Historically the Catholic Church in Dominica has always managed to avoid politics and have stuck to its defined role as spiritual houses and sanctuary for the people and country. Not too long ago, the overwhelming majority of the priests and church leadership comprised of men from Europe. These foreign clergymen easily managed to extract themselves from the emotional dynamics of politics on the island. Lately, there has been a refreshing and proud presence of brilliant native and Caribbean born and raised priests who are vocal, patriotic and are not afraid to express their opinions on civic matters.
Some hold no secret to which political party and candidates they support. Others have gone as far as campaigning for their political party of choice. Partisan politics now reigns in the house of the Lord and in the churchyard. This paradigm shift represents a break with the accommodating, dull and conservative past. Today’s clergy in Dominica are butting heads, and throwing themselves in politics and election melee. Politics today has a profound impact on this new genre of Dominican clergy, which in turn is having a profound impact on how the people view them.
But the nation must be careful and the church hierarchy must be double vigilant that some members of the clergy might be straying too deep into Dominican partisan politics. The ‘beast’ called politics has the very real potential of dragging this noble, holy and powerful institution into disarray and confusion. Members of the clergy must be mindful that their public and not so secret association and involvement in politics can result in a loss of respect as they can be viewed as instruments and agents of politicians and political parties. It is a risky and often treacherous minefield where politics and religion overlap.
The last general election cycles pointed to such contentions that the nation witnessed some clergymen serving as advisors and strategists of political parties, instead of providing spiritual guidance. This historic confrontation between some clergy members of the Catholic Church and politics can have far reaching consequences. It is a rare catholic in Dominica who does not care about politics, but it was a rare (or not at all) catholic priest who will dive into the unpredictable, fluid and divisive world of Dominican politics.
This is a question of value that outlasts elections and Prime Ministers. If the current trend of priests getting involved in partisan politics continues, people are going to judge and respect them maybe less as men of devotion and of a higher calling, spiritual healers and leaders. Instead, they may be judged by what political parties they openly support and in some cases campaign for or against and as political stooges The worst case scenario is if these political parties are tied to scandals and wrong doings, then invariably members of the Clergy who are deeply associated with them may be viewed by the public with ‘jaundice’ and suspicious eyes. The old proverbs ‘birds of a feather flock together and show me your friends I will tell you who you are’ still apply today. The mixing of politics and the pulpit is an ill-advised dating relationship, courtship arrangement and marriage.
On the other hand, there are some members of the clergy in Dominica whose writings and preaching have had a profound impact on the population, especially the voters. The teachings of Christ are seen as a liberation tool in the fight against social injustice, human indignity, bad government and governance. These soldiers of the lord use what can be described as a form of Liberation theology to speak out against injustice and unfairness. These men of the cloth belong to the progressive modern Dominican clergy.
No one can question the wholesomeness of the Christian value system. The clergy in Dominica has a moral responsibility to appeal to the best in Dominica. The role of the Dominican Catholic church is to prepare the Dominican congregation and country to a togetherness that will be the envy of other nations. That is a golden endeavor and a unique opportunity that the church ought to encourage, and pray for its strength and fortitude for the sake of our country.
But beyond the question of strategic advantage and influence by priests in certain constituencies and the political parties, which they support, lies the large gray area where voters and people’s impression of personal and civic morality of these clergymen overlap. Here, the rancorous butting, and boundary crossing of politics and religion can become an issue as much as a spectacle for the voters and the entire country.
But whether it is political campaigns of 2005, 2009 or the on-going one, what political parties’ do is to look for appeals that will work, and seek for groups that will move and bring positive attention and energies on their sides. Politicians are constantly seeking and looking for advantages to their campaigns. It is the moral duty of the clergy not to get caught up with these dynamics and currents. The clergy must desperately and diligently try to avoid politics as it is played in Dominica. However, the clergy as men of God should always be willing to find out the truth and speak it out loud. The clergy ought to use the ‘bully’ pulpit to speak truth to power. Failure to act on such moral standards is a gamble that the church cannot afford to take.
