“We are rapidly growing more and apathetic to evil in our midst.” This line was pinched from the speech delivered by the Bishop Gabriel Malzaire during the ‘Match Against Crime and Violence’ event on June fifth of this year.
On the night of Thursday 22nd September, I gave some deliberate ear to the UWP’s program. I was most amazed to have heard one of the hosts chastising the various religious leaders including the dear Bishop Malzaire. The Bishop came under severe fire from the host for his alleged reticence on the topical issues of the day. This is just the latest in a barrage of accusation hurled at the Bishop. But pastor is not as far aloft from the issues of the day as the various commentators might want to think. The truth of the matter is that the Bishop has indeed been meeting his obligations in guiding and instructing the flock – both young and old, but do we listen?
One such admonition was given at the youth day celebration at Castle Bruce a few years back where the Bishop appealed to the youth to “move against the current of the culture.” What did he mean? In that the bishop was clearly demonstrating his awareness of the dangerous trend the culture was taking. But did he find an audience, or have it all been forgotten? Did the youth take heed and acted on his advice? Well we may judge for ourselves. Some may want to corral the bishop’s agenda into a restricted political box.
But one must be reminded that politics is derived from the people. Politics is derived from the way we are, what we stand to accept and reject. It is derived from our degree of tolerance of deviance from the Christian ethic, of tolerance of progressive secularism and of those who live solely by the maxim: “man surely shall live by bread alone.” Now isn’t that the “cultural current” the Bishop was urging us to move against? Has anybody budged? It doesn’t look so, and it is that lack of movement against the deleterious cultural slide which the political climate feeds on. In essence, it is the people who are the problem, a people who would not listen. The politics merely feeds on the substrate that is provided it.
Is it justifiable, then, that the Bishop should become the target of such a barrage of petitions that he should enter into the verbal fray? Certainly not! Again, if one insists on scrutiny, it would be wise to go back to the very well attended Men’s Retreat at the Fatima Church in April, 2011. It should not be forgotten that the Bishop spoke for five consecutive nights to the rapt attention of the crowded hall.
Of particular note was the night when he spoke to the issue of the responsibility of men in society being to live out their baptismal purpose, and to be missionary evangelizers: “Ultimately, our role is to evangelize the culture,” he said, “… as Christians we should be living a Christian culture; there is no such thing as a Dominican culture – if we are Christian.” The pastor also did not hesitate to remind those present that “If there are elements not portraying this kind of living, they should be removed.” Here it is quite clear that the Bishop is calling on all to purge out these properties which seek to militate against, and vitiate the evangelization mission. Since we are sentient beings endowed with the gift of conscience and reason, it must not be too difficult, hence, for all so endowed to do the right, and take the necessary purgative action.
The Bishop also instructed that our duty as human beings is to transcend. As human beings we should transcend into the realm of the Spirit, into the realm of God, into the realm of Truth. Such a transcendence logically requires a rejection of all that which is not of God, all that which is not of the greater good! It calls for a rejection of all that our morally formed conscience instructs against.
His Lordship did not stop there however. He went on the address the issue of leadership and the requirements thereof. As such, his he did not merely address the broad issue of the wider community responsibility, but he gave the point of leadership specific and deliberate attention also. The Bishop spoke at length on the necessary attributes and responsibilities of a leader of the community of the baptized.
We were reminded that a good leader “is called to be a servant leader, not merely a leader who serves… in whatever capacity; whether father, husband or wife, politician, priest, or Bishop.” He held that a good leader “leads by example; ‘they [the disciples] always saw him praying’… so he [Jesus] lead by example.” He said later: “a leader … listens and is ready to take correction.” With respect to freedom, the Bishop insisted that “a real leader frees people – not controls people,” and “the freer you allow a people to be the freer you are yourself.” And most importantly the Bishop insisted further that a leader “must have the courage to follow the Truth and search for the Truth.”
So, evidently, the facts bear the efforts of the Bishop out, and, as they do, it become obvious that the good Bishop is not as far removed from the issues as one might want to think. He is quite aware of the calls for the church to speak, and, indeed, he has been speaking throughout the years on the issues that really matter, on the issues that form community, that yield justice, that guide politicians. It is up to the objects of his efforts to take heed.
What is becoming increasingly manifested, however, is that “We are rapidly growing more and apathetic to evil in our midst!”
Mathias Alexander is President of the Dominica Association of Catholic Men (DACAMEN).
Opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Dominica News Online.
I recall 3 years ago the bishop sang:
“Every one is crying out for peace…but we need justice…”
At the point Michele church.
