Religious leaders are no longer like shepherds to their flocks

Jul 05, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
In your publication of Sunday, July 3, 2011, I read a report about two neighbours who are before the courts. The article said that these neighbours were having problems prior to the altercation.
There are numerous reports of various disputes between neighbours, disputes between parents and children, suicides, etc. and Pastors, Priests, Pandits and Imams seem to be doing nothing about this situation.
There is a House of Worship and a religious leader of some denomination in almost every village, yet, the Courts are required to settle disputes between neighbours and family on a regular basis.
What are these religious leaders doing? What are the central religious organizations doing to counsel members of their congregation and to encourage them to live a decent and respectful life?
I grew up in Anna Regina during the colonial times, with a Catholic church, a Mandir and a Mosque. Christians, Hindus and Muslims lived in poverty, side by side, in peace and in harmony. There were no fences, no barriers, and no boundaries.
Of course there were disputes, but, most were quickly settled by the religious leaders.
These religious leaders often visited with members of their congregation, counseled them and encouraged them to be God fearing, righteous, loving, kind, and considerate, and best of all, to love their neighbours. Religious leaders were like shepherds to their flocks.
Guyana has seen much development over the past two decades, and, sadly, this development has brought on many kinds of evils and sinful living. It is my view that religious leaders have shirked their responsibilities, and have failed to give good counseling to their respective congregations. They have failed to be watchful shepherds of their flocks.
The result is that many in their flocks have gone astray. Religious leaders now have smaller congregations, and get bigger salaries. They show little or no interest in the welfare and the social life of their congregations. They leave this to the Police, the courts, and to the politicians.
I appeal to all the Pastors, Pandits and Imams, wake up and take control of your flocks. Keep a watchful eye over them. Bring them back when they go astray.
Always maintain a line of communication with them. Be there for them, especially in times of need. You may not be able to stop every dispute, but, you may make a difference, sometime, for someone.
M.S. Majeed

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