IT REMAINS unclear what specific role the Ministry of National Security and the police hierarchy expect churches in Jamaica to play in the crisis of crime now threatening the social fabric of the nation.
Presumably, this is being worked out in the series of meetings among the various representatives currently under way. Of course, there have been the periodic suggestions for pastors to lead 'from the front', to leave the security of their church sanctuaries in rallying community support for identifying and turning over to the police any known criminals in their midst.
It may also be argued that many of our churches have well-organised administrative centres in inner-city communities and through their spheres or influence can supply the authorities with intelligence, both general and specific, which would assist the police in planning
effective strategies to deal with wrongdoers.
But unless the police and government have reason to believe
ministers of religion as a group or as individuals in specific areas are privy to more information than the security forces, we should hardly expect churches to become centres of intelligence-gathering for the purposes of solving crime.
Murderers do not usually seek spiritual guidance from the clergy. So, presumably, the church leaders are privy to the same anecdotal evidence as their parishioners and which information the police can obtain through regular or undercover detective work. We hardly expect churches to become centres for espionage.
Of course, church leaders can play an effective role of persuading their congregants to be good citizens by shunning crime and using the methods currently available through Crime Stop, etc., to inform the police of wrongdoing. But any idea of expecting priests
and parsons to take on the role of public informants should be
re-examined carefully. Martyrdom has a long tradition in the Church but it is not usually sought as an end itself.
Monsignor Richard Albert, in supporting the proposals for greater collaboration between the churches and security forces, has said that the call for priests/parsons and parishioners to take a stand against gunmen, extortionists and political enforcers will likely result in the deaths of innocent persons either in confrontations or in reprisal killings, including the clergy who, in effect, would be confronting a kind of martyrdom.
Nevertheless, the Monsignor's observation that even though there will be great risk to personal safety and life and one that people must be willing to take, is a sobering one that is as applicable to the clergy, congregants and the society as a whole. The monster of crime must be confronted from all angles.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
