A Conference on Role of Laity in the Church affairs held at Don Bosco Hall Mangalore

By Jes Pinto
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 31 Jan 2013: A day’s Conference of Indian Christian Laity was held in Mangalore at the Don Bosco Hall by Indian Christian Laity Forum.  Presiding over the meeting Justice M.F Saldanha said that all Church properties are existing because of Contributions and donations given by laymen . The Clergy or Priests as they are called by laymen have not Contributed anything to build crores of assets. Yet today it is 0.25 % Priests claim ownership of all properties and dictate terms , sell lands as they please and quote Canon law forgetting , Bible, Charity, Brotherhood  Humanity.

 

 
 
Fr. Joseph Mattam, S.J  who is founder and dean of Vidya Deep Seminary in Gujarat explained how since 3rd Century Church has deviated from the path sketched out by Jesus Christ and Created a hierarchy, which was not envisaged by Christ. Till 3rd Century nobody was called as Fr. Or Priest all were equal as brothers . Present Church is not built on Love and Brotherhood . It is built on rituals and dogmas . He suggested to the laity to arrange regular meetings of this type and keep the reformation efforts alive. 
Consistency , Continuity and Perseverance will Succeed.

 

Fr. John Fernandes whose speech was read , in his absence reiterated the thoughts of Fr. Mattam and said people or laity should organize themselves and insists on implementation of Vatican II declaration made by the Pops 50 years back , in which Pope has clearly spelt out that all temporal issues should be handled by the laity and not the clerics. False fears should be done away with Laity should not be afraid to talk the truth even if it hurts others.