Stop haus krai to avoid virus: Bishop

A CHURCH leader says that certain Melanesian practices such gathering at haus krais (mourning places) should be stopped to combat the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.
Catholic Bishop of Kundiawa Bishop Paul Sundu said this in his presentation on Catholic Social Teachings to 80 participants of a Risk Communication and Community Engagement workshop in Mingende, Chimbu last week.
“The Covid-19 in our context if it is hitting hard here, many of us could have died already,” Bishop Paul said.
“If we are talking about Covid-19 then we have to talk about our culture as well.”
He said life was not regarded as vital in some parts of the world until Covid-19 struck.
“Life is a gift from God,” Bishop Paul said.
“We have to respect life.
“Life has an unalienable right.
“That is a right that cannot be taken away by the fact that you are created in the image and likeness of God.
“For that reason, no one has a right to take away life.”
Bishop Paul said human beings were superior because of our ability to reason, inheritance of dignity, created in the image and likeness of God, and with a spiritual and immortal soul.
Bishop Paul said the focus needed to be on protecting lives.
The workshop was aimed at empowering the advocators in schools, parishes, community-based organisations and others to engage communities to become resilient against the Covid-19.
The workshop, organised by Caritas PNG through Kundiawa office and supported by Caritas Australia, involved senior teachers coming from 42 agency schools in Chimbu, pastoral workers from 15 parishes, and stakeholders.
Bishop Paul urged participants to share the divinity of God to the community in protecting lives and human dignity.