ASIA/BANGLADESH - A Bishop: the coronavirus teaches us the lesson of unity and the common good

Tuesday, 12 May 2020 human rights   human dignity   solidarity   politics   religious minorities   unity  

Dhaka (Agenzia Fides) - In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease that has attacked humanity, despite the suffering, some positive aspects can be seen: in a pastoral letter sent to the faithful of his diocese and Agenzia Fides, Mgr. Gervas Rozario Bishop of the diocese of Rajshahi, proposes some of them. First of all, in forced confinement at home, you have "time to dedicate yourself to family members, spending quality time with them", he notes. In addition, the virus "makes no difference between who is rich or who is in need", so "rich and powerful people learn to assess people in need as human beings" and teaches not to live separately, but "to be united", notes the Bishop, who is also vice president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB).
Bishop Gervas adds: "In this crisis, we can feel how fragile we are, we are all mortal. If we treat nature badly for our self-interest, nature reacts negatively. Coronavirus is a reaction of nature, it should not surprise us", he adds.
And as we take care of personal hygiene and "wash our hands often", he notes "in the same way, we should take care of our soul keeping it pure and clear". In the era permeated by the conquests of technology, the text notes, "we should not forget God: during the COVID-19 crisis, we must return to God". "We are all the same because only one God created us. He gave us the same dignity. We should always think of the common good: Coronavirus reminds us of this", explains the Bishop. And he adds: "We all depend on each other. This pandemic encourages us to do something for the needy".
And even if "those who are powerful at a political, economic, social, religious level are all affected by the coronavirus, this teaches us that we cannot save ourselves only with our own power, therefore we should all value others". Then, the letter concludes, "this crisis can only be overcome by joining forces: COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to be united, so we can overcome this challenge". (FC-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 12/5/2020)


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