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Kolkata’s popular Catholic principal resigns, reportedly to join BJP

Kolkata: A popular priest of Calcutta archdiocese has resigned as the principal of a prestigious school amid reports that he would soon join the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party.

Father Rodney Borneo, who was principal of Loyola High School for the past five years, on March 5 handed over resignation letter to Archbishop Thomas D Souza of Calcutta.

According to a report in The Times of India, Father Rodney, a household name in Kolkata’s Kidderpore area, is likely to join BJP soon.

The newspaper quoted Sabyasachi Dutta, the party’s state secretary, hailing Father Borneo as a person with exceptional qualities.

“We are about to induct Father Rodney on Wednesday (March 10), if all goes well. We will give him the responsibility of advising us on English medium education,” Dutta explained.

According to the report, Father Borneo prayed in the chapel before leaving the school on March 6 evening. At the same time, reports said the archdiocese was making efforts to hold him back.

“I have resigned and I have no right to stay on here. I have mentioned the reasons for which I was forced to take this step. I don’t wish to reveal them here because that is between me and the archdiocese,” Father Rodney told reporters.

Archbishop D’Souza responded to the news saying, “We follow rules and processes here. Even resignations and transfers cannot happen suddenly outside of a process. For me he is still the principal of Loyola School.”

Father Borneo’s letter to the archbishop complains about the “unwarranted interference” by the school managing committee’s secretary in his functioning as the head of institution.

The secretary’s “actions and inactions,” the letter adds, have put “the greater interest of thousands of students” in peril and that the priest was “left with no alternative but to tender my resignation.”

Father Borneo alleged that the school was not sanitized even once this year because of the secretary refusal to sanction funds.

“You will agree with me that this is absolutely necessary, not only in view of government circulars and mandates but also we owe a moral responsibility for the safety and security of our students who are left in our custody by their parents, trusting and believing that we will take all possible steps to ensure the safety of their wards,” the letter adds.

Father Borneo also said that he prayed over the matter and his conscience did not permit him to continue in his post as he was left helpless to address students’ interests and welfare.

The priest was not ready to speak about his joining party politics yet. “I have tried my best as a priest and a principal to stay true to my calling. If my trajectory changes, that will also be for the highest good. My aim is to be able to work for the greater good of humanity and whoever gives me an opportunity to do that, I will be with them,” he was quoted in the Times of India report.

Father Borneo was reportedly known to be close to the ruling Trinamool Congress. He had attended Mother Teresa’s canonization in Vatican with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Loyola High School, earlier known as St. Paul’s Secondary School, was started in 1961. In 1984, St. Paul’s Secondary School was renamed as Loyola High School..

Loyola High School functions under the rights and powers granted to religious and linguistic minorities of the Constitution of India (Art 29 and 30). The school is recognized by the Education Department, Government of West Bengal, under the Anglo Indian Board of West Bengal and affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.