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August 1, 2024
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August 1, 2024

Shatter the darkness of domestic violence

Archbishop Rivas at Jesus Explosion

In a thought-provoking homily delivered to close Jesus Explosion XXII on July 21, Archbishop Emeritus Robert Rivas OP challenged his audience to reflect deeply on their role in society and their commitment to living as “children of light”.

Drawing from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he said a profound transformation occurs when one embraces a life in Christ.

“Before their life in Christ, human beings didn’t just live in darkness –they were darkness,” the retired Archbishop of Castries, St Lucia explained, quoting St Paul’s words: “You were darkness once.” This internal darkness, he argued, penetrates to the very core of one’s being.

However, through Christ, a radical transformation takes place: “You were darkness once and now you’re light in the Lord.”

The Archbishop then shifted focus to a pressing and deeply troubling issue in the Caribbean: domestic violence. He posed a challenging question to the audience: “How are you making your voice heard in a culture of death and violence?” This question served as a powerful call to action for the “Jesus explosion culture” to address the pervasive problem of domestic violence in their communities.

Presenting alarming statistics, Archbishop Rivas revealed, “Three of the top ten recorded rape rates in the world occur in the Caribbean: in the Bahamas, St Vincent and The Grenadines, and Jamaica.” He further noted that all Caribbean countries for which data is available, including Trinidad and Tobago, experience rape rates above the unweighted average of the 102 countries assessed.

Even more disturbingly, in nine Caribbean countries, “48 per cent of adolescent girls reported that sexual initiation was forced or somewhat forced on them.” These stark figures highlight the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action.

Archbishop Rivas didn’t shy away from confronting the audience with difficult questions: “How can you say we are walking in the light, and this is happening all around us? Why is the light not penetrating the darkness?”

He challenged JE participants to break the silence surrounding domestic violence and other dehumanising issues affecting their culture and values.

Quoting from a pastoral letter by the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC), Archbishop Rivas emphasised that “domestic violence is dehumanising, disrespectful of human dignity and causes great harm and hurt to its victims.”

He continued forcefully, “Violence in any form –physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal, is sinful. Often, it’s a crime as well. It should never be condoned or tolerated.”

 

Change male culture

The homilist took a strong stance on the incompatibility of violence with Christian values: “We cannot be for Jesus and be violent.” He called on the congregation to “take a stand to shatter the darkness and break the silence of domestic violence,” and urged them to become actively involved in addressing this critical issue that affects so many lives in their communities.

Addressing potential misconceptions, Archbishop Rivas clarified, “It needs to be clearly stated that no one should stay in a violent relationship, just as no person should stay in an abusive marriage.”

He said, “in cases where a spouse and children are experiencing violence and abuse, separation becomes inevitable and even morally necessary for their safety.” This clear stance challenges any cultural or religious notions that might encourage victims to remain in abusive situations.

Archbishop Rivas highlighted the need for cultural change, particularly among men: “Our male culture needs revision, needs greater kindness, gentleness, and tenderness. We also need to enrich our culture with a greater sense of responsibility and accountability.”

He suggested initiating men into “a culture of caring, nurturing and respect with good shepherding qualities” could significantly contribute to changing the culture of violence in the region.

The homily also touched on the role of the Church in addressing this issue. Citing the AEC bishops’ pastoral letter, Archbishop Rivas said, “Our Church, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, must show leadership in making the Caribbean a safer place for all our citizens, especially our women and children who are most vulnerable.”

He encourages the audience to read the pastoral letter on domestic violence and to “work diligently to break the silence on domestic violence and to help build a culture of peace and nonviolence in our country and in our region.”

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