Trying again – Swiden’s last gift
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Bishop appeals for urgent action against violence
June 25, 2025
JAMAICA
The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) is condemning violence against women and girls and encourages “health-seeking behaviour” for men following the reports of an assault on a nurse by an irate motorist, the disappearance and presumed death of Anisa Dilworth—a student of the University of Technology—and the killing of young Kelsey Ferrigon. The church group stated that these incidents, “all in quick succession” have once again jarred the conscience of the nation and elicited its outrage.
The JCC, an umbrella group of Christian denominations and organisations across Jamaica—including the Roman Catholic Church—underscored that these incidents of violence against women and girls “are painful to acknowledge and distressing to our souls,” in a May 22 statement.
In it, the church group said that the promise of fulfilment of dreams for the young have been “summarily cut short” and the scars of the trauma caused by the horror of abuse must now be navigated by surviving victims.
“We grieve with the families and acquaintances of these victims and extend our sympathies and prayers for their comfort,” the statement said.
“While we do so, we raise our collective voices once again in the strongest condemnation of all forms of violence. We do this based on our understanding that scripture calls us to love our neighbour (Lk 10:25-37), to embrace the principle of non-violence (Matt 5:38-42) and to affirm the image of God in all human beings (Gen 1:27).”
The JCC, however, placed the light of scrutiny upon the forms of violence in which women and girls are “predominantly and disproportionally” the victims, for example, Gender-based violence, Intimate Partner Violence, all forms of domestic abuse and the abuse of children, especially girls.
“The misogynistic tendencies in our land are abhorrent and abominable and demand our most sincere and vigorous efforts to cleanse our national and corporate souls and restore civility and peace,” the JCC said.
They called on the nation, particularly men, but also women and children, “to return to the policies and practices that foster an environment of care and protection for women and girls, and one that prioritises their well-being and safety.” This, the JCC maintained, “is not beyond us…. for there were days in our not-too distant past when we were kind and gentle to our women and girls.”
The JCC also acknowledge that this scourge of violence against women and girls points to the depth of the darkness in the souls of many men who have ignored the warning signs of physical, mental, and spiritual ill-health.
“We call on our men to turn away from the misguided notion that men do not need care and so refuse to regularly check on their health, be it physical, mental or spiritual.”
They also cautioned men to take note of the ways in which excessive stress and unwholesome lifestyles can cause serious deterioration to their health.
“Indeed, we bemoan the fact that too often, the targets of the ill-health of men are vulnerable women and girls. We therefore encourage our men to seek help and to do so early.”
The Church, the JCC said, “is equipped and capable” of enabling men to be “heard, helped and healed”.
“We invite them to talk with a pastoral care-giver in their moments of distress and uncertainty and where necessary, the doors will be opened to professional care. The nation’s men must wrap our womenfolk and our children in the warmth of affirmative and intentional love and assure them of our unequivocal commitment to their safety and well-being,” the statement said.
