Advent in our time and space
The word “advent” means “the coming” and in church circles the word means “the coming of Jesus Christ”. In the church, Advent is the period of four weeks prior to Christmas. It is a time that is used for repentance as Christians recall the reason why Jesus Christ came to the earth, which was to save mankind from sin. It is also a time for reflection and reconciliation for our own sins as we re-enact the birth of Jesus Christ. The re-enactment of the coming of Jesus is both for purification and a tool for an education in history.
In the Roman Catholic Church, one can go to confession at any time, but it is encouraged during Lent and Advent as both are times when reflection should be greater than at any other time. The authority to forgive sins was passed on from the apostles who received the authority directly from Jesus Christ (John 20:22-23). In the early church, sins were simply “bawled out” and then the priest gave general absolution. It was found that with this method, one’s sins could be used against one by detractors (and there is such a thing as the sin of detraction in the Roman Catholic Church).
In time a system was developed where penitents could confidentially tell their sins to a priest. It was also learnt that people are likely to confess their sins, a pre-requisite for absolution, if sins were held confidential. It was also understood that confessor confidence would be broken if there was no obligatory secrecy. And out of deference for the penitents, canons were introduced into the code of canon law to ensure the confidentiality of the confessional. In light of the front-page story in the Sunday Gleaner of November 22, this history is very important before such things can be understood.
The confessional was never intended to protect wrongdoers as the article implies. And do remember that roughly 97 per cent of the Jamaican population is not Roman Catholic. While people of any denomination go to Roman Catholic priests for counselling and to request an escort to the police after committing criminal offences, it is most unlikely for criminals in Jamaica to go to a Roman Catholic-style confession. My point here is that there are so few Roman Catholics in Jamaica that I doubt a lot of information is withheld because it was said to a priest in confession.
In any case, contrary to sensational media reports designed to sell newspapers and advertisements on television, the Roman Catholic Church does not have a monopoly on child abuse and paedophilia. Please be reminded that as the Roman Catholic Church dwindles in numbers in Jamaica, and as Protestant, Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christian denominations boast of swelling numbers, such crimes and sins are reported to be on the rise. Whether one is the cause of the other, I will not discuss today. I am simply pointing out a fact.
In this season of Advent, Jamaicans should be looking at some of our national sins, even if such sins have the full backing of the law. The way in which taxi drivers and so-called “robot” drivers are treated by some policemen is entirely immoral. The fact is that whether we take taxis and robots, every single Jamaican who lives in Jamaica needs them, whether directly or indirectly. We may never take a taxi or a robot, but how do some nurses get to work at the hospitals? Can the doctors whom we might need do without them? Can the patients do without them?
Ministers of government have official cars and more than likely their own private cars, so they may never take a taxi or robot. But how do their helpers who cook their food and look after their children get to work? Business owners might never take a taxi or robot, but how do their workers get to work? When will it be recognised that public transportation is not enough, despite the best efforts of governments past and present? This might become evident within days as the National Transport Co-operative buses that ply mainly between the Corporate Area to Portmore cease operation.
Did a prominent cabinet minister tell customs officers that they do not need a raise of pay because customs officers know how to take care of themselves? Is this the same position regarding the police? Are bribes the reason for police being set upon the “robot” drivers so that the police do not ask for a salary hike? No one should have to dodge police to make a living for their families. Shouldn’t the government have special insurance for robot drivers and the passengers?
I have told taxi and robot drivers on radio that I cannot help them if they drive carelessly, commit rape, play slack music or otherwise commit immorality. But as long as they act responsibly, I will forever defend their right to make a living and defend the right of the passengers to get to work. Employers should defend the right of the passengers to get to work also. It would be one way of atoning for sins in this season of Advent.
