop palace reads Niz Goenkar and am sure that I will be also be called a "infidel". How does it sounds?
Dalia thank you. You said it all for me. I fell short only because of Jesus. Mea Culpa.
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