Panaji: Priest in Election Fray - Church Administration Uncomfortable

Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji (SP)

Panaji, Jan 12: The decision of Fr Bismark Dias (47), a priest from Goa, to contest the coming assembly poll scheduled for February this year, has created embarrassment for the heads of churches. Fr Dias has announced his decision to fight the election from Cumbarjuvem assembly constituency.

Jagrut Gaonkaracho Ekvot, a socio-political organization, has pledged its support to the priest. Fr Dias says he is aware that church rules forbid him from fighting elections, and that he is awaiting official communication in this regard from the church heads. A senior priest feels that churches will not be able to stop Bismark from fighting the coming poll.

Fr Dias, a graduate from St Xavier College in Mumbai, entered religious service in 1996. Major part of his service has been in Goa. Fr Dias, who took sides with the villagers and criticized the sale of an island, which was owned by the church, to a real estate firm, was asked not to deliver religious discourses or sermons to those attending the church.

Fr Dias however, feels that there is no difference between the service at the church and service to the public. “Mining and regional development projects are damaging the environment of Goa. There is a need to build a clean political culture in the state to stop the state from suffering irreparable environment damage,” he feels.