Chaplain Santucci:Remember Covenant of Mercy
[Written by Chaplain Kevin Santucci]
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James 5:1-11
I am sorry that I was not standing beside the people of Bermuda over the last three days, from January 26 to 28, 2015 due to standing beside my daughter [Kevina Santucci] as she goes through treatment for a year in Boston with a rare cancer at Mass. General Hospital.On a positive note, I was happy to see Bermuda come together with one voice to say we can do things much better then what we are doing to reduce the national deficit.
As Chaplain of the City of Hamilton, Presiding Chaplain of the East-end Prisons of Bermuda, and ministry in many other area of services to our community. I, Chaplain Kevin Santucci, would like to address a mounting problem that is affecting all in Bermuda or will affect all in Bermuda and even those in our care in the prisons in Bermuda. May it be clear, this letter is not the intent of me to talk or bring down anyone or office of anyone, but to recount the events of historical importance over the last seven days in Bermuda.
On January 23, 2015, an unprecedented and extraordinary mass walkout was held by lawyers disputing the failure of Government to appoint one of their own to become the Director of Public Prosecutions. Protesters who gathered around were severely disappointed by the non-appointment of this highly qualified Bermudian for the position of Director of Public Prosecutions.
As fate would have it, Mr. Rory Field was reappointed to the post for 2 more years at a special sitting of the Supreme Court Judiciary. “Protesters came from all walks of life and included several top lawyers of the Judiciary System. This crowd of concerned Bermudians conducted this protest peacefully and respectfully outside of the courtroom during Mr. Field’s address at the ceremonial opening of Bermuda’s 2015 Legal Year.”
Three days later, Monday, January 26, 2015, the Government through the Minister for Home Affairs announced that it had taken temporary stewardship of the Corporation of Hamilton with Cabinet’s approval. This means that the Mayor and Council have been stripped of their powers relating to matters of governance without having reached a resolution.
This unexplainable disregard for fair play is indicative of what happens when some Members of Parliament sit in the Upper House of Bermuda in secret chambers and initiate a course of action that singly determines who should be in-charge of governance, power and responsibility for important positions in Parishes, Corporations and Government Broads. Where do we as people fit into this process?
Through my belief in God and the rules of fairness in law I deem actions such as this unacceptable, reprehensible, and unlawful. My concern is that such activities disrupt the peacefulness of this island and shows a total disregard for our ability as educated and highly qualified Bermudians to be chosen to serve our fellow Bermudians in reputable offices of Government.
If we continue to undermine our local man and woman in Education, in Health, on Government Boards, in Corporations, we dishonor those who are truly worthy of the post and who have genuine concern for our young people and the part that this governmental system stains the future of our young people.
Marlee Matlin is right, “There are so many people, deaf or otherwise disabled, who are so talented but overlooked or not given a chance to even get their foot in the door.” These are fearful moments in Bermuda’s history.
“Fear is the most debilitating emotion in the world, and it can keep you from ever truly knowing yourself and others. Its adverse effects can no longer be overlooked or underestimated. Fear breeds hatred, and hatred has the power to destroy everything in its path.” Kevyn Aucoin
On January 28th, 2015, as the morning rolled around, thousands of disgruntled people decided that enough was enough and walked onto the Cabinet grounds in Bermuda after three days of stand-off between the Bermuda Trade Union Congress and Government. Some people were so aggrieved that they spent the night on the Cabinet grounds, while others marched, played drums and carried signs as they walked through the streets.
Today three days of industrial action and extensive disruption to public services has cost everyone. It is time for us all to work together!
Just stop and take a look at those who are looking on, the children, over-seas territories’, visitors, and our even our prisoners. How is it that we as a nation find it hard to get along, look for the good in all mankind, and or respect one another?
A few weeks ago the news was covered with more gang wars and violence with guns and knives. Yet today we have political parties coming together like gangs to harm another political party, council, union members, and even leaders in our community. There fight in not with guns and knives, but legislation, words, and the pen.
Silence is Golden! Touch not God’s anointed, and do His Servant no harm we are told by the book. Stand still! God is with His people and He reminds all, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
The late Hon. Robert Nesta [Bob] Marley O.M. said that, “Until the philosophy that holds races as superior and inferior are discredited permanently there will be no peace and everywhere will be war.”
It is time to put up our tools of war, learn how to come together and wake up and live. Because, “life is one big road with lots of signs, so when you riding through the ruts, don’t you complicate your mind: Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy! Don’t bury your thoughts; put your vision to reality.” Its time to wake up and live!
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Galatians 3:13
Today it is time to open our eyes, and see that we have a beautiful country and beautiful people. We should never give up your heritage to a system that does not honor and respect all as equal, it does not matter who is in power as government in Bermuda or any other country.
This is not the spirit of working and coming together for a common good! Surely, there never was a time when God did not exist and surely there never was a moment when it was not the delight of the eternal mind to manifest His grace to all humanity.
It is time to rise from this pit of undermining one another and respect everyone, and not just a few. So let us pull it together, work together, sit down together, disagree but yet be agreeable together, eat together, play together, and pray together. Let those who are oppressed by men and or even under a sense of sin remember that there is hope for them.