Due to this fact, the church risks throwing away its long and hard won respect and admiration. Unfortunately and sadly, this respect could be replaced by laughter (‘zozou’) and ridicule. The church must hold its high moral standards and should view itself as a ‘Gulliver’ surrounded by political ‘Lilliputians’ some who can say or do anything to retain or gain power. Members of the clergy must take a hard look and the degree to which their own relationships, conduct and statements undermine public confidence in their truthfulness, and in the church as a powerful cornerstone institution in the society.
This mix between religion and politics is both disturbing and dangerous. Historically this unsavory marriage is what gave the world the Holy Inquisition, the Crusades and today Jihad. Failing to heed this advice and warning of staying above and beyond the messy political fray means risking their own rightful, important and dignified place in society due to the more than often-ugly spectacle of mixing politics and religion.
Opinions expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Dominica News Online or its advertisers.
Mr finn, most of us know that you belonged to a non profit organization called DAAS along with one Thomson Fontaine. Most of us know what happened in the DAAS concerning transfer of funds and land from the organization to his personal finances by Mr Fontaine causing the DAAS to be dissolved. please tell us about your relationship with Thomson Fontaine.
Tell us why are you trying to support a party that has Thomson Fontaine as their future minister of finance.
Mr Finn you need to get off your moral high horse and answer these questions for the people of Dominica.
Pope John Paul II now St John Paul II always said: Do not be afraid. It is the Duty of religious leaders not to be afraid and always speak the truth. Only the Truth shall set one free. The duty of the religious minister it is to speak fearless about justice and issue of right and wrong. They are to totally and complete divorce themselves from partisan politics in any of its form. Any religious minister who is cut up in partisan politics has failed greatly indeed.
The role of the religious minister is to chant down corruption and every form of wrong doings……… if they are into partisan politics well, they will never be able to use the pulpit to speak truth.
Religious Ministers must be careful with politicians who come bearing gifts so as to blind them from seeing the reality. Politicians are politicians at heart, they can go as far as using the Church as a campaigning ground. Politicians must know their place and the Church and its ministers must also know their place.
If religious ministers are seen as being on the side of a certain political party and does so publicly, well they are going down the road of destruction and chaos. Ministers of religion, must unite the people, not divide them…………
If religious ministers, use their time in political ways, well perhaps they have nothing to tell the people about souls and saving of souls as is instructed by Jesus.
Jesus had not party so religious ministers must stay away from Politics.
Stop putting on shows when these Politicians come to the church. Jesus is the center of the Church not politicians or worldly leaders…. worldly leaders must rule the world and the church ministers must lead the church in Jesus name. Don’t make a brooth with Church and religion. Religious ministers must be willing and able to face up to those politicians especially those who are blatantly wrong and out of order or a disgrace to high office…..
Take warning ministers of Religion: Catholics, Methodists, Anglican, Pentecostals, Baptists and so forthhhhh…
no medicine in the hospital and some of his minister have transport over hundred thousand family member have own baco get rich over night some for me to think before I vote some getting duty free and continuer not cheek ?????????????????????????????????????????????????
oh my what big biography from every
To my recollection within a couple years in power a certain political party made enemies with most institutions in the country, so there was definite separation between government and churches. Perhaps that’s the way to go. Anyone agree?
Curse the churches! Call private sector institutions a bunch of greedy people. Ask NGO’s for their constituencies. Curse them all nice and proper and make them stay away from you. You will definitely have separation. Way to go!
What are you afraid of DNO? Give all comments equal opportunity. It would be real nice.
congratulations. This one made it. What about the one way before this one.
The Catholic Church is one of the richest institutions in the world. Why then can’t they fund undertakings such as church restorations. The people in poorer countries have little disposable income yet they are expected to fund such massive projects.
I am a Catholic but I take grave issue with the government giving all that money to the church when there are so many high priory issues prevailing in the island. E.g. PMH lacks basic medicines such as Paracetamol for its patients, roads for the farmers yet we giving money to a very rich organization!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHAME
Politics in DA has always been partisan (Poteau). Some of you might remember Mona Piper – Poteau Freedom – i.e. Eugenia (may their souls rest in peace), and Ma Harris – Poteau Labour – i.e Patrick John. And who can forget those political showdowns between those two. It was classic and it was part of the political environment.
