The production of a Carnival band by the Catholic Church has opened up a Pandora's Box of debate on whether a church should be involved in a secular event, generally described as "of the flesh" and "bacchanal". Some of the religious leaders the T&T Guardian spoke to on the matter condemned the move.
While members of churches have brought out bands in the past, no large church body has ever attempted such a move before.
The Catholic mas band, Genesis 1-Creation, will hit the streets on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It's being presented by The Word and Associates, a new mas entity made primarily of parishioners from St Anthony's RC Church, Petit Valley. Committee members include Derek Walcott and veteran mas producer Raoul Garib. Organisers said the band would provide an opportunity for masqueraders to enjoy Carnival without the vulgarity.
Below, religious leaders give their views on the matter.
Pastor Winston Cuffie, senior pastor, Miracle Ministries:
"I am not surprised. I do not see anything strange about it as Carnival is part of the Roman Catholic faith.
"Carnival has to do with the freeing of the flesh and on Ash Wednesday you repent and go into the Lenten period. "In principle every Carnival band is a Catholic band as it is a Catholic festival. "My ministry would never be part of Carnival activities. We have always taken a particular moral stance and people have come to respect us for that. "We will not encourage revelry. We are against Carnival and we will influence people to move away from that behaviour. "I've heard different reasons why they are bringing out a band. One thought was that they are trying to raise money and to even win the Band of the Year prize money."
Imtiaz Mohammed, head of the Islamic Missionaries Guild:
"Muslims generally do not support Carnival. There are so many immoral activities involved - the feting, drinking of alcohol, dancing. "Muslims condemn Carnival on the whole. It also goes against every teaching of the scriptures of all religions. "I wouldn't agree with any church getting involved in it. If you want to reach out to people involved in it, you need to educate them on what it is about."
Canon Claude Berkley, rector, All Saints parish, Newtown:
"I feel the initiative is something worth exploring. We as a people are not ready to deal with the issue of church participation in Carnival. "I am concerned that the band could attract people who would still engage in vulgar behaviour, thereby defeating the entire purpose. "I remember Father Harcourt Blackett, a Roman Catholic priest from Barbados, who in the early 1990s attempted to bring forth a band for Crop Over. Unfortunately his idea did not see fruiton. "Will the Anglican archdiocese attempt a similar venture in the future? Not in a hurry."
Ravi Ji, Hindu spiritual leader and community activist:
"I totally agree with it and congratulate the people who conceptualised this. "As a community worker I am thrilled by this initiative. This is how a society tries to deal with the problem of vulgarity. "Criticisms are also important. A society mustn't accept everything. I do see my own organisation engaging in similar initiatives but not necessarily Carnival. "Should we take religion to the rumshops? To the square at nights? Yes, we should."
Phillip Reid, Seventh-Day Adventist pastor:
"Carnival has a particular culture. For a Christian church to go into it and tell people how to play mas is an unnecessary compromise. "It's opening doors for people who are anti-Carnival. If the priest could play mas, who is me? "When you are out there, if the spirit takes control of you... It's not the right forum for witnessing. It's not good for the Christian community."
Bishop Monica Randoo, Spiritual Baptist leader:
"I think they're up to making some kind of point. I really don't know... I would not condemn them.
"It's a really bold thrust. The Catholic Church is very much into keeping their own flock. Remember their adherents play a lot of mas. "This is deep, deep business. If anybody has to go into Carnival, it's the Catholic Church. "They tend to understand Carnival. Carnival and Lent is from the Roman Catholic people.
"I would not see the fundamental Protestants making such a move into the culture. "The Catholic Church must have looked at it prayerfully and carefully. But Carnival is bacchanal. It's the way of the flesh."