Question: How do you think the COVID-19 Crisis will get diffused? What lesson has the world to learn from this pandemic situation?

Answer: Though I am not an expert on the matter, I feel there is too much hype about it. Some countries talk about herd immunity. I think gradually people are knowingly or unknowingly acquiring immunity. When herd immunity is achieved, majority of the people will easily survive. That will be one way of solving the issue. And I hope a vaccine will come by the end of this year. It also will help. What I found striking during this period is the faith of our people. We have these charismatic cent-res that offer instant solutions to everyone, focusing only on the healing ministry and little on behavioural transformation. But none of them have got any answers now when healing is urgently needed. That raises a couple of serious questions: What exactly was the motive of those centres and what intention did the Church have in promoting them? Where do we stand in this crisis with all these hyped centres of healing? I think we misplaced our focus in our preaching of the Gospel on the healing ministry. Is Jesus only for that? This pandemic could serve as an eye-opener for us about misplaced priorities.

Bp John Thomas Kattrukudiyil (Itanagar)