- Two former procurators of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman face prosecution over a land sale
- The 2,479-square-metre property was sold in 2007
- Prosecutors allege forged documents were used to register it to the archdiocese
- One priest called the case politically motivated harassment
Two former procurators of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman in India face trial over the sale of church land, Catholic Culture reported on July 16, 2026, citing UCA News.
Father Arlino De Mello and Father Victor Conceicao Rodrigues, who both served as procurator, the official in charge of church property, are accused over the 2007 sale of a 2,479-square-metre property. Prosecutors allege forged documents were used to register the property in the archdiocese’s name before it was sold. They say the priests “deprived a tenant family of its legal rights” to the land.
Father De Mello described the prosecution as a “clear case of politically motivated harassment.” The case has been described as involving a multimillion-dollar fraud, though the report did not give a figure.
The case turns on whether the church ever held clean title to the land it sold.
Church property officers in Jamaica carry the same responsibility. Before a church sells land, it should be sure its title is valid and that no tenants or occupiers hold rights over the property. Sales should be approved by the proper church bodies and handled by independent lawyers, so that a transaction does not become a legal and reputational problem years later.
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