‘Tortured’ city priest sends SOS to Vatican

By Yogesh Sadhwani End Bapu Deedwania
Mumbai Mirror
August 2, 2014

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Tortured-city-priest-sends-SOS-to-Vatican/articleshow/39453326.cms

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.