Catholic Bishop Christopher Glancy Prays Pointedly for Belize

Christopher Glancy

Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, Christopher Glancy, delivered Wednesday’s invocation at the Independence Day celebrations. But was he more to the point than the PM and the Leader of the Opposition? At least part of it was an indictment of governments’ missteps which have put them – and the nation – in peril. But whatever the nation’s sins, the Bishop prayed for a new start, pleading with God to bring the nation back together despite our many differences.

Christopher Glancy, Bishop, Roman Catholic Church

“Sometimes, God of justice we have used our sovereign power to steal from the poor and the powerless. Those in power had fixed the scales and sued the system to personal advantage, ultimately cheating the nation of its limited resources for the gain of a few. Continue to guide us so that we may live justly that sovereignty you Lord have given to us, avoiding all corruption and injustice, holding those who cheat to justly repay and working always fro the common good. We are striving to be a strong people, not in military might or material riches or great number of people; we are strong in faith, in our prayer and in our hope. We are strong in caring for one another, especially for the weakest among us—the infirmed, the elderly, young children, the poor, those lost in addiction. At the same time, we see weakness in our land. Some use violence on the streets, killing others and creating a false sense of strength. Some abuse their power in workplace or at home, often with those most vulnerable. Continue to strengthen us god of all love in our love for you and for one another. Living in your love, we are strong. At other times, some among us use the old strategy of divide and conquer, pitting the interest of one church against the other or one group of workers against another or one ethnic group against another. Some seek to divide. Help us merciful god to come together always to work for the common good of our people and be a nation living in prosperity and peace. We are one Belize. Yes, almighty god, you have created us in wonderful diversity—Mayan, Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna, Mennonite, with a host of other ethnicities represented as well. We are women and men, old and young, heterosexual and homosexual, we are U.D.P. and P.U.P., B.P.P. and other political parties. We are farmers, fisherfolks, teachers, medical professionals, merchants, tourism workers, pastors, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and much, much more. In all of that diversity, Almighty God, make us one Belize—one to stand together, one as we treasure the multiple gifts with which you bless us.”