Father Harcourt Blackett said there was always debate about what culture was but the main element was being left out.

He told those attending the Crop-Over Thanksgiving Service yesterday at St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Jemmotts Lane, St Michael: "The removal of creative expression from culture is a recipe for disaster. The split between gospel and culture is without doubt the drama of our time, just as it was of other times."

He added that was why Catholics encouraged their people to be part of the festival.

Blackett also called for the removal or purification of certain elements from the festival.

"We have to say no to any activity that seeks to dehumanise women, to exploit sex or in any way abuse the human person. Each person is created in the image of God and any attempt to deny this must be revisited in the strongest way," he said.

"I am asking our bandleaders to see that those who play mas' are well clad and not to reveal those parts of the human anatomy that are special and need to be protected."