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In the post-COVID era, countries need new leaders who will give up corrupt practices and not merely give in to extremism and racism
By Father Reid Shelton Fernando | Sri Lanka
Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela stated: "Racism cannot be overcome by racism; the psychology of revenge destroys nations while non-revengeful attitude can build any nation."
One day during his tenure as South African president, together with his security officers, he went on inspection. They stopped at a wayside restaurant to lunch. Mandela noticed a person at the adjoining table and requested his officers invite the stranger to their table. As the stranger ate his meal in silence, his hands were trembling all the time.
Once the stranger left, the security personnel told the president that the man who hardly spoke a word and trembled, must have been unwell. It was then that Mandela revealed that the man was his security guard in prison. And daily he had taken Mandela to the torture chambers and inflicted painful torture.
This anecdote from this exemplary politician shows the moral remedy of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-24) of St. Paul to heal ills that prevail in many nations. This is very much applicable to Sri Lankans who are about to elect members to the National Assembly.
Sri Lankans are mostly Sinhala Buddhists and the founder of their creed, Lord Buddha, preached that politics is for human welfare and not to cultivate hatred.
Unfortunately, most of our political leaders and heads of religions do not follow this valuable teaching.
The Buddhist monks who have decided to seek seats in the legislature do not adhere to the precepts of their own religion.
The Christian minority in the country have failed in the field of politics as they too have not heeded the teachings in their scripture.
Catholic leaders have failed to exercise their authority to educate political leaders and voters in the importance of social and human values for the common good and the welfare of the people, especially of the poor.
Pope Pius XII (1939-58) stated that a political platform is the best possible place where Christian charity can be practiced. Do our Catholic parliamentarians adhere seriously in their activities?
The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) issued Gaudium et spes, the pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world. The second part of the fourth chapter indicates "The Life of the Political Community" and numbers 73-76 give guidelines for Christian politicians and others.
Citizens must cultivate a generous and loyal spirit of patriotism, but without being narrow-minded. This means that they will always direct their attention to the good of the whole human family, united by the different ties which bind together races, people and nations.
All Christians must be aware of their own specific vocation within the political community. It is for them to give an example by their sense of responsibility and their service of the common good. In this way they are to demonstrate concretely how authority can be compatible with freedom, personal initiative with the solidarity of the whole social organism, and the advantages of unity with fruitful diversity.
The teachings of the Second Vatican Council is relevant to Sri Lanka. Though these words were formulated 55 years ago, they convey the values and attitudes for all to emulate, just as Mandela did.
Citizens need to read this document to assess their role and duties. The heads of religions are also duty-bound to educate citizens on such matters.
In the post-COVID era, countries need new leaders who will give up corrupt practices and not merely satisfy the whims and fancies of those fermenting extremism, racism.
Finally, I advocate the harmony of religions and politics wherein the values of one flow smoothly to the other in the realization of the fullness of human society -- with equality, fair play and justice -- and that love may dominate the political arena.
Father Reid Shelton Fernando is a prominent human rights defender in Sri Lanka. He was a university lecturer and former chaplain of the Young Christian Workers Movement. He is well known for his writings and commentaries on social and political issues.
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