By Sue-Ann Wayow
AS the year 2021 comes to an end, it has been described as a year like no other.
In a New Year’s message to the nation by the leaders of several Christian church bodies, the churches are encouraging the nation to have hope and optimism for 2022 as well as to be responsible citizens and get vaccinated against Covid-19.
The Churches represented were the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Anglican Church, Methodist Church, Moravian Church, Presbyterian Church, Roman Catholic Church and the Trinidad and Tobago Council of Evangelical Churches.
They stated, “Optimism believes that things will get better. Hope believes that even if things get worse, we know the one in whom we trust and we believe that he is with us and that he will lead, guide and protect us against whatever comes our way. We ask you, as we enter 2022, to become a person of hope. Hope is believing the promises of God even when all evidence is against it.”
The churches stated that citizens will have to continue living with Covid-19 and God has given everyone free will which persons must use wisely and responsibly.
“We appeal to all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to live with the highest degree of discipline during this Covid-19 time for the sake of protecting others, especially the most vulnerable by keeping the health protocols: wash your hands, wear your masks, and be very disciplined and respectful of others in public spaces by maintaining the stipulated social distance. If you have flu-like symptoms, any reason to believe that you were exposed or there is any doubt at all, please choose to quarantine and not come into public places so that we keep everyone as safe as possible,” the churches stated.
The churches also emphasised togetherness as a key way to go through the rest of the pandemic, however long it lasts.
They are also encouraging all attending in-person worship to follow all the protocols as the church continues to welcome people in especially as many families have had loss of jobs, experienced depression, anxiety, physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Pay attention to the science
On the controversial issue of vaccination, the Churches encouraged the population to pay attention to the science.
“We have an obligation to keep each other safe and to educate all for the service of the common good. While you have a free choice concerning the vaccine, we urge you to see what modern science has done in fighting so many diseases that haunted the world fifty years ago—Polio, Measles, Tetanus, Flu, Hepatitis B, Mumps, Chickenpox, Malaria, etc. In the service of all, many were vaccinated.
“Many citizens are still struggling with the information surrounding vaccination and this pandemic. We all have an obligation to make an informed moral choice that serves the common good. It has been repeatedly reported that 97% of the deaths from Covid-19 are unvaccinated people. Amidst the hesitation, we urge you to seriously consider taking the vaccine and the booster.”
However, there should not be disunity between the vaccinated and unvaccinated and meaningful discussions should be held with key stakeholders, the Churches added.
