In response to a deteriorating national crisis characterized by rising drug trafficking, teenage pregnancies, sexual crimes, and increasing HIV/AIDS rates, a Methodist Church official has criticized the church’s inaction.
Reverend Iliesa Koroi, the Evangelism Secretary for the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, highlighted the church’s failure to address these pressing social issues, stressing the need for more decisive action. He noted that both the Government and the ‘vanua’ have become overwhelmed in their efforts to combat these crises, largely due to the church’s lack of engagement.
“The Government and the vanua have exhausted themselves trying to tackle these social problems because we, the prophets, are not fulfilling our responsibilities,” he stated. He emphasized that transformation among people is driven not just by education but through faith. “People don’t change through education but through the word of God,” he remarked.
Reverend Koroi pointed out that the Government and the vanua are weary because spiritual leaders are not proactively addressing these issues. He underscored the necessity for the church to connect more significantly with the youth who are struggling with HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and pornography.
He commented that law enforcement will become fatigued from constant drug raids if such issues are not dealt with internally, asserting that divine intervention is essential. “Only God can change Fiji,” he stated.
Additionally, Reverend Koroi criticized the decline of family unity and prayer, noting that contemporary families have distanced themselves from fundamental spiritual practices. He urged families to spend quality time together and, most importantly, to engage in prayer.
In a direct critique of Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya’s suggestion to reinstate the death penalty for serious drug offenders, he dismissed the strategy as ineffective. “She is a minister but can’t address the issue properly; instead, she proposes death. That is not the solution,” he said, insisting that genuine solutions must tackle the underlying causes of crime.
Reverend Koroi called for unity among religious leaders and a collaborative effort among all faith communities to confront the serious social challenges facing the nation. “Let’s work together,” he declared as he was re-elected to his position.