Letter to the editor. Bishop Dalman’s smiling trivializes the distress of war

Bishop Johan Dalman has in favor of ACT, the Swedish Church’s international aid and development activities, designed a humorous drawing outside The video He made young people last fall. Bidding is ongoing for the drawing and all money should go to ACT.

The purpose is people in need and on the run, including in Gaza. But there is something with Bishop Dalman’s smile on a picture in the church’s newspaper Like me.

It is not the right place to smile, even if it is done in favor of auxiliary work. The drawing should be fun, but the goal does not sanctify all means.

It becomes a trivializing of the utmost distress. I expect more from the bishops of the Swedish Church.

I had wanted a serious statement from the bishop for the great distress. An appeal for courage with all of us to stand up for the necessity of peace, for all people.

When we meet people in mourning and pain, it is not by leaving we comfort. We need to confirm and listen to the pain. People living in war and oppression deserve that we see them and validate their pain.

The terrible situation which prevails in Gaza and Ukraine, among others, needs prominent leaders to stand up for them seriously. How we talk about and relate to affected people in war says something about us as people and our society.

No word jokes in the world can pave the way for peace. We do this by feeling in our hearts and dares to be brave.

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