Reconciliation Day
GOOD Friday is the day we commemorate the death of Lord Jesus Christ. Though many Catholics follow the traditions of doing their Lenten confessions and following the season faithfully, there are a few who look for total reconciliation by way of fasting and penance. There are also those who have excluded themselves from the Church and the parish, for reasons best known to them. As the Novena of the Divine Mercy begins on Good Friday, this should be an occasion for the Church to observe Holy Saturday as Reconciliation Day and visit those people who have been excluded from the Church. They are the Lost Sheep, which the Good Shepherd (parish priests) has to go out to look for. The Church should strive to bring them back, thus making the season of Easter even more meaningful.
CAJETAN PETER D’SOUZA, Mumbai
Illegal Shrines
ONLY recently, hundreds of illegal structures within the 200-metre CRZ ‘No development zone’ were demolished by some village panchayats, in accordance with the directives of the Mumbai bench of the Goa High Court, causing untold misery to the lives of the fishing community in Goa. A few hundred more illegal structures within the 200-500 metre high tide line are also awaiting a similar fate in the near future. So, why is the Goa government reluctant to demolish the 832 plus illegal shrines on government land, identified by the recent survey undertaken as per the Supreme Court’s orders? Mumbai too faced a similar problem with the mushrooming of illegal shrines by the road sides on municipal land, but the BMC managed to tackle the problem with commendable grit and determination, even in the face of stiff opposition from some religious quarters. The modus operandi was very simple and straightforward. Prior to demolition, notices were sent to the heads of various religions, requesting them to shift their disputed shrines to places within their premises to avoid future embarrassment. While some were graceful enough to comply, several shrines which had no claimants were left at the mercy of the municipal bulldozers. We need to take a cue from the BMC and act with determination.
A F NAZARETH, Alto Porvorim
Mayawati’s Brazenness
MS Mayawati has been on a ‘currency-notes’-garlands-acceptance-spree’ and has been undeterred by criticism. What makes her so brazen in open display of pelf and power? The truth of the matter is that every other Indian politicians, irrespective of his/her party affiliation or standing, has his hands in the country’s honey pot. The people have got so very used to this brazen loot that it no longer shocks any one. True, Ms Mayawati is more brazen than others. But don’t forget–she owes her rise to power to political Aggressiveness. By her open display of power of wealth, she wants to show her people that those who rule/misrule from Delhi are as corrupt and dare not touch her for they had long ago mortgaged their sense of integrity in return for assurances of support for their continuance in power from people like her and even today they continue to be dependent on props and remain beholden to those who can offer these to them in times of need. Loot to your heart’s content for who knows what tomorrow will bring, appears to be the leitmotif of our entire political class.
RJ KHURANA, Bhopal
