The wrong reason

May 24, 2003

Dear Sir,

Having seen firsthand a report of the Annual General Meeting at St. Mark's Church on Sunday, 18 May, brings to mind the familiar words of Jesus: "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren that you do unto me."

I wonder, 'what if those members who ranted and raved and did untold damage to Fr. Hayward's name and position as priest in the Church actually realised it was the devil that had tempted them; that they fell hook, line and sinker for the temptation?'

Unfaithfulness to the Word of God is a refusal to become, a rejection of grace, and the refusal to be oneself. When a person becomes bitter, pessimistic, and gnawed by despair, as were several people at that meeting, particularly the one who dominated most of the session with his uncharitable outbursts, all I can say is, may God have mercy on your soul.

Remember, people at St. Mark's the noonday devil of the Christian life is the temptation to lose the inner self while trying to reserve the shell of edifying behaviour. You have your Constitution at hand. Oh yes! You think you have become legalists, but you have fallen victim to what T. S. Elliot calls the greatest sin: To do the right thing for the wrong reason.

The spiritual future of Fr. Hayward looks gloomy at this time, thanks to the Scribes and Pharisees of our day. They will no doubt be rejoicing in his demise. Meanwhile, Fr. Bill is rejoicing in God's incredible longing to rescue him in spite of the recrimination.

Basically, there is nothing more detestable than self-righteous disciples. Several people at that meeting were so swollen with self-righteousness and conceit that their mere presence was unbearable for those who were at the meeting, knew better and loved God.

Authentic faith leads to treating others with unconditional seriousness and to a loving reverence for the mystery of the human personality. For the Caiaphas' of today, sacredness has become institutions, structures, and abstractions. Individual flesh and blood men like Fr. Bill are expendable.

Caiaphas became impersonal, no longer a warm human being but a robot, as fixed and rigid as his unchanging world. The spirit of Caiaphas lives on today in the Annual General Meetings like that witnessed at St. Mark's. Religious bureaucrats who confidently condemn good people, "for the good of the Church" they say. How many more sincere Anglicans will be banished from the Christian community by religious brokers as numb in spirit as Caiaphas?

CLAUDIUS

Southampton

Stop the Cuba policy

May 23, 2003

Dear Sir,

The PLP Government's weird fascination with Cuba clearly exposes Bermuda to a lot of risks. But for all the negative consequences, I can't think of a single positive thing that can possibly come out of it.

What on earth is the PLP Government doing secretly negotiating agreements with a foreign dictatorship, anyway? I urge all Bermudians to speak to their MPs, if they're PLP MPs, and beg them to knock some sense into their leaders before it's too late.

PENTAX

Paget

Jesus is the answer

May 21, 2003

Dear Sir,

I have been listening to, and reading about, a lot of opinions and proposed solutions concerning youth violence in our country. Please allow me the space to provide a solution as well.

My solution is quite simple, really, and has been around far longer than anyone alive today. It is just a matter of resources and performance. If we, as a community, could find a way to bring God to the streets, and Jesus into the hearts of our youth; then there we would find our solution. With Jesus in their hearts, our youth would leave our streets and enter our churches, leaving behind all of the crimes and violence. The solution, as I stated, is quite simple.

God IS the answer.

MICHAEL W. DESILVA

Southampton

Fit for the post?

May 29, 2003

Dear Sir,

If the Accountant General is naive enough to think that it is OK for the Government Employees Health Insurance scheme to allow (selected) people to join after they become ill should he really be in charge of the Island's finances?

Just wondering!

NOT FOOLED FOR A MINUTE !

Hamilton Parish