Spiritual crisis a challenge
by MONSIGNOR VINCENT
ON BEHALF OF THE Roman Catholic Community of Barbados, I would like to wish each and every Barbadian all God’s blessings on Christmas Day.
Let me take this opportunity to offer heartiest congratulations to the newly elected Anglican Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies, Dr John Holder, and to wish him and his family all God’s blessings for Christmas and the years ahead.
Your Grace, I remind you of what was said by so many on receiving the news of your election: you have been asked to lead your church at a time when the Anglican Communion is facing some of the most serious difficulties since its establishment.
Caribbean churches are facing very challenging times. The excitement and zeal that drew church leaders, including Anglican bishops, together to work for the unity of the churches and for the development of the region has dissipated, leaving many of us wondering about the future of the ecumenical movement.
You are succeeding men who were very much committed to the ecumenical cause and I have no doubt that you will continue in their footsteps. Both Archbishop Lindsay and Archbishop Gomez served on the Committee for Anglican/ Roman Catholic Dialogue and having served on that committee I eagerly look forward to continuing that work with you in Barbados and the region.
Fellow Barbadians, as we in the Christian churches celebrate the birth of our founder, Jesus of Nazera, the time has come for us to take a serious look at the church in the Caribbean to see where we are heading.
The economic, moral and social decline in the Caribbean has seriously affected people in the churches. The spiritual crisis that has engulfed the developed world for some time now and for which the peoples of the Caribbean have not prepared, is becoming a very serious challenge, if not a threat, to Christianity in the region.
In addition, there are other challenges that call for urgent attention.
The Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), which was seen as a real beacon of hope and which promised to unite the Caribbean where previous attempts failed, is now experiencing the most severe winter since its birth in 1973.
As a young student of theology I witnessed the conference in Trinidad that led to the birth of the CCC. I have participated in many of the activities of and on behalf of CCC at regional and international levels and so it pains me deeply to see its decline.
The prophetic voice of the CCC that spoke for so many in the region, especially the poor and the marginalised, is now silent. If this body is to continue, then the time has come for leaders of the churches in this region to intervene and rescue it.
The worldwide Anglican Communion is being tested to the point where some are very concerned about its future. This church finds itself in the awkward position of having to defend or reject stances taken by those who are bent on following their own paths.
The Roman Catholic Church continues to be shaken by reports of sex scandals that have surfaced in recent times.
They have done untold harm to the church and have affected the morale of Catholics in many places, including the Caribbean. As a result of these and other problems, there is reluctance on the part of young men to offer themselves for service in the church, and especially for the priesthood.
Caribbean churches are asked to address issues that were never Caribbean issues and answer questions that were never raised before.
Some question our understanding of human sexuality and the meaning of life itself. Some of the issues the churches are asked to address include same-sex unions, the right to terminate a pregnancy and the right for a person to end their life clinically, what is referred to as dying with dignity.
These positions challenge the church’s teaching on the sacredness of life and the dignity of the human person.
The world is becoming more secular. It is often described as a post-Christian world and the demand for the removal of religious symbols is increasing. Secularism is the greatest challenge to Caribbean churches and they must be prepared to address it.
It is very sad that many Christians are incapable of carrying on dialogue with or challenging the views of the post-modern world, but it is a task from which we dare not shy away. As St Peter reminded the early Christian community, the church must “always be prepared to give an answer to every one who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”. (1 Peter 3: 15)
To be able to respond to the questions and challenges, churches must come together even moreso than in the past to seek solutions. There is need to take up the ecumenical task with renewed vigour and help the people in the region give authentic witness to the truth.
May this Christmas find all of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ in a state of readiness to respond to the challenges facing Caribbean churches. May Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, bless you and yours. (Nation News)