The salvation of the human race has ever been the object of the councils of heaven, and it should be the same on earth. Remember, the covenant of mercy was made before the foundation of the world. It has existed from all eternity, and is called the everlasting covenant. May we learn its lessons and show mercy and work with all men today.
- Chaplain Kevin Santucci
The deficit
The debt
The political fights
Oh and not to mention the almost 200 persons who will be made redundant from the Insurance companies merging and/ leaving in a couple of months.
Don’t worry, God will fix it and maybe also make sure all expats get out of our country.
isn’t that why we have collection in churches.
The biggest ponzi scheme going !!!!
THERE IS NO SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR RACE….IF YOU THINK THERE IS, THEN IT IS IN YOUR HEAD THAT THE PROBLEM LIVES.
This article in utter nonesense on so many levels it would take an article 5 time the size to deal with it. The irony is that my fear is that people out there actually think this way and try yo convince others to follow. Terrifying.
Kevin is only speaking out now because he is unhappy with a decision that affects him on a personal level!
Nice piece, even though I personally believe we should have a strict separation of church and state and matters of public interest should not have anything to do with the private institution which is the church, namely the seventh day Adventist church with its insane beliefs (only 144,000 people in heaven all SDA of course) and disregard to the feelings and rights of homosexuals (see Southampton SDA church “ex gay conversion therapy)
You quoted Bob Marley but what you don’t know, and it doesn’t surprise me that you don’t know this; after all your profession is to perpetuate a myth, is that the quote you used (and the entire song “war”) was an address to the United Nations during the invasion of Ethiopia by none other than His Imperial Majesty Hilae Selassie (Tafari Makonnen).
So please, no more opinion pieces from you. Unless you studied economics and have some great ideas to earn revenue for our broke government, your input, and that of the church isn’t needed. We don’t write our opinions on your church don’t write an opinion on our perceived issues.
You sound bitter! Who hurt you?
@ this is without a doubt – your are confused: Jehovah Witnesses believe only 144,000. Also, is Seventh-Day Adventist Church the only ones with “insane beliefs”? To be clear, I believe in separation of church and state for the reasons such as this. No where does Kevin Santucci indicate he is speaking on behalf of Seventh-Day Adventists. If you are wondering, yes – I was raised in an Adventist home but I am not a member of the Church. So I do not speak for them.
Actually “Bermuda momma” I’m not. It was specified in Ellen G Whites “the great controversy” and more recently republished in 1957 under the name “the triumph of Gods love”.
Another insane beliefs of the seventh day adventist church is that the catholic church are the beast in revelation. Literally condemning millions of people to hell.
Also, I never said he was speaking on behalf of the SDA church. I actually thought he was speaking from his totally unnecessary position as Chaplin of the COH.
Leopards never change their spots, tell me one thing about NY comment that isnt factual? If the truth hurts than trust me in not the one who is bitter and hurt.
@this is without a doubt – if you thought he was speaking from his position as Chaplin of the Corporation of Hamilton, why mention the SDA Church at all?
Additionally, it is my opinion that the SDA Church is not the only church / religion with “insane beliefs”.
Chaplain Santucci, I think you need to be having that conversation with the members of the Corporation of Hamilton.
I think many people are overstating the real significance of the BTUC march. Did any private sector unionized workers, other than BELCO, a monopoly, march with the BTUC? No. Is it possible that private sector unionized employees have suffered extensively (over 6,000 positions lost, 0 in Govt. sector) with businesses shrinking, closing and amalgamating in our lengthy recession? Is it possible that they have very little in common with public sector employees who they view possibly view as protected, lazy, insulated, overpaid, arrogant & unaccountable etc.? Really makes you wonder…………
Yes there were others that marched outside of belco and dockworkers..master’s staff and hotel workers were in full support.
Dockworkers, another monopoly. Hotels all empty so they have almost all been laid off for winter. I can guarantee none of these people will support farmers when they drive their tractors onto Cabinet grounds to protest no AG Show this year. Another thing, you hardly ever see Govt. workers and unions doing charity work or donating.
Sunday.
Must be Super Bowl.
Fill them plates.
I need a rum.
What a beautiful piece. Thank you for sharing.
Politics is the most important of the civil activities and has it’s own field of action, which is not that of religion. Political institutions asserted secular by definition and operate in independent spheres. (Pope Francis)
Wtf did i just read? What complete nonsense!
Really !!!!! . …. more crap different day…
I’m one who supported and continue to support the BTUC through this whole debacle, and I can honestly say that this is one of the most disingenuous pieces I can recall reading in recent memory. It reminds me of a Southern megachurch, which is scary. I understand that Mr. Santucci is a very important member of our social fabric, and does a LOT of good, but this brand of bombastic, unrelatable dialogue is cultish on an uncomfortable level.
Jibberish.
Nothing of substance in this article at all.
You can use Bible verses to prove or disprove any point! The book is riddled with inequality for slaves and women.
Leviticus 25:44-46 “However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way.”
Exodus 21:1-4 “If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.”
Deuteronomy 20:14 “But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself”
2 Samuel 12:11-14 “Thus says the Lord: ‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives [plural] while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.’
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered David: “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.”
Sic.