Goa Archbishop Fr Filipe Neri Ferrão on Monday gave a thumbs up to the BJP-led coalition Government for maintaining a harmonious State-Church relationship, even as he expressed concerned about minorities in the rest of the country in wake of emerging signs of communal discord.
Ferrao was speaking at the annual function organised at the Bishop’s Palace in Panaji, which was attended by all the top political, bureaucratic and social dignitaries in the State.
“In recent times, however, we are observing certain signs which are causing grave concern, particularly to the minorities, and which threaten to break down the fibre of our nation,” Ferrao said.
Ferrao was all praise for the Goa Government for maintaining harmonious Church-State relationship especially in organising the decennial exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier.
“All this organisation (for the Exposition of St. Francis Xavier) and allocation of funds were at first planned and presided over by Manohar Parrikar, our former Chief Minister, and is now diligently being followed up by the present CM Parsekar. For all this great work, we would like to take this opportunity to express our profound apreciation and gratitude to our Government,” Ferrao said.