I’ll leave this link here, as well. It’s to a short piece on the dangers of Evangelism:
http://freethoughtblogs.com/alstefanelli/2011/09/27/the-immorality-of-evangelism/
someone can use 1000 words in a statement to mean three little words, ‘it is wrong’. malzare if something is bothering you just say so. to much alphabetical forplay….
Why do you people let yourselves be brainwashed so easily? Regardless of what you believe, you should at least be concerned about some of the language above. Note, for instance, this statement that smacks of the same old colonialism (of ideas), the slavery we seem only to happy to chain ourselves to:
“‘Ultimately, our role is to evangelize the culture,’ he said, ‘… as Christians we should be living a Christian culture; there is no such thing as a Dominican culture – if we are Christian.’”
This man is essentially calling for a purge of all things he does not believe in from the island. All things that have come to define us as having come from Africa–these need to go, according to this dictator. He wishes to turn the island, and likely the world, into a Christian dictatorship. For that is precisely what it is–a dictatorship of thought. How dare anyone try to force anyone else to believe something? We must make our own decisions, NOT simply be told them by delusional totalitarians like this bishop. Let him believe what he wants–but he is NOT to “evangelize” the island to turn it into a “Christian country.” This country belonged to the Amerindians before Columbus arrived; it remained in the Amerindians’ possession for a long time after. What makes this country or any other country a certain religion? Nothing. Should America be a Christian nation because of the colonists trying to force the Native Americans to be Christian? Of course not, and the Constitution of that continent expressly states that one must not favor any religion over another. Why can’t our Constitution offer the same separation of church and state? Why can’t we unchain ourselves from evangelizers’ chains and choose what to believe, when we believe, if we believe?
If we are not free to choose our beliefs, then we are not living anywhere worth living. And only mad fundamentalists and sadistic dictators will disagree.
What would truly be an act of evil is to continue brainwashing the children of our country into believing this evangelist offers all there is. We need to introduce the children to all religions and to skepticism and to unbelief. We need to show all of them from historical and philosophical and scientific perspectives–that is, fairly. Such an education would not set out to evangelize but to educate, like any good history class. Such a class would also be clear about how Christianity entered our islands–as it certainly did not originate here.
Without an education like I outlined above, men like the writer of the article and the bishop will continue to sway us without us having the knowledge to question or refute their claims.
@ humanist:
WAS THIS COUNTRY ‘DOMINICAN’ BEFORE THE CHRISTIANS CAME?
WAS IT KALINAGO BEFORE THE CARIBS CAME?
THE FACT IS THAT THE CHRISTIAN CONTRIBUTION IS A MAJOR ELEMENT OF THAT WHICH FORMED THIS COUNTRY, AND CHRISTIANITY AND THE CHRISTIAN ETHIC ISAN ESSENTIAL PART OF ITS SOCIAL CAPITAL.
Its “social capital?” Or, perhaps I SHOULD WRITE ITS “SOCIAL CAPITAL” SO I CAN SCREAM LIKE YOU? ISN’T IT FUN TO WRITE IN CAPS LOCK? HAHAHAHAHA
I don’t think you know what “social capital” is, and I’ll leave it at that–but that’s a minor point.
More importantly–Dominica was just a rock with plants and animals on it before another animal, humans, came thousands of years ago. It is still, today, a rock with plants and animals on it. Oh, sure, there are cultures on that rock. But things change. The Igneri “social capital” is gone; the Amerindian “social capital” is gone; the Caribs’ is scarcely alive; the missionaries’ evangelizing is what is dominant right now. In the future, who knows what will happen? But it is clear that you cannot simply say “this is how it is now and this is how it will and must be forever” because you cannot define an entire island or a people by your generalizations, and you do not know what the future holds. No Carib you asked before the missionaries came would tell you they believed the island would be anything but “Carib” in the future–and you are saying the same thing, with a different belief system.
Christianity is moreover not an “essential” part of Dominica at all. Historically, yes, but that does not mean it must be a part of the future. Slavery was an “essential” part of the past, too, and was justified by Christianity. Should we reinstitute that, too? Mind you, you are still clearly enslaved by the ideas of the religion. Only by allowing yourself to become steeped in knowledge of the world and history and then choosing what to believe in can you break those bonds.
If you reply, don’t reply in all caps lock. It makes you look foolish.
Who is more evil then the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church works for the Anti-Christ. They stole and took slaves from Africa, the Pope blessed Christopher Colombus in Ghana, Senegal and West Africa.
