In global trouble spots, the force of faith
In early February, when the president of Senegal postponed a scheduled national election, street protests erupted over fears he might stay in power. Yet one of the most powerful voices for restoring the election 鈥� and calm 鈥� came from the League of Imams and Preachers of Senegal. The religious leaders asked President Macky Sall 鈥渢o ensure an honorable exit and give our country every chance to remain a haven of聽peace and stability.鈥� He relented.
Also in February, religious leaders in Mexico negotiated a truce between two drug cartels in the southern state of Guerrero. The rival gangs had escalated a turf war with a sharp rise in killings. The truce has since held, and the murder rate in the state has dropped by 23%. One Catholic bishop said the cease-fire has been maintained by constant prayer.
Meanwhile in gang-wracked Haiti, where one priest was able to arrange a temporary truce between gangs last year, many religious leaders have stayed put to meet the needs of the people. Last month, the country鈥檚 Catholic bishops invited 鈥渁ll Haitians, without distinction, to refrain from fuelling violence鈥� and support an effort to form an inclusive transitional government.
Such peace endeavors by faith leaders are being taken more seriously by governments these days. Last year, Samantha Power, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, called for officials to better engage religious workers in social and economic work.
鈥淲e must take religion into account,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n fact, when we fail to do so, we fail to tap into one of the world鈥檚 most powerful potential forces for change.鈥�
鈥淎t their best,聽religious聽traditions around the world remind us of the dignity of all people 鈥� dignity, a force that has spurred people to action,鈥� Ms. Power added.
Sometimes religious sentiment can be 鈥渁 catalyst for violence,鈥� as the United States Institute of Peace pointed out. Yet it can also be 鈥渁n unparalleled inspiration for reconciliation and healing,鈥� the institute noted.
鈥淓ven where religion is not an explicit presence, it is a cultural undercurrent that is immutably present 鈥� and one that is often vastly underestimated by policymakers.鈥�
Faith leaders are hardly underestimated in places such as Senegal, Mexico, and Haiti. They are in the public eye and not only in the pulpit. The rest of the world has taken note.
