Archbishop Concessao of Delhi asks Government for Justice

(March 08, 2012) Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao of Delhi has asked the federal government to “immediately” lift the ban on the bank accounts of Tuticorin diocese and several other NGOs in Tamil Nadu. The recent ban is "gross injustice" to these organizations and "unfair" to the poor and oppressed who benefit from their work, the archbishop said in a statement on Wednesday. He said he supported the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council's demand for revoking the ban on Tuticorin diocese. The government has accused Tuticorin diocese of diverting funds it received from overseas for social service and other purposes to support the protest against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant. Archbishop Concessao said that he has learnt from the local bishops that the diocese has in no way misused the foreign contributions. “The Church always strictly follows the rules laid down by the government for the use of foreign contribution and the money is solely used for the welfare of the poor.The prelate said that the Church organizations all over the country are involved in “alleviating the pains and pangs of the poor and helping the government in what it should be actually doing,” he said. He appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram to make proper inquiries before taking such a “drastic step.” The Archbishop concluded: “I will have absolutely no objection to such a block of the FCRA accounts if it can be categorically proved that the money has been actually diverted for anti-government activities but till it has been proved, such an action goes against law abiding citizens.”