Dear Editor,

To say I am heartbroken and disgusted would not be sufficient to illustrate my feelings about the sexual abuse that is meted out to our women and girls, and males too.

Last Sunday, my church conference, the Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Christians, assembled at our annual prayer breakfast, under the theme ‘Break the Silence… Enough is Enough’. No sooner than we left the venue, news broke that a 91-year-old Westmoreland resident was allegedly raped. Just imagine the utter shock that went through my body.

Daily we continue to hear of numerous cases of sexual abuse, homicide, and femicide. Absolutely no one or nowhere is safe. Imagine an elderly person that could be our grandmother was violated at her age. How much lower can we sink as a country? Even several other cases are unreported or covered up.

We must speak up and act assertively and aggressively against all forms of abuse. In our communities and different spaces, we must break the silence. We must declare that enough is enough. How many of us witness the abuse of our neighbours on a daily basis but keep quiet? Many of us only act when these incidents reach our doorsteps. But we should be our brother’s keeper.

The Church has an active role to play in breaking the silence. Jesus described His followers metaphorically in Matthew 5:13-14 as “salt of the earth” and “light of the world”. The chairman of our council of ministers, Pastor Artnel Simon, asked some thought-provoking questions at the prayer breakfast: “If the Church closes its eyes, who is left to see? If we shut up our ears, who is left to hear? If we fold our arms, who will work? We are called to care!”

The Church — irrespective of denomination and day of worship — should play its role in being part of the solution to these national crises. Whilst we want to be a part of those who will rescue people from these unfortunate incidents of abuse, we must see how best we can be a part of the prevention. Through our teaching, preaching, living, and outreach, we must spread the message of love, forgiveness, harmonious living, and the sanctity of life. We live in an era when life is so undervalued. We must help men and women to restore the dignity of life.

Who will be the Habakkuk of our time to raise a voice against violence and injustice? The land is bleeding. The voices of the innocent are crying out. The Church must arise from its comfort and denounce these evil acts. We must practise active Christianity. The nation’s decay must also be the concern of the Church, even if it means calling out the malfeasance and immoral practices that are often concealed among the clergy.

It is good to fast and pray, but our Christian living also needs to be translated in practical ways in our daily operations. Let us break the silence.

Elder Clayon Warner

Vice-president

Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Christians

presidentccsdc@gmail.com