Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau, Bahamas, believes it will take generations for there to be a turn around in society, and that it will require the sustained involvement of all sectors.

“The remedy for societal ills requires the participation of every sector of society – every man, woman and child, every officer of the law, every judge, every businessperson, every individual, rich or poor. If there is one weak or non-participating link, the chain of healing breaks,” he said while delivering the homily at the January 10 Red Mass for the judiciary.

He told those gathered at Nassau’s St Francis Xavier Cathedral for the annual celebration, including the Chief Justice, Supreme Court judges, the Attorney General and members of various arms of the judiciary, that as “guardians of public order and peace” they were particularly challenged by what was happening in society.

Archbishop Pinder with members of the judiciary after the Mass. Far right, Trinidad born Justice Stanley John.

He identified a few of the societal ills affecting the Bahamian society. Increased violent crime, especially homicides, was the first one identified. He said while many have suggested the law of retribution as a solution, the Church has always urged society not to follow this path. We need to discover “the true causes and so develop effective solutions to the challenge of violent crime”.

Archbishop Pinder also spoke of the effect the negative influences were having on family life. “Crumbling family life is more and more spoken of as a major source of societal rupture. In pursuit of material wealth, professional, political and social advancement, how many men and women have neglected their homes, spouses and children?

Are we not observing an ever-increasing number of neglected, abused, hostile, undisciplined and angry children?” He said it was no surprise that respect for authority is at an all-time low. “Among young men anger and violence have become the essential response to even minor disagreements and imagined slights. It has become the way to define manhood and to avoid having your masculinity called into question”. Young women were also following this behaviour, he added.

Overall, the archbishop felt society was faced with “distortion of values, lack of socialisation, a failure to take responsibility, and a failure of accountability”.

“It would seem as if the world is losing its grip on the proper centre of human life and dignity. We are letting go of the light of the world and stumbling into darkness”.

Archbishop Pinder said the main challenge then is “nothing less than the continuing, ongoing, demanding task of nation-building....It will take generations, not a short-term, half-hearted, on-again off-again effort, but the work and commitment of generations. And our generation must rise to the challenge.”

He urged the judiciary to partner with the Church and other members of civil society.

“The law has a role to play and civil society has a role to play. If we continue to turn a blind eye to the so-called small infractions, the incidents of incivility, they will escalate to the truly intolerable crimes. Every time we accept the graffiti on the walls, the discarding of waste in our streets, the despoiling of the environment, the running of red lights, the ‘little’ thefts from the supermarket, the foul language in our streets or defrauding the national revenue, we risk driving incivility into the arms of its big brother crime.”

He urged members of the judiciary to move forward in courage, to proclaim the right stand even if it may be unpopular. “Have the courage to look below the surface and to get to the root of things. Have the courage to show mercy as we have been shown mercy.”