PANAJI: Archbishop of Goa Rev Fr Filipe Nery Ferrao today appealed to political leaders to take steps to "protect" people of all faiths saying there are certain signs which are a "cause of grave concern".
Addressing a select group of invitees at his reception function for Christmas, Ferrao said that people should be seen as "persons" and not merely as "religion" even as he expressed concern over the "not-so-good" relationship between the Church and States in some parts of country excluding Goa.
"Whenever humans are degraded, God is insulted. We must see people as persons and not as a religion," he said without elaborating.
In his short speech, the Archbishop said there should not be discrimination of people on any grounds and that the Church will continue it's "mission of liberation".
"There are certain signs which are a cause of grave concern. I appeal to political leaders to take steps to protect people of all faiths," he said.
Observing that he has "profound appreciation" for the Goa government for their relationship with the local Church, Ferrao said, "...But it's a matter of anguish that Church-State relationship in other parts of India is not good."
Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and others attended the function.