JAN 03

Roman Catholic priest Fr. Mark Haynes has warned children to avoid going to places that are dangerous to avoid being hurt by what he called "bad people".

"A lot of bad things happen to children. The worse thing that could happen to children is when bigger people do bad things to them", said the Roman Catholic priest who is the Administrator of the Roman Catholic Cathedral.

He was at the time delivering the homily during the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Innocent at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in St. George's on Monday.

Holy Innocent which is celebrated during the Christmas season marked the death of hundreds of babies killed by King Herod in his attempt to destroy baby Jesus.

The local Clergyman told the children that they must "recognise people who want to do bad things to you since bad things should not happen to little children".

According to the Roman Catholic priest, when one looks at the news of the day, one sees a lot of suffering and dying, adding that most times children are the ones affected.

He also took a swipe at parents, accusing some of them of not treating their children well and failing to give them the necessary love and attention they badly need.

"And it is even worse when parents do bad things to children. Parents beat them, they cuss them and all sorts of things", he remarked.

The Cathedral Administrator noted that in order to avoid any form of social contact with their children, some parents would order their children to play with toys or look at television. "Parents must show more love for their children or else they will go and look for it some where else", said the Clergyman.

Fr. Haynes also stressed the need for the spiritual development of children saying that there is a need for them to grow up in the fear and love of God.

"Some parents don't go or bring their children to Church. It is important to walk with God in this world so that when we die He will welcome us in His Kingdom", he said.

He stressed that the world of today has become selfish and greedy with people refusing to share and that it is not an easy place to live.
The local Clergyman suggested that the home should provide protection for children so that bad things do not happen to them.
He urged children to show love and respect and to obey their parents and not to forget to apologise when they are disrespectful and dis-obedient to others.

Fr. Mark told the congregation that the children who were killed over 2000 years resulting in the Feast of the Holy Innocent which they celebrated did nothing wrong.

He told them that the children who were killed by Herod gave something special to Jesus which is their lives so that he can live.
The Clergyman reminded the congregation of the need to make sacrifices and not to be afraid to look out for those who are less fortunate than themselves in the society.