Maravi

Gap between Church and govt not good, charges Bishop O'Regan

Gap between Church and govt not good, charges Bishop O'Regan
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Monday March 24, 2008 [11:00]

THE differences between the church and the government have not done either side any good, Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) vice-president Bishop Noel O'Regan has said. Bishop O'Regan, who is also Catholic Diocese of Ndola Bishop, said it was necessary that churches worked together with the government to bring about an improvement in the lives of people.

He said there was a growing crisis in Zambia where the educational system and health services had collapsed due to lack of funding. Bishop O'Regan said there was also danger of future food shortages as the prices of food increased worldwide.
He said despite efforts over many years, there was still a situation in Zambia where people produced what they do not consume and consumed what they did not produce.

"It is necessary that churches work together with the government to bring about an improvement in the situation. Due to the differences between the government and many churches, there is a stand-off between the two. Among friends and family members a difference of opinion sometimes leads to hostility and even hatred. This can be found even at higher levels. If we hold different opinions, it doesn't mean that we are enemies," he said.

Bishop O'Regan said the lack of dialogue does neither side any good.

"As I've said, it is the vocation of the church to be the first to bridge the gap. It takes time as Joseph from the Bible discovered but afterwards the starving people of Israel had food to eat. If there were greater efforts to reconcile in Zambia, would it not benefit the people in the same way? Only good can come for all through reconciliation," he said.

He also said there was also need for reconciliation in a society where there was hostility between some people and Chinese nationals especially on the Copperbelt.

Bishop O'Regan said a couple of church personnel who came from far eastern countries had been mistaken for Chinese and had been abused and insulted.

He said one of them had become discouraged and planned to leave Zambia.

"Another has curtailed his pastoral activities so as to avoid those places where he has been the subject of abuse. If this is so among those who resemble Chinese what must be the experiences of the many Chinese people in Zambia today? As Christians, we are called to reconcile, to forgive and forget, to believe in the principles of the dignity of all people and universal solidarity of people. We are one, not that we are to forget those who have been unjust victims but to remember them without rancour and thoughts of revenge," he said.

Bishop O'Regan further urged Zambians to experience peace in their hearts this Easter as peace was often absent due to the need to be reconciled.

He said the celebration of the Feast of Easter brings home the need to be reconciled with God.
Bishop O'Regan said those who do not believe in God ignored this need but a Christian could never be happy with the status quo.

He said the Christian vocation was to bring about reconciliation at all levels.

"There is always need for reconciliation in the family, in the community and in the nation. The message of Easter is that we, the people who have been reconciled to God in Christ, must strive to bring about the reconciliation between all. The Church in Zambia must be in service of reconciliation, justice and peace," he said.

Bishop O'Regan gave an example of reconciliation in the Bible between Joseph and his brothers.
"We remember the Peace and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa following the collapse of Apartheid. Reconciliation in the South African sense means an absence of hostilities. Real reconciliation is concerned with the repair of relationships; not people living side by side in separate communities but people working together as one for the betterment of all," he said.
He said husbands should be reconciled with their wives and children and wives should do the same.
Bishop O'Regan said children should be reconciled with parents and among themselves.

"Families be reconciled. Reconcile with your colleagues and your workmates. The churches are also called to be reconciled with one another and not to accept the present situation of separation as permanent and irredeemable," said Bishop O'Regan.

Labels: CHINESE, GOVERNANCE, NOEL O'REGAN, ZEC

posted by MrK @ 6:13 PM