Stand up for what is right, Catholics

THE EDITOR: Referring to an article written by Fr Ian Taylor appearing in the Newsday of February 25, 2003 I want to commend Fr Taylor for his call to the Catholic people in this land to stand up for what is truth, what is noble and what is right in the eyes of God.

I believe Jesus looked down with favour for his bravery to speak out boldly. God is a merciful God, but according to the Scriptures he does not look upon sin with favour as we see in many places and throughout the history of mankind. Looking at Genesis 18 Abraham tried to bargain with God not to destroy Sodom, which was riddled with all kinds of sin, and God said to Abraham if He could find at least ten just men he would spare the whole place because of them, but unfortunately not even ten just men could be found and as a result the entire town was wiped out. We are living in a time when we don’t even have to be too bright to see how our society is degenerating and doing everything in its power to destroy itself and its future.

Our youth are following the waywardness of the adults who are supposed to be examples for them. A calypso a few years ago said the price of progress is high so high, isn’t that so true? How sad it is that we Catholics do not understand our faith and the call upon our lives by the Lord Jesus Christ, our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit and we should treat our bodies with respect at all times. II Corinthians 4:3 clearly shows that there is a veil upon the minds of those who are not on the way to salvation, those whose minds the god of this world has blinded to stop them seeing the light shed by the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

When Catholics receive Jesus personally into their lives they cannot continue living pagan lives, because Jesus says we are in the world but are not to be of the world. We cannot continue fooling ourselves into believing that Carnival is a cultural festival, ignoring the fact that it amounts to paganism in the highest form and we who belong to Jesus cannot be a part of it. Instead why don’t we lift our hands and raise our minds and hearts to praise and worship Almighty God when we have the opportunity, as so often presents itself. All due respect to Mr Kenny De Silva, Chairman of the NCC and the President of Pan Trinbago for the way they feel as expressed in their article on February 26 in response to Fr Taylor’s article. They obviously feel threatened, after all they have a lot to lose if Catholics pull out of carnival.

So my fellow Catholic brothers and sisters, a priest of God has spoken out publicly for what is right and it is a challenge, as being a Christian is, for those of us who want to inherit eternal life and come into the Kingdom of God. Why don’t we too stand up for what is righteous, what is good, what is pleasing in the sight of God. Again, Fr Taylor god bless you abundantly and keep you always His outspoken spokes-man regardless of the voices that may raise up against you when you speak.

ANN ALI
Catholic