" Father " Conrad Saldanha in the Mumbai Mirror


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" Father " Conrad Saldanha in the Mumbai Mirror

The Mumbai Mirror today carried a highly defamatory article, containing various allegations made by "Father " Conrad Saldanha, who insists on calling himself a Catholic priest, while being investigated by Church and Civil Authorities for allegedly serious criminal activities. " Father " Conrad Saldanha has claimed that the Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay has been harassing him and subjected him to inhuman conditions. The CSF understands that this is a bid by " Father " Conrad Saldanha with the help of his influential " Christian " friends to deflect action against him, as demanded by many, including a call to defrock him, in line with Pope Francis’ zero tolerance attitude.

It may be mentioned that the Vatican rejected " Father " Conrad Saldanha’s initial appeal. Hence, in what seems to many, to have the best of both worlds, " Father " Conrad Saldanha appealed for a second time, while continuing to look as if a priest, but refusing to subject himself to any Archdiocesan authority.

The Catholic Church, if anything, seems to be paying the price for reaching out to him in various ways, in true Christ-like spirit, which saddens us. The CSF stands by the Catholic Church and urges one and all to pray for " Father " Conrad Saldanha and his disciples, while forgiving them for the damage they have done to the Church and the community.

Please find below the Official Archdiocesan communication on the subject, which is being published simply because it did not make the news.

http://archdioceseofbombay.org/news/diocesan/press-response-fr-conrad-article-mumbau-mirror

Press response to Fr. Conrad article in the Mumbai Mirror


We are disappointed in the way that Mumbai Mirror has reported the case of Fr. Conrad. Inspite of providing the newspaper with a detailed reply, they have chosen to pick a few random statements to explain the situation regarding Fr. Conrad.

It is necessary here to first understand that Fr. Conrad has been uncooperative and uncommunicative with all who have tried to reach out to him from the very beginning, and one gets the impression that he is not interested in remedying the situation.

Since Fr. Conrad has gone public, we need to make a few points clear by way of background.

The Archdiocese received allegations of serious misconduct by Fr Conrad Saldanha. An inquiry was conducted and, based on the findings of the inquiry committee, appropriate remedial measures were imposed. These remedial measures included a guided retreat and therapeutic counselling in Bangalore. Both these remedial steps were to help Fr. Conrad reintegrate himself with the Church and the community he serves. Fr. Conrad, till date, has refused to accept and undertake these remedial measures. Instead, he has appealed to Rome against the decision. Rome (i.e. the Vatican) rejected the appeal. Fr Conrad has made a second appeal to a higher competent authority. This appeal is under due process and it would not be appropriate to comment on it.

With regard to some of the points raised by Fr. Conrad in the newspaper, we wish to state that if Fr. Conrad is really serious about resolving the issues he has raised, then he could have engaged in a dialogue with the competent authorities: the past or present Rector or Administrator of the Seminary. Since Fr Conrad did not approach the competent authorities of the Seminary, it was decided at a staff meeting to delegate a staff member to approach Fr Conrad on behalf of the Seminary and ask him if he had any requirements. When the staff member spoke to Fr Conrad about this, Fr Conrad replied, "I’ll see about it." Till date, Fr Conrad has not communicated his response to the staff member.

With regards to the cleaning of his room, we wish to put on record that, on numerous occasions, a person has been sent to clean Fr. Conrad’s room. Fr. Conrad refuses to open the door for the cleaning person and at times has made the person wait outside for over forty minutes. We wish to clarify that as priests we are called to serve and cleaning one’s own room is not demeaning or degrading in any way – every priest knows and is happy to take care of his personal surroundings, sometimes even over and above the basic requirements.

The photograph of the dirty washbasin says a lot about Fr. Conrad’s personal habits and hygiene.

Fr Conrad has definitely not been confined or restricted in his movements (the fact that he has engaged a personal lawyer and has been in contact with a newspaper bears this out!). He goes out as he pleases and does not inform the telephone operator when he will return. Hence, the operators are sometimes unable to tell a caller or guest whether he is in or out.

Fr Conrad does not inform the kitchen about when he will return and hence they are unable to gauge as to when he will take his meals.

As children, we are always taught not to waste food and so eating what is left over is something that comes quite naturally to all of us. The question of Fr. Conrad only being served leftover food is untrue as all the staff members and residents gladly finish the leftovers too. Fr. Conrad, on the other hand, eats before everyone one else and so enjoys first servings, not leftovers. He is invited on all festive occasions to join the Seminary staff for meals but has, so far, chosen not to join in.

Cardinal Gracias had made more than one attempt to reach out to Fr. Saldanha. For this, he met Fr. Saldanha in person in order to engage in an amicable dialogue and to ascertain if there was another place at which Fr. Saldanha would like to reside. The latter indicated that he would think about it. It seems evident that Fr.Conrad does not wish to resolve his situation as all attempts to reach out to him have been met with silence and at every meeting he has been uncommunicative and unresponsive.