HHMMM
THE SENSE I GET FROM ALL THIS IS THAT THE BISHOP IS TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING
….EVER SO INDIRECTLY.
HE IS NOT AS BLUNT AS FR. JOLLY, BUT HE IS DEFINITELY TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING
Now DNO school children read this site so be correct with the english. Is it a match or march against…….
The catholic church cannot speak out against what it initiated.
well, I am not so ‘intelligent’ in the matter of church and its rolle in our society but the little I can remember is that the church is the conscience of society. The incedents of speaking out pointed out by the writer i will conclude is very subtle. this subtleness is evidence that the bishop is slowly becoming irritated with some of the events taking place in dominica. however, he seem intimidated or I may add scared to be direct in denouncing its occurence. like everything else, allegiance take time to fade so too is admiration. dissapointment also takes time to fade away. so lets be positive and hope that the bishop will eventually get over these state of emotions and stand on the side of righteous and truth. I am convinced that after the Gon emmanuel fire, the Wiki leaks articles and the present state of unemployment, the State has that our government is taking a loan to build and have the people who we are paying the loan do the construction…. Many of us are in the similar position the bishop is in… we will eventually get over the bridge… let us be courageous let us be counted. if not “everybody should be counted in the company of the guilty because a very innocent and terrifying aspect of our present Dominican society is the equanimity and detachment with which sane, reasonable and sensible people can observe the events that take place in our high offices and country and be silent. that is more terrifying than the crimes and the occasional criminals themselves…..”
Mr. Malzaire;
is homosexuality of God?
why dont you condemn it?
We agree that all are children of God; but isnt it our responsibility to correct those who do wrong and those who are evil?
Is Mr. Emmanuel your brother?
And it’s all by design.
ohh please bishop! i cant remember exactly what it was, but a few years ago your voice was loud and clear speaking out, all on the newspaper you was…. now we hear nothing from you… this is a sad and sorry excuse that I will not swallow. so use it if it helps you sleep at night.
Unfortunately for the UWP thier mode of operation is “if you are not with us, you are against us. ” If you don’t stand on their platform and spew hatred you are “singing for your supper” and all that nonesense.
But the majority of Dominicans know better. We aint listening. So let them stay in their dark corner.
Hahahahahaha
i get what the writer is saying… but all those quotes come off like ‘speaking between the line’ so one would have to ‘read between the lines’… as a leader of the largest christian group… he must come out boldly… not only in masses where only ‘hardcore’ catholics meet but on the radio.. on the t.v news… on d.n.o article so the masses can get the message… he must summon the political leaders and have a meeting in private and then in public discussion… it is this kinds of initiatives that will get the masses attention…. how much people can go to a mass or how much are willing to… why don’t the bishop and members of the clergy have a facebook page to spread the message… i think this article is used to excuse the absence of the bishop on issues affecting the masses
As far as i am concern the catholic church has otlived its usefullness tn Dominica, this church no longer stands for nothing thats why the pews are getting empty as the days go by, one question Who and what does the church stands for and who is it defending in this troubled times in Dominica, guess for a few dollars of duty free concession for church renovation matters more to the church than to uphold integrity and honesty in the dominican society
Great Presentation Mathias!
Some of these people in the media act on impulse and with a set agenda it seems, and when they are challenged to stop and think logically they shrink and respond as children with laud nothings that would prevent them from doing some navel gazing because that is hard work. In the words of “chalk dust” no one takes the time to build character and that is the downfall !!!“
The bishop must show us that he is sincere in speaking out against the individual despicable acts and not speak in broad generalizations. He needs to condemn certain acts like his head the Pope does.. The pope had something to say about the execution f Troy Davis in Georgia, why doesn’t speak out against acts of injustice and evil such as the attempted murder of Mr. DON Emmanuel among so many others? Unless the bishop does not see it fit to publicly condemn wrong doings as they occur and made known to the public, we will continue to conclude that he generalizations are just smoke and mirrors. We are not impressed with the bishop, nor are we with this defender of him..
Fro your comments it seems that you want the bishop to be involved in the political rubbish going on in our country. From your example it says just that. I am sorry, but kindly keep the bishop out of it. It is amazing how you all have become so political that you want to infest everyone with your political illnesses.
He need to follow in the foot steps of Rev. Jolly who belongs to the same church
Just so you know the Pope did cal to plead for his innocence, but they still went ahead and executed him , and I can assure the Pope will speak of this topic some time later, so get your facts correct..
I find we Dominican are to silly sometimes…