There exists a thin gray line between any ruling government and religious institutions: the Church/Religion was the cause for both World Wars, and they might also be responsible for the next one to come, World War Three.
Poverty and human suffering forced a Catholic Priest in Haiti to remove himself from the absolute protection of the Church and get into the foray of politics. He too, did not perform any better.Today we see the Sunni Muslims, who once upon a time were the dominant political force in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, fighting their way back into the political arena with the help of religious zealots.
So, my point to your response is this; why should we be exempt? We are no different than anyone else. Can you name any political system in the world now and before that was not influenced by religion? In the States, religious institutions are given tax exempt status simply because of an arrangement between the Church and the government. The Government has charged the Churches in the US with the responsibility of keeping/maintaining its citizenry under the influence of the Church, and in exchange the government takes care of other business. As Karl Marx said, “religion is the Opium of the people”.
I say let it be. We are in the political campaign season, and a lot of silly things will be said, done and promised. It’s never been about finding out truths, pointing out truths, or debating about truths. Those seeking to proclaim that this election season is about truths, should in fact examine their own closet before they embark on such journeys/missions. Truth or judgement should be left up to God, the Author and Finisher of our lives. We should not use the Lord’s name in vain, whenever we as mere mortals choose to.
this article sounds much like the know it all pastor Randy Rodney ,who himself openly supports the uwp
In February 2014, mostly at the behest of the Dominica Evangelical Association, the government of Dominica denied entry into Dominica of Jamaican Tommy Lee Sparta. Pastor Rodney and now Dr. John Finn and their satellites did not see it as church influencing state. Of course like Mr. Prevost, today Dr. Jno Finn stayed in the slips to savour the backlash that Dominica will get from the fall out of that decision. Did I hear that Church can interfere in state business but not vice versa.
God does not hear those in idol worship and those who are praying to saints and Mary.its an abomination. So to the prime minister give your heart and life to Jesus Christ and He will give you wisdom on handling the financces of the country in a way the glorifies him and bring peace and prosperity to the country.
That’s the beginning of Bible prophesy when religion and state will become one.please for those of you who do not know Jesus Christ as lord and saviour please ask Him to come into your lives and forgive you from all your sins and write your names in the lambs book of life.If your name is not there He’ll will be your eternal place of doom.sceptre Jesus now while the mercy seat is open and stop the idol worship now.
Very nonsensical, Why are you not using the gift endowed to you, think. There has never been such a thing as a separation of State and Church it is all an illusion. In your Bible The rulers, meaning The kings, always had their Priest who administered to them and their subjects.The institutions of Church and State under which Religion and Politics is administered have always worked hand in hand behind the scene at high levels to manipulate the Human race. I respect your religious beliefs which you are entitled to, but please do not neglect to think.
@sis m June 19, 2014 “That’s the beginning of Bible prophesy when religion and state will become one”
As a mature Christian who knows the Word of God in the Bible and the Laws of Life, which are His commands to us–His chosen people–, I disagree with your “understanding” above.
Religion and State has always been one in one–because religion are the laws of man based on his mind condition–not knowing the God of Life, to respond to His Ways of Life, God wants nothing to do with Religion and the corruption of Politics–not politics itself– which is from most authoritative works of a nation–such as the Government.
In the days before Jesus walked the earth, people maintained all sorts of religion–in that their god was always some sort of idol, derived from their culture; today this idol is “money”– but the God of heaven is real; He is the Eternal Spirit of Love, Truth, and Holiness, Christ, who lives in His Person, the name is Jesus.
And so, the God of Love, who is Life in Jesus Christ, does despise the social attitude and conducts of people in religion and all forms of lawlessness; but He also knew that the people He “created” was caged in the existence of sin and death; because they ignorantly accepted culture through their way of worship and all other social functions; for they did not know Him and His ways of Life–He would not allow this kind of existence for His chosen people
For that reason this God of Life, Life which is of Spirit–not of the flesh, put on flesh and bones, but in its perfect form, to come to this world in the form of the Son.
