Categories
columns2019

Celebrating diversity

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

“God does not reveal himself in the abstract, but by using languages, imagery and expressions that are bound to different cultures…The phenomenon of culture is, in its various aspects, an essential datum of human experience.” –Pope Benedict XVI, 2010.

Cultural diversity plays an important role in human development and in nation building. Sadly, fear of ‘the other’, of those whose ethnicity, race, traditions, cultural practices etc are different from ours, often prevent us from building inclusive societies.

Share
Categories
columns2016

Moorings to hold us together

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

Over the next two days we will see the culmination of weeks of feting during the 2016 Carnival season. Once again, CCSJ urges citizens and visitors to enjoy themselves during Carnival without abandoning self-control and modesty in dress and behaviour.

In 2011, CCSJ established a Standing Committee to focus on the Pastoral Priority: Regenerating the Moral and Spiritual Values of our Society. It was chaired by Prof Surindra Arjoon. Members included then Msgr Jason Gordon (now Bishop Gordon), the late Fr Henry Charles, Sr Roberta O’Flaherty CHF, Annette des Iles, Ramona Khan, Ruth Saunders, Maria Diaz-James, the late Clive Belgrave, and me. Our work was informed by Msgr Jason’s paper: “T&T in crisis: A discussion starter.”

Share