Why are church leaders so silent?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

THE CHURCH in Jamaica has an important function, duty, and prominent role to effectively perform and carry out to minister to its members the word and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and spiritually guide and uplift the lives of people who attend their respective churches. To ensure that their members’ lives follow and adhere firmly to the teachings of the Lord through the Holy Bible and concomitantly accept the Lord as Christ, Father and Saviour.

However, importantly, and instructively, the Church here in this country also has another cardinal, significant and immense function to vociferously, fearlessly, responsibly, and consistently speak up for the poor, elderly and oppressed citizens of Jamaica who have no voice of prominence within the country. As well to eloquently speak out presently about the out-of-control crime and murder rates; to speak out against the high levels of governmental corruption and to speak out about the extremely high cost of living rate which is negatively affecting all Jamaicans, especially those persons at the lowest base of the country. Government has been in a comatose state and doing absolutely nothing to address these major national and important issues. Why are the churches and its leaders so silent on these pertinent national issues prodigiously and negatively affecting most Jamaicans, even those persons in the lower middle class sector of the country?

Why have the church leaders not demanded from the Government to ascertain and find out which six parliamentarians are under investigation from the Integrity Commission for alleged illicit enrichment and also concomitantly demand from Prime Minister Andrew Holness why has the IC not been able to formally, legally and lawfully certify his annual statutory declarations for the past two years extrapolating from media reports? Very important questions.

Over to you, national church leaders of Jamaica. Why are my Roman Catholic church leaders so silent on these germane, important and significant national issues?

ROBERT DALLEY Montego Bay, St James robert.dalley1468@aol.com