Monsignor Richard Albert.

Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

Roman Catholic priest, Monsignor Richard Albert, is criticising the church for what he describes as its reluctance to speak out against corruption and injustice in the country.

Declaring that "the church has lost its guts," the priest said while it is quietly active in other aspects of the society, the Church needs to be a guard against corruption in government by speaking out against indecency.

Monsignor Albert was speaking with reference to the numerous scandals and political upheavals the country has faced since the start of the year, including the recent upsurge in political violence in parts of Kingston and St. Andrew, and the Trafigura Beheer scandal that has already led to the resignation of one government minister.

Responsibility

He said the church has a responsibility to uphold justice, peace and integrity.

"The church shouldn't get involved in partisan politics but it should be involved in the fight against corruption and uphold integrity," he said.

He is pleased, however, that at least one church group has spoken out against the government in the Trafigura Beheer scandal.

On Wednesday, The Jamaica Council of Churches issued a statement saying that it was disturbed by the scandal and urged both political parties to reveal their sources of contributions to encourage trans-parency and accountability.

But not all men of the cloth share Monsignor Albert's perspective. Evangelist Errol Rattray of Errol Rattray Evangelistic Association says it is not the church's function to speak out against corruption because there are other lobby groups in society that are already fulfilling that role.

He says while the church is there to offer redemption, it cannot be expected to criticise those in authority for every incident of corruption and criminality.

"There is a feeling that the church, every time something has gone wrong in the country, is to get up and be loud on it (and) maybe call a press meeting. The church is not meant to operate like that. The agenda of the church is not dictated by the world's agenda," he said.