It’s OK to say sorry, priest tells Jamaat seminar

Roman Catholic priest, Fr Anthony De Verteuil, told a religious symposium held by the controversial Jamaat al Muslimeen that it was okay to admit one’s mistakes and say sorry. The seminar, titled “The way forward in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society,” was held yesterday at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s. He urged an equal place for every religion, every race and every culture. “Let us try to work that out in practice — calmly, peacefully and constructively,” said De Verteuil.

He lamented a decline in religion locally. “There has been an important demographic change. The census of 2000 shows all major religions in Trinidad have fewer adherents in 2000 than they had in 1990 — fewer Catholics, fewer Hindus, fewer Anglicans, fewer Muslims.” DeVerteuil said each person who believes in God must find in God the strength to make a new beginning for Trinidad and Tobago. “Our positive way forward for the future must be blessed by God and based on our prayers to Him. Without that you will not move forward.”

Fielding questions, DeVerteuil remarked that a great curse on modern society was materialism. “In all religions in Trinidad and Tobago, I can assure you, it is a big problem to combat that excessive love of money.” He recalled a recent synod of Caribbean priests which warned that instead of youngsters trying to improve their character, they engaged in acquisition of possessions as a form of escapism. “We must make children aware of what it is to be a child of God.” Also due to address the two-day event were British Anglican vicar, Rev Donald Reeves; Ghanaian diplomat, Rasheed Ibn Inusah; and Dean Knolly Clarke.