Dear Editor,

The Dalai Lama had a huge spike in publicity recently after a video of him went viral and was then covered by popular traditional news media.

In the video, the 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is seen protruding his tongue and asking a young boy to suck it. The boy, possibly unaware of the impropriety of the request of this man several decades his elder, obliged him while several adults looked on complicitly.

I was absolutely repulsed when I saw the video as the implicit sexual nature of the act was glaring, but even more disturbing was the fact that this was one of the worlds foremost spiritual leaders. A man revered within the religion of Bhuddism as the “living incarnation of compassion, born in the world to help humanity” was engaging in a sexually charged act with a child while other adults looked on in acceptance.

I have a friend who is a practising Bhuddist and my initial urge after seeing the video was to contact him and ask him, “Wah kinda slackness yuh religion a promote?” Thankfully, however, I was able to quickly check myself and realise the hypocrisy in adopting such a position. It would have been extremely unfair of me to judge him or his entire religion on the actions of the Dalai Lama but then take issue with someone judging every Christian by the actions of any of the several high-ranking Catholic priests who have been reported for sexually molesting children. While we cannot be responsible for the actions of others, we are, however, responsible for the protection of children from those who seek to abuse their positions of power to exploit and harm them.

In Jamaica there is a culture of reverence for our spiritual or church leaders, a reverence which sometimes borders on worship. The pastor is well respected, not just by his congregants but by the wider community. The deference that is given to the will and direction of spiritual leaders in Jamaican society allows some of them to get away with proverbial murder, and in some cases, much worse. I have heard stories from an adult who was molested by a spiritual leader as a mere adolescent. The molestation was disguised as rituals to achieve spiritual purity and sanctioned by the child’s parent.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that many of us have encountered in our lifetime that suggests that sexual exploitation of children by religious leaders is something that is not uncommon in Jamaica. I am encouraging all Jamaicans not to let their respect for their spiritual leaders supersede their duty to protect children’s innocence. Do not be afraid to speak out against perversion or any abuse or sexual exploitation of children by any person, regardless of his or her position or religious influence.

Many Jamaicans who are devout in their religious practice have a perception that their leaders are perfect and are incapable of committing particularly egregious sins. We should, however, be reminded that mankind is born into sin and we are all fallible.

The role of a leader of a church is often compared with that of a shepherd to his flock, but I encourage you all to beware of wolves in priests’ clothing. Do not be like the followers in the video who watched in acceptance. Protect our children at all costs.

Payton Patterson

paytonpatterson97@gmail.com