The Community of the Seventh Day Adventist Church is describing the attack on Roman Catholic Priest Fr Clyde Harvey as not merely an assault on a religious leader, “but a direct onslaught on God himself.”
Archbishop of Port-of-Spain Joseph Harris, however, sees something positive in the attack, while Police Youth Club head Derrick Sharbodie believes the attack was a message to the priest to leave the community.
The differing views have emerged even as the police try to find the bandits who tied up and robbed Harvey early Monday morning as he was leaving the presbytery at the St Martin de Porres Church in Gonzalves for Mt St Benedict to attend a two-day seminar.
SDA communications director Pastor Steve Riley said, “The nefarious elements in our society continue to blatantly demonstrate that not only do they have little regard for law and order but now they are exhibiting flagrant disrespect for God.”
As a result of the attack, he said the church is now calling upon “all leaders of Parliament, institutional leaders, parents, guardians and patriotic citizens to reinforce all efforts in the fight against this scourge of criminal activity currently inundating our twin-island state.”
Riley said: “We believe it is imperative that our country is returned to a place where God is greatly revered by its citizens, lest it becomes a nation overrun and ruled by the miscreants of our society.”
The attack has also been condemned by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who felt the criminals had sunk to a new low.
More than 24 hours after the attack, Archbishop Harris admitted he had not had time to “sit with him and go through everything,” but described the attack as a “sign of the times in which we live.”
He said while people may disagree with him “when the church of priests experience that, it gives them a sense of what people go through and they are able to sympathise and be more empathetic to them.”
Harris added: “We would always be concerned about the people in parishes who suffer that kind of assault and abuse. But when you experience it yourself you understand a bit more what people are going through.”
Adopting a pragmatic approach, he said “these things happen”, attacks are not new and in the past he knew of priests who had been hurt in attacks.
Harris had no information on reports the bandits asked Harvey whether he (Archbishop) would pay $50,000 if Harvey were kidnapped.
On the issue of beefed up security, Harris said that decision would have to be taken by parishes in discussion with their finance committees if they think it is necessary. But he said most of the parishes are well secured.
Sharbodie, head of the St James Police Youth Club, meanwhile described the attack on Harvey as “unfortunate.”
Sharbodie said he felt it is exactly because of the impact Harvey has had on the criminal element in Gonzalves and environs that he was attacked.
“Connect the dots, that question of the robbery of the phone and threat of life. It is a form of psychology to tell him pack up and leave because of the work he is doing. It is the criminal element’s way of telling him to pack up and leave.”
