If the Christian church continues to renege in its responsibility to focus on the Bahamian family then the complex problems of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse will continue to spiral.
Recent reports show that almost 50% of all murders stem from Domestic Violence and similar reports indicate a 20% increase in Child Abuse. Children are being mercilessly abused and sexually exploited.
While there are pockets of church sponsored family life projects in some quarters, a national programme with focus on the family and supported by a majority of our churches does not exist.
Thirty-three years into nationhood the Bahamian church remains divided, fragmented and isolated with most church leaders singing “you in your small corner and I in mine.”
While the 3,500 churches engage in religious tribalism, family members are killing each other, and children are being beaten, raped and buggered.
A divided church has very little it can honestly say to a broken and divided community.
A national family life program, supported by a large majority of our churches is necessary and imperative.
By: Bishop Simeon B. Hall for The Nassau Guardian
