Bangladesh church officials fight to quash priest's arrest warrant

Published: 2007-05-09

BANGALORE, India (CNS) -- Church officials in Bangladesh have been lobbying the government to quash an arrest warrant issued against a missionary priest working among exploited indigenous people. "We want the government to quash this (case) and take action against those who have registered the fabricated case against (Oblate) Father (Joseph) Gomes," Oblate Father Emil Moraes told Catholic News Service May 8 from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Father Moraes is Father Gomes' regional superior. In February, the local court issued an arrest warrant against Father Gomes, head of the Oblates' justice, peace and creation ministry, after forest officials filed several charges against the activist priest. The charges included instigating an "unlawful trespass into government-acquired forest, cutting and removing trees, and forcefully encroaching forest zone," thereby causing the government a loss of nearly $200,000. Father Moraes said, "In fact, he was attending a meeting with tribal people (at Khadimnagar) when this alleged crime is said to have been committed."

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