THE EDITOR, Sir:
SOME OF us may not have seen the letter in the July 19 edition of The Gleaner written by 'MC' from Frome Westmoreland. In that letter it was alleged that two gunmen went to a church in that part of town, not to give thanks and praise to God but to intimidate and rob the congregation at gunpoint. While one allegedly kept the tool of his trade at the pastor's head the other "tek up collection" no doubt for a very unworthy cause.
It was not so long ago that we heard and read of the disturbing incident in a Kingston church, where in full view of the congregation a church member was shot to death by a marauding gunman.
'FEEDING TREE'
Some of us may ask if the church is no longer the sanctuary it is supposed to be or if it too has become a 'feeding tree' for desperate miscreants who have no regard or respect for person, place or thing. We may choose to perpetuate the hypocrisy that exists, by consoling ourselves that these incidents in both churches are isolated and unrelated to the liberalized criminality that is covering our country from coast to coast. But, it may not be long before we all have to play "hide and seek" with gunmen whenever we have to worship publicly. I say this out of reverence, respect and deep concern for our churches and their professed mission for offering solace to all and for the acknowledgment that the church is a place of refuge for lost souls.
We have reached this far in our history and our country because of the pivotal role the churches have played through difficult times, from their fight against slavery and illiteracy to this juncture of social, cultural and political awareness and hopefulnes particularly for the dispossessed and downtrodden.
Similarly to the loss of respect, honour, and love for our fellowmen, we may also be losing our history on this younger generation who can only recognise an entity, sacred or secular, as just another place to desecrate or to plunder.
I am, etc.,
SONIA CHRISTIE
Stewart Town
Stewart Town P.O.
Trelawny
