‘Ungodly, cruel’

Reverend Leon Paul Golding, head of the Anglican Church in Jamaica, has condemned recent actions taken by the United States (US) against Cuba as “ungodly”.

Addressing the opening service of the 155th Synod of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, Golding also criticised the Jamaican Government for ending its decades-long medical cooperation with the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation, suggesting it was done in accordance with the domineering of a foreign power.

“The actions of the USA against the Cuban people in recent times, ... those actions are cruel; they’re ungodly. Though we may disagree with their political views, they have been helpful neighbours and have contributed positively to various sectors in Caribbean nations,” Golding stated.

Since January, the US has restricted oil shipments to Cuba. This oil blockade has resulted in widespread blackouts and exacerbated economic hardships, with the United Nations warning of escalating humanitarian crises.

The move is part of a broader pressure campaign by the Trump administration to force regime change on the communist island.

Recently, several countries in the region, including Jamaica, have ended their agreements with Cuba medical brigades.

When Jamaica ended its 50-year-old agreement with Cuba last month, it cited concerns that certain aspects of the programme contravened the nation’s laws and international conventions. However, the Government has been criticised for bowing to US pressure.

Golding argued that many Jamaicans are “genuinely concerned about the health sector and its immediate future”, after almost 300 Cuban medical personnel were withdrawn from the system.

The bishop contends that it is the poorer class who will be most impacted by this loss.

“It is sad that after 50 years, the relationship that our Government had with the Cuban government to help staff our health sector has ended because of the dictates of a foreign power,” he said.

“With the majority of the Cuban medical professions returning home, the poor will suffer longer delays before being seen and treated by a doctor. Patients have already lost hope that their medical condition will improve soon,” Golding said.

Meanwhile, highlighting current geopolitical tensions, shifts in ideologies and relationships between countries, and technology advancements, he also charged the Church to adopt a flexible, renewed attitude to remain relevant and effective in a changing world.

“Ignorance is not a Christian virtue,” he stated.

“If the Church is to remain relevant, we cannot close our minds to new research, discoveries, and developments across various disciplines, including the use of artificial intelligence,” he added.

According to the bishop, some new developments can be helpful in carrying out God’s mission. He contends that if the Church is to remain faithful to God’s call, it may need to “ let go of some old practices, and even the old theology”.

“Let me warn, though, that this does not mean adopting every new idea or invention indiscriminately. Some innovations may be harmful or incompatible with the way of Christ. Nevertheless, we must be willing to listen. Through dialogue, the Holy Spirit reveals truth and guides the Church. Listening to others and their stories can itself be a form of evangelism, helping people move forward with hope,” he said.

Referencing the parable in Luke 5:36-39, which expounded the importance of storing new wines in new wineskins, Golding explained that sometimes the old and new do not work well together, and stated that Jesus was challenging religious leaders to be more open to change and think outside the box.

“The religious leaders of Jesus’ time were rigid in their thinking and strict in their observance of tradition. Jesus challenged them to be flexible, like new wineskins, capable of expanding and adapting. Whatever changes the new wine undergoes, new wineskins can accommodate because of their elasticity. Likewise, we must stretch our minds and remain open to new possibilities,” he said.

This attitude will prove critical as churches across denominations were severely impacted and are still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Mellisa last year.

While noting that the hurricane exposed weaknesses in ecclesial systems, forcing churches to think more creatively about resilient infrastructure, Golding also asserts that the changes churches are experiencing also presents an opportunity.

“Could there be a message for us as Christian communities? Is God calling us into a new season of

ecumenical relationships? As the Church, we must do things differently,” he said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com