A Catholic priest has come out against ministers of religion entering elective politics.
In fact, Monsignor Vincent Blackett believes it is a conflict of interest.
He was speaking to the DAILY NATION following the morning service at Our Lady Queen of The Universe Catholic Church at Black Rock, St Michael, yesterday.
“I don’t think we should run for public office. People might have their own preference for who they want, but we have to transcend that. We have to be above that.
“In my congregation, I don’t know who is Bee or Dee or whatever party. We have to nurture them all,” he explained.
Blackett said that should pastors and other church leaders run for office, they would be creating division within their various churches.
“If you are a pastor, you are there to unite people. You might have your preference, but you are there to bring the people together. Once you align yourself with any particular group, you run the risk of doing that. So I wouldn’t encourage that,” he added.
Making reference to ministers of religion running in the upcoming general election, Blackett said it might not be their calling.
“I don’t know what would have prompted them to do that. But if they feel that is where the Lord is calling them, they might find out sooner or later that is not where they are being called.”
However, Apostle Lynroy Scantlebury, of the party New Barbados Kingdom Alliance (NBKA) and who is contesting the St Peter seat in the next election, said he disagreed with Blackett’s statement.
In fact, he felt the separation of the church and state had hurt the country.
“I’m absolutely in favour of ministers of religion running for elected office, the same way as with him back in the day when he participated in Kadooment,” he said.
“At this juncture in the history of Barbados and in terms of where we are economically and socially, there’s a need for a freshness to come to our political dimensions here in Barbados, where men of God should be taking charge of what is happening in Barbados right now.”
Scantlebury said it was time for men of God to stand up and lead the country.
“I follow the Scriptures and it says clearly that when the wicked rule, the people mourn. But when the righteous rule, the people rejoice.
“I think we need men and women of righteous standing to begin to do what is necessary to bring Barbados out of the spiral that it’s been experiencing for the last 25 years. So, I don’t agree with that statement. That’s his own opinion, but as far as we are as a nation, it’s necessary right now,” Scantlebury stressed.
Colin Jordan, who is contesting the St Peter seat on a Barbados Labour Party ticket, is not a minister of religion, but holds high office in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church as an elder. He stressed that SDA ministers did not get involved in elective politics.
However, Jordan stayed away from commenting on Blackett’s statements.
“On the eve of an election those things become issues, but I’m not getting involved with it. Those things become little issues that take people’s minds away from what should be the real issue now.
“There’s too much at stake for the country for us to be getting involved in what I consider at this stage to be important discussions, yes, but they’re more important issues to deal with at this point,” Jordan said.
Efforts to reach Reverend Joseph Atherley, another minister of religion contesting in the upcoming General Election (for the BLP), were unsuccessful up to press time. (DB)
