Bishop Cleary: Gambia's Image Tarnished In The Past Year

Daily Observer (Banjul)

December 12, 2000

Banjakey Valentine
Banjul

Michael Cleary, the Catholic bishop of Banjul, has said that "The world longs
for peace and is in a desperate need of peace. Yet wars, conflicts, increasing
violence and situations of unrest and poverty continue to cause divisions
between individuals and peoples. Our own country's reputation as a peaceful and
peace-loving country has been tarnished in this past year."

Bishop Cleary, who was delivering his sermon at this year's Kunkujang Mariama
pilgrimage, Saturday, December 9, further lamented, "lives of young people have
been lost in what were meant to be peaceful demonstrations that turned out to be
armed clashes. Later, armed gangs resorted to criminal activity in attempting to
destroy a radio station.

Newspaper headlines included the following: 'Radio 1 DJ flees house, following
threats', 'Gangs attack bars, motels, sex workers'. Let us hope that in these
cases, justice will be done and seen to be done. There are legitimate forms of
protest but these do not include threats to life and the wanton destruction of
property."

Speaking on the theme, "Peace begins in the family', Bishop Cleary said the
contributions which the family can offer to preserving and promoting peace is
'most important'. He added, "The family is a community of life and love. It is
the ideal means for transmitting religious and cultural values. These values
must not just be taught, but must be witnessed in a family setting. Which leaves
out that self-giving love which is capable of accepting those who are different
and making their needs its own.

"Another serious obstacle to the development of peace is the fact that many
children are deprived of the warmth of a family. In order to count on a peaceful
future, every child needs to experience the warmth of caring and constant
affection," he added.

This year's annual celebration was the fourteenth to take place at the southern
Kombo village of Kunkujang Mariama.

The celebration and prayers began with a vigil mass on Friday evening. On
Saturday morning, benediction was led by Fr Bruno Toupan, then the pontifical
mass was celebrated by pilgrims, priests and the principal celebrant, Bishop
Cleary.

At 3:30pm, pilgrims gathered at the shrine, reciting the 'ways of cross' and
prayed at the grotto to Virgin Mary.

This year's pilgrimage attracted thousands of worshippers from across the
country and Senegal.

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