The Clergy And Politics – Personal Reflections By Averthanus D’Souza

Panjim, Goa, June 14, 2007, 13.25 Hrs (CBCI News):

Because of the rather large population of Catholics in Goa – approx. 30% - the local political dynamics take on a special flavour. There is supposedly a “Catholic vote bank” which the major political parties take into consideration when they formulate their policies and when they plan their election strategies. While it is true that a large proportion of the electorate is composed of Catholics, it is incorrect to assume that the Catholics constitute a “vote bank.” This is quite evident from the fact that Catholics are members of (or support) a variety of political parties. Apart from the major national parties, there are several small “local” parties (sometimes referred to as “regional” parties) which have enjoyed the support of the Catholics.

In the recent past, it became evident that the Congress Party became complacent about the so-called “Catholic vote,” assuming that the Catholics would vote Congress because of its secular credentials. In contrast, the BJP (the Bharatiya Janata Party) went out of its way to project its own so-called “secular” image by giving prominent positions to Catholics. In order to promote the myth that the Catholics supported the BJP because of its “secular” character, the BJP used subterfuges and tricks to attract the support of Catholics. At the time of the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque in Ayodhya, the BJP went to the extent of organizing a march starting from the island of Divar which was led by a prominent, senior Catholic legal luminary. This Senior Advocate later denounced the BJP and made a public announcement that he was misinformed about the real purpose of the march, and that he was duped into believing that it was a march to commemorate Goa’s freedom. He went on record to state that if he had been told that the march was intended to culminate in the demolishing of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, he would never have consented to participate in it. On another occasion, a Catholic Member of the Legislative Assembly was projected as being a member of the BJP. When the BJP government was in a crisis, his signature was forged on an application form asking for primary membership of the Party. When this MLA publicly declared that he had no truck with the BJP, he was physically removed from the Assembly during one of its sessions.

In the midst of all these political manoeuvrings the clergy of Goa (as also of other Dioceses) are faced with some difficult choices when it comes to advising their parishioners about making judicious political choices. There is a clear distinction between political principles which are adopted by the different Political Parties and practical politics as exercised by these parties. The Ecclesiastical authorities are very careful to issue guidelines of an “ethical” nature which will assist the ordinary Catholic to understand the issues which are at stake. At no point, and under no circumstance does the Church exhort its faithful to choose any one particular party over another; or one particular candidate over another. The freedom of conscience of the Catholic citizen is always scrupulously respected. The guidelines issued are only meant to be “guidelines” - not directives. It happens, only too frequently, that individual Catholics look to their pastors for advice on the way that they should cast their vote. The Ecclesiastical authorities are very explicit that in these circumstances, the priests should exercise extreme caution so as not to influence the lay Catholics towards one political party or another. As pastors, they are expected to offer ethical guidance – not political directives. In spite of this, Goa has seen some of the clergy openly canvassing for a particular candidate or for a particular political party. There are even reports that these priests (mis)use the pulpit to air their own personal political preferences. Such behaviour can only harm the unity of the Catholic community and divide the parishioners along political lines The primary role of a pastor is to foster communal harmony and to unite the people on the basis of basic ethical values. A priest should be seen – first and foremost – as a “pastor” rather than as a political or social scientist.

The question which has arisen, and which is agitating many Catholics is whether a priest should actively accompany a candidate during his house to house visits to canvass support; or whether a priest should publicly bless the election office of a particular candidate who is aspiring to be elected to the Legislative Assembly. In spite of the “official” guidelines from the Ecclesiastical authorities which indicate otherwise, priests have been known to openly canvass for particular candidates or for particular political parties. One prominent priest even declared in public that he is a citizen first and then a priest, which entitles him to make known his political preferences and to support a particular candidate for elections.

We are in a rather delicate area of pastoral leadership, and there is need for the presbyterium to take up this problem for discussion and arrive at an understanding which will not scandalize the ordinary Catholics.

We cannot avoid, at this stage, to state that Catholic Social Teaching clearly enunciates that there are political (and economic and social) ideologies which are contrary to the Gospel, and which, therefore, cannot be approved or condoned under any circumstances. The Popes, from Leo XIII right down to Pope John Paul II have clearly enunciated the principles which should govern the public lives of Catholics. Unfortunately, and this is strikingly true of Goa, the many Catholics who are prominent in political and public life are either ignorant of Catholic Social Teaching, or practise practical politics which are in gross contradiction to this Teaching.

Averthanus L. D’Souza
D-13, La Marvel Colony
Dona Paula, Goa 403 004
Tel: (0832) 2453628