His mission was to save the world from its despair and death because of their ignorance of Life itself–the climax of that mission would be the suffering and death on the cross, on behalf of a dying world; faith in His resurrection would provoke the birth of Life, which is of the Spirit–to grow in Love, Truth, and Righteousness.
Hence in Jesus the Son, Christ of Life, God Almighty Himself, came to this world to bring to an end the religion and the sinful ways of man all in all.
Christianity is not a religion, it is the practice and growth in the Spirit, through an intimate relation with the God of Love, Life in Spirit, Truth, and Righteousness; along with worship to Him and fellowship in His presence with fellow Christians, there is not one without the other, but man will not take heed,
For that reason the prophet Isaiah said: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”–Isaiah 53: 6.
God does not despise politics because it has been from the day He allowed His chosen people–ancient Israel–to have an earthly king of their own like the other nations did–but as human beings–man refuses to follow the ways of God, –so did most of the kings of ancient Israel– that is the reason for the “corruption” in politics which God hates.
But the work of Government was meant to be His work through those leaders of the Nations–in fact that is what Mr. Skerrit said, about his work–but that is an alien language to you people, none of you can understand it–because you are not of God..
Dr. Fiin, you are indeed a fine writer and one who is up todate with developments in Dominica. But your hypocrisy keep sneering at me all the way. Not too long ago an aspiring, novice Statesman promised to “remove the ointment from a clergy man’s annointing” if that clergy man “dare” – Dr. Finn, if that clergy man DARE criticize his (the novice’s) submission on what he, (the novice) perceives to be issues of corruption in government. Dr. Finn did not hear that and so did not comment. When two or so years ago, the member of Parliament for Roseau central went to Parliament and submitted that government could have given the church some money to undertake the project for so many reasons, Dr. Finn you apparently did not hear that request. Or perhaps you thought the government would not grant Mr. Prevost his wish. When in the January 2000 general electiosn a particular clergy man (catholic) serving in th enortheast of Dominica was transported throughout the length and breath of Dominica to say prayers at the numerous “ground breaking” activities in January 2000, DR. Finn you were not then aware. Remember the fiasco with the ‘Sunrise festival onJanury 1st 2000, when the sun refused to show its face in Delices” The same clergy man was transported to say prayers for the safe re-electionof the party in power then. Dr. Finn you did not know about that? In the elections of 2005 when the motorcade of the DLP was blocked at Pagua in Marigot by agents and operatives of the blue party, that same clergy man was dressed in a full blue gown and very vocal among them.
So if Dr. Finn is to betaken seriously with his very well written prose, he should have highlighted a few of the instances where “politicians” generally have sought to use the influence of the church to advance their objectives. PM Skerrit and his government must not now ne singled out as wrong doers in this sense without first recognizing that when it was done before by others, when Skerrit was just a little boy, it was “wrong” according to Dr. Finn and others.
The sad truth about the criticisms that have been levelled against the gift in this instance is that there are a number of very prominent Catholic personalities, including who subscribe regularly to local media, lay associates, catechists, clergy who have not raised a voice first in recognizing the gesture and secondly in condemnation of the unwarranted criticisms of the government’s gift. They all have one thing in common. They hate Roosevelt Skerrit with a passion and even when they are indeed happy for the gesture, they prefer to stay quiet and wallow behind the scenes with criticisms that have been fuelled mostly by a hater of the Catholic Church – a one locked dread. Dr. Finn et al. you all have lost credibility in criticizing Dominica’s development by opposing everything the government led by PM Skerrit has done. You all have never recognized anything good that the government has done. So when you have a genuine matter it just falls on death ear. The Catholic Church has done so much for Dominica, that it will take eons to chronicle the same.
So much for separation of church and state. See what America has done. They have separated church and state from every public discourse and government business. The socio-economic and spiritual results are astounding.
@Consumer YOU ARE TOO POOR TO CONSUME!!!! BUT YOU ARE GREEDY!!!
