Mangalore, Jan 2,2013: The Indian Christian Laity Forum will be holding a conference at Don Bosco Hall in Mangalore on January 26 in order to create an awareness among the masses regarding the alleged misuse of power and authority by Christian clergy. Fr Joseph Mattam SJ from Baroda will be the key-note speaker at the function.
This was informed to reporters here on January 2, Wednesday by PB D’Sa, Founder Member of the Forum.
D’Sa further alleged that priests have been acting like dictators and that people were being evicted from places like Bajjodi and Maroli at the behest of the priests.” In some places people are threatened by stating baptimism and other ceremonies will not be performed in their families, he added.
David D’Souza, President of the Forum who also spoke, accused the Christian clergy of wrongly claiming authority over church properties. He said clergy should restrict itself to performing religious rituals.