Representatives of eight Catholic parishes met at Dadar on Sunday to voice their concern about alleged sale of church properties in Mumbai.
Representatives of eight Catholic parishes met at Dadar on Sunday to voice their concern about alleged sale of church properties in Mumbai. They asked for changes in current church property laws that gave parish priests exceptional decision making powers in property issues and demanded that parishioners also get a greater say.
Participants at the gathering at St Antonio D’Silva Hall in Dadar said that existing rules that gives the parish priests unchallenged powers on property matters should go. “The sole trustee norm that is followed is responsible for the loss of church property,” said Greg Pereira, Association of Concerned Catholics. “We are seeking greater transparency in property deals.”
Daphne Warrapen, secretary, Association of Concerned Catholics and a member of St Vincent de Paul church in Khar said that senior officials in the church hierarchy don’t seem to be aware about what is happening in the parishes. “We feel that there is no synchronisation between local parishes and the higher hierarchy. We want transparency,” said Warrapen.
Over the last few years, there have been allegations of illegalities in properties belonging to Our Lady of Salvation Church (Portuguese Church), Dadar, St Michael’s Church, Mahim and other parishes in Borivli, Malad and Mazgaon. Last month, the archbishop of Bombay ordered an inquiry into alleged irregularities in property deals made by a Malad church.
Pereira said they were not opposing the sale of church property. “We are not against the sale, if it is for a good purpose. Many of these properties were donated to the church by our ancestors for the community’s use,” said Pereira who said that the land could be used to create housing for community members who are forced to move to distant suburbs because they cannot afford homes in the city.
“Parish priests get transferred in a short time and they are responsible for the property only for a short time. There should be some kind of a permanent system to take care of property matters,” said Warrapen.
“We are not trying to interfere. We are concerned and want greater vigilance in church property matters.”
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