Velsao locals' fight over priest reaches Cansaulim

PANAJI: Tension prevailed in Cansaulim as a large group of parishioners from Velsao gathered outside St Thomas Church over the issue of allegations levelled against their former parish priest, Fr John D'Silva.
The parishioners also petitioned archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, urging him to initiate action to enable D'Silva to continue with his work in the Velsao parish, especially during the Lenten season.
"We are deeply disturbed over allegations against our parish priest by a few villagers due to which he is not with us in the parish," a parishioner told TOI on Sunday.
The parishioners had approached the dean of Verna deanery, who is also the parish priest at St Thomas Church. The parish of Our Lady of Assumpta comes under the Verna deanery.
A delegation of parishioners had long discussions with the dean, pleading with him to clear D'Silva's name, stating that the charges are baseless.
"We are disturbed at the false and malicious allegations being floated in the village against our parish priest," the parishioners stated in the petition to the archbishop.
D'Silva served in the Cansaulim parish for more than five years. "If they had anything against him, they could have appealed for his transfer then," a villager said.
The parishioners pointed out that the church is being brought to disrepute due to the baseless allegations. "It is a matter of record that D'Silva brought order and decorum to the parish and parishioners and there have been no grievances against him all these years," they said.
The parishioners appealed to the church authorities to allow D'Silva to resume his duties.