The Goa Church Saturday appeared to defend a priest whose remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others had triggered a row and invited scrutiny by the Election Commission.
In a release issued Saturday, the Church also talked about the "selective treatment being meted out" against the backdrop of the controversy, but didn't elaborate.
The Church also observed that it was duty-bound spiritually to express on the moral aspects ofthe "ongoing socio-politicalsituations".
A row erupted after a video of speech made by the priest, Concessao D'Silva had surfaced, in which he is seen strongly criticising the BJP, its president Amit Shah, the PM and late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
D'Silva had apologised to the Election Commission after it ordered an inquiry into the alleged hate speech on the treatment of ruling BJP.
He had made the statement while delivering a sermon in a church.
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"In the light ofrecent controversies, and the selective treatment meted out, the Council forSocialJustice andPeace (CSJP)wants to clarify thatitis customary and traditional in the Catholic Churchto denounce evil and promote good values in society," said a release.
"Priests are bound toconscientisethe laityand to help it interpretthe socio-politicalrealities of the day, subject,of courseto therestrictionslaid down bythelaw," it added.
The Church clarified that its "silence and restraint" should not be interpreted as endorsement ofany wrongdoing, "andought not to be taken advantage of by vested interests,to confuse thepublic".
"TheChurch,throughherrepresentatives,has the right and spiritual duty to express herself on the moral aspects ofthe on-going socio-politicalsituations and offer guidance for the building of a just and humane society," it added.