This is a long piece of garbage which is unfit for the landfill. It is the typical cesspool of thrash that GREEDIES like you write, so that the status quo will be maintained, and you will continue to grab from the poor, the sick, the blind and the disabled in poor and impoverished Dominica. Your filth should be dumped in the Dopwell Garbage bins. (You remember the Bin Bobol?) HYPOCRITES LIKE YOU are the ones who have the church in such melee, and controversy. Remember a minister of the corrupt gang which parades as a LABOUR PARTY to which you are a slave, told the world that SKERRIT IS GOD, and Eddison James was tantamount to Satan?. In your HYPOCRISY and CRASS STUPIDITY, you clapped and jumped and giggled mouth wide open like a buffoon, a kook and a pinhead. SHAME ON YOU!.
Its patriots like Lennox Linton and the others in Team Dominica who are talking loudly againt those thing s that are obviously wrong,and evil, much to you chagrin. AS FAR AS THE CHURCH,GOD AND POLITICKING ARE CONCERNED, Team Dominica is always on the political platform advocating TRUTH, JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, and not division. Beggars like you are referring to one man as Lord and God and even Saviour! THAT’S WHY CHANGE IS A MUST!
WELL WRITTEN DR FINN!!!!!!
@ Consumer: What can you say about the following:
Bin and Fertilizer Bobol
Land transfer deal
The 400,000 dollar house value at 2,000,000
The french passports( Do like obama if you have nothing to hide and surrender your passport Mr. P.M
Chinees take over Roseau while our locals get no support from the Government.
The man who owns three houses within 14 years-wow!!!!!
Ambrose searching for a bank which does not exist.
Finally… ” who do you want Jesus or Barabas?”
Can you remember that? Awaiting your response!
The church is so full of evil men but God will deal with them
Because that is where judgement begins!
Why can you not debate with facts. Why all this negative description regarding someone character, this is not going to help your cause. Political rhetoric repeated over and over are not facts.
Did u actually see that “clergyman in blue gown:” or are u merely regurgitating hearsay developed from the diabolic gangsters on the animal show?
Why all this lecture about Mixing God, religion and politics. Why the hypocrisy of trying to be impartial regarding the subject when in fact the motive for this commentary is solely written to advocate a political agenda convenient to gain political mileage. Two years ago The Roseau Central representative Norris Prevost of the United Workers Party (UWP) made a case in Parliament for the Dominica Government to help finance the restoration project of The Roman Catholic Church’s Roseau Cathedral. Why didn’t you write a commentary about Mixing God, religion and politics, guess it was not convenient for you to do so.
Gary Great you remind us – but here is the difference -he Prevost raised it in parliament therefore if it was agrred upon it would have been debated – and if passed in parliament would be a parliamentary decision right!; now can you honestly and truthfully say which one is the better approach? compare Prevost request with the unilateral so called directive from God hand out by the PM. Wasn’t there any place for parliamentary approval for giving out 500,000 dollars? please let the christian part of you answer and not the politiical side.
How silly are to bring up a Parliamentary debate regarding Provost request. The Government has a majority in Parliament so regardless, Provost request would be agreed to, and let us be honest, do you think that The Opposition would oppose such request, of course not. Has it not accrued to you The UWP is silent on matter, they have not said anything regarding the donation, and what makes it worst, Provost did not even commend The Government for making the donation for which he was the one who initiated such request.
The scenario you outlined would not have changed the out come.The question that is being asked and debated is it ethical for The Church to accept such donation.
Well said ” Ice pop” I always know that the more educated ones opposes the foolishness that this administration is doing.
I do hope that he gets the point loud and clear. Prevost brought it do the parliament for discussion but the communist leader made his decision on his own when just a few weeks could not pay the police a 0.5 % salary increase neither did he saw it fit to repair the hospital in marigot. Is this good financial management? We are seeing it by he going to negotiate for 15 hours in China to get a loan but is only china nationals who benefit from this loan. What good negotiation skills!!!!!
The Honourable Prevost did the right thing. Seek the proper authority to spend tax payers money.. That has nothing to do with separation of church and state. Skerrit should have done the same thing.
