Catholic Commission for Social Justice
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“We don’t want our institutions to become petri dishes” —US Attorney General William Barr.
Like the US Attorney-General, those in authority in T&T are concerned about the potential dangers of overcrowded prisons in the face of COVID-19. In some countries, certain categories of inmates have been released early to avoid the spread of the virus within prisons. The challenge will always be balancing between public health and public safety.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“…let us thank the Lord for having entered through our closed doors with his mercy, for calling us, like Thomas, by name, and for giving us the grace to continue writing his Gospel of love.” (Pope Francis)
As we all hunker down behind closed doors during the current stay-at-home measures in the face of COVID-19, let us sit with our family and engage in Lectio Divina using today’s gospel, John 20:19–31.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“Let us not keep our faces bowed to the ground in fear, but raise our eyes to the risen Jesus. His gaze fills us with hope, for it tells us that we are loved unfailingly, and that however much we make a mess of things, his love remains unchanged. This is the one, non-negotiable certitude we have in life: his love does not change.” (Pope Francis).
Yes, my friends, God is love and His love is demonstrated by His Son’s Resurrection. In this time of crisis, let us turn to the risen Lord. He is our hope, our light and our salvation.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“Everyone is a leader of conscience…When our hearts are calm and pure, our wisdom will be unleashed…If all of us follow the guidance of our conscience, we can transform the world and accelerate humanity toward a better future”.—Dr Hong Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL)
Today, Palm Sunday, and the start of Holy Week, the world celebrates the first International Day of Conscience.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
I share hereunder a speech I delivered in London at a Thanksgiving Service organised by my now deceased friend, Rev Patricia Stephens, in London in 2011: