CM: Priests must use authority to guide people

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday that Christian priests and religious leaders — who wield a lot of influence — should appropriately use their authority to guide the Christian community. He also said that maintaining India’s secular fabric is the collective responsibility of all religious leaders.
Sawant, who was speaking at an event organised by Raj Bhavan to felicitate Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, said that Goa remains the best example of how all religious communities can peacefully coexist.
“It is the collective responsibility to maintain the social fabric, and to work towards achieving the glory of our motherland. It is in this regard that the role of priests and religious leaders gains prominence. Your word carries a lot of weightage in the mind of followers,” he said.
Speaking further, Sawant said that priests possess “power and authority” among the Christian faithful, which need to be used to guide society along the right path.
Sawant also said that minority communities enjoy equal rights and freedom in India. “Our Indian culture has always been inclusive. Today, India is a glorious example of unity in diversity, especially Goa, which is the best example of peaceful coexistence of the various faiths. Hindus, Christians, Muslims share a strong bond of mutual respect and brotherhood,” he said.
Sawant lauded the role played by Ferrao in Goa and urged him to continue to serve and guide the Christian community in Goa and Daman.