@ Gary: You sound so interesting. Prevost took it to Parliament and that’s what makes it different, irrespective of the opposition being the minority. Secondly you must not forget that just a few days before the P.M rejected a salary increase he gave the church $500,000. How should my brother as a young Cop feel about that? He did not see it fit to donate that same $500,000 to repair the marigot hospital. Tell me then what should priority, the church( where their are many other catholic building they can worship from) or the Hospital in Marigot serving the entire north and the Melville Hall Airport?
Finally is that good financial management?
You guys must stop playing politics , wrong is wrong irrespective of you does it!! I Sick of this leadership!!!!
As a fellow villager that grew up with the PM, attended children’s mass together, and attended church together up to high school. After high school up to when Skerrit was Minister of Sports, I don’t remember him attending any church. However, immediately after he became PM, he contacted a favorite local pastor with a national voice and made him his “spiritual advisor” and reached out to another local priest with a national voice and surrounded himself with members of the clergy. In fact the local pastor use to refer to Skerrit as a born again believer. It’s important to say that before he became PM the pastor was very out spoken and did not have anything. Soon after he became PM, the pastor built a mansion, lost his spiritual voice and was even arrested by customs and police for importing personal goods on the name of the church. But guess what, it just took a call to Skerrit and he was released. During the Bubbles lies, we saw that same pastor, who was receiving money from Bubbles on behalf of captain, at every court appearance of Bubbles and he signed documents for Bubbles to appeal case. But guess what? After his behavior was made public, he and Bubbles fell out and he had the audacity to say in public that it would hurt to see bubbles take the bible to swear and yet lie about villas. So money talks and the reason why the church remains silent is because they (both the Catholic and evangelicals) have been bought and paid for by Skerrit. I wish I could call names and give many testimonies of what I know, but knowing DNO, they will not publish it.
Itasssi,…thanks…One correction…..please it is not ALL “Catholics and Evangelicals”…….. it is SOME members using the good name of these churches for their own good….please be aware……
Why is the government giving the Catholic Church a billion dollar private organization money to repair it’s facilities. Where are the government’s priorities, that money could have made a huge difference on some of the god awful roads we got.
@t savanne June 19, 2014
$500,000.00 is only half a million dollars. One billion dollars amounts to 10 hundred million dollars–do you know what you are saying above? I am sure you don’t–just like the rest of you, why won’t you people make sure that you understand a situation before saying anything?
@Lizavier4jesus: you get what t’savanne is saying. This reckless government need to set their priorities right.
They could not pay 0.5% increase to Police nor repair the hospital in marigot but saw it fit to give the wealthiest denomination $500,000????
My sister was at the hospital and she had to buy her own PARACETAMOL. I do not get it!!!!!
Remember the churches are build for the people who lives in the country not the priest or the clergy. Therefore the government choose to help the people to renovate their church.
All of you who speak this about the church receiving money fail to realize that catholics form the majority of people in the country and that they pay taxes too. That the cathedral is a historical building and that it cannot remain an eyesaw in the community especially the capital Roseau.
idiot
also is a popular tourist site, so i would urge the church to now give some returns to the Tourism Dept or Roseau City Council . What about making a mass for vagrants only.
Think before u write, that’s not the point, the point is WHY NOW, and WHAT FOR. BUY VOTR? SORRY FOR ME SEE WHAT I DID. Or am helping that’s the point.
@Anonymous June 19, 2014
That is what I have been thinking all along. But it seem as if the people are so blinding by the wicked glitter of politics–the cannot see the light.
I cannot understand why the Catholics of Dominica are not speaking for their Church and the their Bishop–they are the majority of people in Dominica, they are the ones who pay the taxes.
I read where one of them said the problem is not about the Catholic Church, it is about Mr. Skerrit misuse of money –but whom did he give that money to?
I mean is that money not on behalf of the people for the repair of their Church House? Can the people–or congregation of the Catholic Church– pull out that kind of money for the repair of their church house from their own pockets? After all!