It takes two to dialogue and resolve a situation. The Catholic Church and the authorities have reached out to Fr. Conrad. He needs to reciprocate in like manner.

Earlier News from Mumbai Mirror

‘Tortured’ city priest sends SOS to Vatican

Fr Conrad Saldanha was asked to spend a year at a Goregaon seminary after he was found guilty of misconduct. Over two years later, he continues to languish in deplorable conditions.

A Mumbai priest has written to the Vatican alleging "harassment and torture" at a Goregaon seminary after he "voiced concerns against wrongdoings within the system."

Fr Conrad Saldanha, who was asked to spend a year at Archdiocesan Seminary in Goregaon East after he was found guilty in a complaint of misconduct by two female parishioners, alleged he has not been given a posting in any church and forced to live in deplorable conditions even 2 years after the ruling.

Fr Saldanha, who was a priest for 12 years and was last posted at the Sacred Heart Church in Santa Cruz, immediately challenged the order with the Vatican, saying it was "vitiated" and that he was "not given an opportunity to defend himself."

While this was rejected, his second appeal to a higher authority is pending. He has detailed his situation at the seminary to the Vatican.

Fr Saldanha claimed he has been tortured and forced to live in sub-human conditions. He claimed he was confined to a room without a toilet, TV or internet despite the availability of cleaner and better rooms. He added he is served leftovers and has been banished from seminary activities.

"The staff has not cleaned my room in two years," said Fr Saldanha. "Three or four times they told me there was a vacancy, but they never shifted me. It took me a while to realise my room was isolated and others in the seminary have been asked not to contact me."

In response to questionnaires Mirror sent to the seminary rector and the archbishop, the press officer of the Mumbai Archdiocese said Fr Saldanha has not been denied any rights. The press officer denied he was confined and said the Cardinal had even deputed a Bishop to reach out to him to help resolve and remove any irritants.

Fr Saldahna, who has worked in churches at Dadar, Powai and Santacruz, said he always called out fellow priests who introduce their prejudices in their preaching. This, he said, did not go well and he was being targeted for being outspoken. He said he is served leftovers from the servants’ previous meal.

"I am served leftovers at the brothers’ mess on the ground floor while priests eat on the third floor," he said.

"I have to eat all alone in the mess, and many a time even the table is not cleaned. In the first few months I lost 15 kg. Over a period, I have learned to treat myself and keep some snacks with me."

While the press officer said Father Saldanha was free to leave the seminary if he was unhappy, the Father insisted that leaving the seminary was akin to giving up priesthood and that is exactly what his detractors want.

"I am not invited for any seminary events nor do I get the Examiner with the latest announcements," said Fr Saldanha. "I do not want to be humiliated more than I already am, which is what will happen if I up and leave. It will mean I have given up. I want to clear all charges against me."

He has now hired a lawyer to represent him and help him draft complaints to higher authorities. His lawyer Advocate AG D’Mello explained that after the initial order passed three years ago in the misconduct case, Father Saldanha had appealed to Rome and was turned down.

"He then filed an appeal with a higher authority in Rome," said D’Mello. "We have been maintaining that the inquiry was not as per law and that Fr Saldahna’s side was not heard. He has been left with no alternative but to approach courts. The only reason we are not doing so immediately is because it will bring a bad name to the church. The initial order was for a year-long stay at the seminary. It’s now two-and-a-half years but he’s yet to be posted in any church."

While categorically denying all of Fr Saldahna’s allegations, the press officer declined to comment about the posting. "He appealed to Rome against the decision and the Vatican rejected it. He made a second appeal to a higher competent authority and this is under due process. Hence we are not in a position to comment on it."

Several community groups said they were disturbed by Fr Saldanha’s ’plight’ and members of Catholics for Preservation of Faith and Association of Concerned Catholics-Thane have come out in his support.

"Irrespective of allegations against him, a priest cannot be kept in such inhuman conditions. We do not do this even to our animals," said Melwyn Fernandes, secretary of AOCC.

Comments on this Article
Macwan Jacob, Mumbai Sun, August-21-2016, 9:11
Rhe language of Church spokesman, e.g. imposed instead of suggested, sounds arrogant A fair hearing needs to be given to Fr, Conrad.
Agree[6]
James Fernandes, Barkur Chicago Tue, February-2-2016, 7:25
Looks like consecrated life professing chastity, poverty and especially obedience is not easy at all. Compassion and mercy will prevail. By noon fog disappears.
Agree[2]
vina fernandes, mangalore Mon, February-1-2016, 4:12
He is a good priest and deserves to be treated rightly by the seminary. God bless him
Agree[5]
Francis Lobo, Mangalore Fri, August-8-2014, 11:07
This is a serious human rights issue. Fr. Conrad should be in touch with Human rights
Agree[5]
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