A Methodist Church leader has expressed criticism over the church’s inaction in addressing a growing national crisis, which includes increasing drug trafficking, teenage pregnancies, sexual violence, and rising HIV/AIDS cases. Reverend Iliesa Koroi, the Evangelism Secretary for the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, emphasized the need for the church to take more effective measures to confront these issues.
Reverend Koroi pointed out that the Government and local communities, or ‘vanua,’ are becoming exhausted in their efforts to tackle these social problems, attributing this fatigue in part to the church’s lack of involvement. He stated, “The Government and the vanua have exhausted themselves in trying to combat these social issues because we, the prophets, are not doing our job.”
He criticized church leaders, saying, “People don’t change through education but through the word of God,” and asserted that these social issues require a spiritual response. Furthermore, he stressed the urgency for the church to engage more actively with the youth, who are facing challenges such as HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, and pornography.
Reverend Koroi commented on the limitations of law enforcement, stating, “The police will get tired of uprooting and raiding drugs when these issues are not addressed from within themselves, and for this to happen, it needs God.” He firmly believed that only divine intervention could bring about change in Fiji.
He also addressed the decline of family unity and communal prayer, urging families to reconnect and pray together to strengthen their bonds.
In response to a proposal by Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya to reintroduce the death penalty for serious drug offenses, Reverend Koroi described this approach as counterproductive. He remarked, “She is a minister but can’t address the issue properly; instead, she proposes death. That is not the solution,” asserting that solutions should focus on the underlying causes of crime instead of extreme measures.
Reverend Koroi called for unity among religious leaders, encouraging faith communities to collaborate in addressing the country’s pressing social challenges. “Let’s work together,” he urged, marking his re-election to his position.