HSJ

Bishop Neil Tiedemann, CP
Heritage and Faith
We are each an accumulation of the people, places, and experiences that we
stumble upon throughout our lives. With every encounter we grow beyond our
natural tendencies as we are influenced by those around us. With the correct
exposure, nurturing, education, and nourishment, we cultivate our individual
power and our potential seems without boundaries. It is clear that as much as we
may try to remain objective, our decisions are largely impacted by our individual
sense of morality. Throughout life, there are three fundamental forces that will
undeniably influence our point of view: our family; our heritage; and our faith.
The year 2012 is a significant milestone in Jamaica’s history. It marks the 50th
anniversary of Jamaica’s independence as well as 500 years of Christianity
introduced by Catholics to Jamaica. Like Jamaica, the Catholic Church is
battling negative perceptions. The word ‘perception’ is not being used to minimise
the severity of misendeavours, but to illustrate that the shameful actions of a few
should not condemn the rest of us to bury our heads in the sand. Media reports of
the few evil among us are not representative of the majority of Jamaican families,
or of Catholics. We acknowledge the deserved and tarnished reputation of our
embattled faith and country, but are working to achieve change.
Mass exodus from the church and Jamaica are understandable, especially for
those directly affected. But Christianity, which characterises the foundation of
Jamaican faith, promotes forgiveness. It is not our place to judge the actions of
others; our faith assures us that one day there will be a reckoning. Until then, it is
important that we do not cower in the shadows, when in fact, it is quite
appropriate for us to raise our voices in opposition and take back our country
while holding strong to our faith.
24 Home Sweet Jamaica | August 2012