Panaji:
A growing number of Catholics are
demanding a law to govern Church properties and greater transparency in their
management.
Christians
are just 2.5 per cent of India’s population, but the Church “suffers from a
case of plenty", says Remy Denis, All India Catholic Union President.
“Church
authorities control funds equivalent to the Indian Navy’s annual budget. The
Church is also the second largest employer after the government,” he said.
“The
Church is not a symbol of power but service, and democratic laws must apply to
it equally…,” Eduardo Faleiro, Goa Non Resident Indian Commissioner, told a
press conference.
The
conference was called to debate the matter of bringing Church properties under
state laws.
Faleiro
said Church properties in Goa are governed by laws enacted during Portuguese
regime but the same laws have long since been repealed in Portugal.
Almost
all other religions in India have laws enacted to administer their properties,
K T Thomas, former Supreme Court judge, said.
Hindu
temples are governed by laws specifically enacted for each trust and their
accounts are subject to judicial review. The Sikhs, one of the smallest
religious groups in the country, have the Sikh Gurudwara Act. Muslim trust
properties comes under the Wakf Act.
He
alleged that the head of the Believers Church had recently acquired a huge
plantation in Kerala for 1.2 billion rupees.
Clearing
apprehensions, Thomas said all religious denominations have the right to own
and acquire properties, establish and maintain religious institutions.
“But,
in matters of administration of your properties you have to abide by the law,”
he said.
Source:
Deccan
Herald News Service
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteArticle 26 of Indian constitution asserts-‘ FREEDOM TO MANAGE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS-Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section there of shall have the right –
ReplyDeletea) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes;
b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion;
c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and
d) to administer such property in accordance with law.’
Law means law of the state which constituted by the legislative assembly or parliament. That means the country should constitute a law to govern the property of the churches, at the earliest. More over any public property should be transparent,accountable and audited. It has nothing to do with the faith which is a mask for illegal and immoral activities. If a law comes into force enabling a legal body governing church property, many of the illegal activities of the priests and bishops can either be terminated or punished. In fact they claim to be following asceticism. Then how they can manipulate wealth and it at their will! above all, in the case of church properties, Pope is the owner. It is an utter shame to the nation to allow this in a socialist, sovereign, democratic republic. Is our country still a colony of Vatican?
George Joseph k.,
Chairman, KCRM
9747304646/9633658584/8891595100
Article 26 of Indian constitution asserts- ‘FREEDOM TO MANAGE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS-Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section there of shall have the right –
ReplyDeletea) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes;
b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion;
c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and
d) to administer such property in accordance with law.’
Law means law of the state which constituted by the legislative assembly or parliament. That means the country should constitute a law to govern the property of the churches, at the earliest. More over any public property should be transparent,accountable and audited. It has nothing to do with the faith which is a mask for illegal and immoral activities. If a law comes into force enabling a legal body governing church property, many of the illegal activities of the priests and bishops can either be terminated or punished. In fact they claim to be following asceticism. Then how they can manipulate wealth and it at their will! above all, in the case of church properties, Pope is the owner. It is an utter shame to the nation to allow this in a socialist, sovereign, democratic republic. Is our country still a colony of Vatican?