Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

"Show concern by DOING something" says Archbishop Barry in Christmas message.

The Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales, has used his Christmas message this year to urge us all to DO something. Referring to two events of twenty years ago - the industrial disaster at Bhopal, India, and the release of the first Band Aid record - the Archbishop emphasises that the heart of the Christmas message is that God is deeply concerned with his world and "invites those who are his followers to join Him in his struggle against poverty, disease, war, hopelessness and despair".

In his message, the Archbishop says:

"This Christmas sees the 20th anniversary of two very different events. In 1984 the world's worst industrial disaster happened in the central Indian City of Bhopal. 3,000 people died after a leak at the American Union Carbide's Chemical plant. In fact 40 tonnes of highly poisonous methyl isocyanate gas escaped and it is alleged that there have been many thousands of deaths since then related to the accident.

"The other event of Christmas 1984 was the release of the fastest selling record in the history of pop music - the famous Band Aid single "Do they know it's Christmas" compiled by 40 top artists gathered by Bob Geldof in response to another tragedy in 1984, the terrible famine in Ethiopia. Millions of people bought the recording, the plight of the starving was brought to our attention and it seemed that not only was something practical being done for the people of Ethiopia, but people's awareness of the need to stop the appalling suffering facing millions of other people in areas devastated by war and famine might bring about lasting changes in the way we deal with other countries in need. And yet, twenty years on, a new version has been compiled by a further 40 music stars and this time the proceeds are to go to an area of the world ravaged by war and famine - Darfur in the Sudan. The images on our screens from that part of the world are still fresh enough for us to remember what's going on there and to invite us to ask - why can't things change?

"But that's the point, war, violence, famine and torture are everyday items in our newspapers. We are so used to them that we are shocked for an instant and then move on to another disaster - Afghanistan, Iraq, the Sudan. For us, our hearts are touched for a moment but for those caught up in these tragedies their lives are changed forever.

"The Bhopal tragedy, like many tragedies, could apparently have been avoided since it is claimed that union officials had warned the company, the state government and the people of Bhopal that there were leaks, poor maintenance and poor safety procedures. But what is clear, is that whoever was responsible, they did not set out to kill anyone deliberately, anymore than you and I would, decent people that we are. Yet, if the accusations are true as a result of inactivity, thousands of people died."

"Disasters and tragedies happen so often, not because people are evil or wicked, but because they have other things to do or are preoccupied with their own affairs. The world has more than enough food to supply the needs of every single person on this planet. We just lack the will and the concern to turn what is possible into reality - why? - because most governments and people are unconcerned about the problems of other countries until a tragedy on a Sudanese scale happens and then we are forced to react.

"The same was true that first Christmas. In the stories about the birth of Jesus, only one man is accused of being cruel and evil - that was Herod. The rest were just unconcerned and thoughtless. Apathy, indifference and lack of concern can and do kill people. "For evil to happen it is sufficient for good people to do nothing"

"The message of Christmas by contrast is that God is deeply concerned about his world. Here is a God who is so concerned that he gets totally involved and takes on himself the cost of that involvement through the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth. The Band Aid record actually takes up that challenge with its words "Let in light and banish shade for there's a world outside our window", which is God's world, and he invites us to join him in his crusade against everything that diminishes or distorts the lives of human beings.

"That's what Christian discipleship is all about and what gives me hope is that pop stars have grasped this central truth of the Gospel about praying for our world, caring for our world and doing something practical to help the poor of our world. For the heart of this festival of Christmas is that God in Jesus Christ identifies himself completely with his world, especially those who are poor or in trouble of any kind and invites those who are his followers to join Him in his struggle against poverty, disease, war, hopelessness and despair. Therein lies the meaning of love both divine and human."

ENDS