“I read where one of them said the problem is not about the Catholic Church, it is about Mr. Skerrit misuse of money –but whom did he give that money to?”
No wonder it was said, ‘Dominicans wear their ignorance like a badge of honour’.
A lot of things should not remain an eyesore but they will.. The only difference is they will not buy as many votes for the labour party. Corruption is alive and well in Dominica. The UWP needs to start the cry. Lets stamp out corruption..! Starting with the next general election. Too much bobol. Not even in secret anymore. IN PUBLIC!!
Fine article and in fact it strengthens my firm belief that G O N Emanuel’s name will never be mentioned on any Catholic pulpit. But I continue to trust that the Lord was watching that family on December 25th, 2010.
Support you 100 pct our priest have sold their souls to Skerrit,God knows and saw what happened that evening,God will deal with them.
@ Anonymous, I agree with you that the acceptance of a cheque by the bishop or other evangelical pastors, does not mean they or their followers will vote for Skerrit because I for sure will not, and I know many catholics as well as evangelicals that will not vote them. However, members of the clergy should be the voice of God to us and should be very careful that they don’t give anyone any indication of who they are supporting, while they have a right to support and vote for a party of their choice. Money is power and accepting money from politician just before an election is wrong and needs to be condemned! Not only that, but how are you going to publicly criticize politicians that are doing wrong things when you publicly taking bribe? Can you not understand why the Church is saying nothing about the evils done by our political leaders? After all, if a preacher knowingly accepted from a drug dealer, how would he have the balls to stand against our young people involvement in drugs? As the church, we ought to be the light and should never allow people to question our devotion and integrity.
So you are telling me the bishop of the cathlic church in Dominica is somehow guilty of taking bribes? And in public at that? Why don’t you and the others like you who are so sure that the donation to the church can be considered bribery, an illegal act, take the matter to court? After all it was done in public, so what other forms of evidence do you need? Les bann meshanstay qui zor yeh. That’s why i shun politics and politicians. I abhor and distance myself from hypocrites, disingenuos and pretentious people. By their utterances and actions they instigate war and destruction among their own people for selfish political and economic gain.
Because the bishop accepted a cheque it don’t mean he or his followers going to vote Skerrit. If you tell me the bishop campaigning for Skerrit since he get the cheque then you have an issue
But once he received the cheque he has compromised his independence. He can not say anything against Skerrit now. If he does people will say ” Ebeh Bishop ca la Igwah Papa!! Apres Skerrit baye telma l’argent, tan ca e ka dit!!!”
Are you listening to yourself? You know how much insult has been thrown at the bishop because he has not accepted UWP’s, talk-show and platform only assertions that Skerrit is a corrupt person.
the bishop has an office and he will call Skerrit when he ready to talk to him. All the churches LOVE skerrit. Some of them get money last time and other forms of help. So the Bishop can talks.
@Anonymous, as members of the Clergy our action speaks louder than our words. As a matter of fact our real sermon is not what we deliver from the pulpit but our everyday life we display for all to see. In Genesis 14:21, Abraham had every reason to accept the goods; but he did not! Why did he not? Gen 14:22-23 tells us that A) he wanted God to be seen as his source B). He was concerned that the King of Sodom (a politician) would not say “I have made Abram rich.” In Acts 8, we see an example of Simon offering money for spiritual power. But what did Peter say to him? Acts 8:20 “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” When the clergy is accepting money from politicians they have literally sold their independent voice and conscience to politicians. I mean let’s face fats here. If John Baptist was receiving money from king Herod, would he be able to tell Herod it is wrong to sleep with his brother’s wife? Absolutely not! During the reign of the UWP, I sat with the Evangelical Association, that was being lead by the Evangelist and we were very outspoken against the slightest error made by the UWP. Now is the Evangelist dead today? Is he not alive? Do you hear him standing against anything? Is there not more to criticize today than UWP’s intention to make Sunday a work day like in the USA and other developed countries and their idea to celebrate the 21st century with a party? Money buys people and quite clearly, Skerrit has bought the clergy and they will say nothing even if their very church members are victims of alleged abuse by those that lead us