Elections coming, pray for the nation

DOMINICA

Bishop Gabriel Malzaire of Roseau has encouraged Dominicans to pray ahead of the next general election—scheduled in December— for a peaceful country.

Speaking at a Charismatic Conference in Portsmouth, May 26, he said the Christian values of Dominica will be tested during elections.

“I am here referring to the reality of a general election and what it can do to our nation. We know from the evidence of past years that this is one of the most divisive events in our society,” Bishop Malzaire stated. “You and I know that after the general elections, many of the nice Catholics and nice Christian people will not be speaking to each other simply because we are not able to allow different opinions and viewpoints to contend.”

According to local news site Dominica News Online, the Bishop said that based on experience, it can be predicted that in the coming days, weeks and months, Christian values will be put to the test.

He said the ability to sustain the oneness that should help overcome any form of hatred and anger, “the holiness that requires us to seek the good above all else, the catholicity that requires us to open to all and to accept all, the apostolicity that demands true witness to the living gospel will be tested.”

Bishop Malzaire said the model of the early Christian community is instructive in the manner in which it dealt with potentially divisive situations. He referred to the apostles who brought every situation to prayer and challenged the nation to do the same.

“Therefore pray daily for those you love, but pray even harder for those you do not love so much,” Bishop Malzaire advised.