Barbados (Barbados Today) – The designation of Barbadian international artist The Right Honourable Robyn Rihanna Fenty as the country’s 11th National Hero has been endorsed by some members of the clergy.
This, despite a social media recording purported to be that of a well-known Roman Catholic priest criticising Government’s move and calling on the church to repudiate the elevation of Rihanna to National Hero status.
In the recording, the respected clergyman was heard denouncing his fellow men of the cloth for remaining silent while the island’s “moral compass” was damaged. Alluding to Rihanna’s dress code, the priest queried the kind of example she was setting. According to him, her elevation speaks to a lack of morals in society.
“This is something that needs to be denounced and I am surprised that the churches in Barbados have said nothing— nothing. Where is the voice of conscience in Barbados? Where is truth in Barbados? Oh my Lord! You see we have become a Republic to become what? Sodom and Gomorrah? To become Babylon? Is that what Republicanism is all about?” the cleric asked.
However, both Reverend Dr. Trevor Daniel, president of Trinity Outreach Ministries and Pastor R. Danforth Francis, president of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh Day Adventist, believed that if Rihanna met the criteria to qualify to be a National Hero, then the honour is deserving.
