Maravi

Milingo has the right to be what he wants to be

Milingo has the right to be what he wants to be
By Editor
Thursday June 05, 2008 [04:00]

Emmanuel Milingo has the right to be what he wants to be.
And no one should stand in his way when he wants to enjoy his rights – his human rights. Milingo joined the Catholic Church as a young man and became a priest in this church voluntarily and without any coercion. And for many years, Milingo lived and worked by the rules and standards of this Church and the requirements and standards of a Catholic priest.

As a result of this, Milingo stood out among his fellow priests and was made an archbishop of this Church. But along the way, Milingo wanted to rewrite the rules and standards of Catholic priesthood. This brought him into conflict with the leadership of this Church – and justifiably so.

Milingo wanted to marry when the rules and standards of Catholic priesthood don’t allow that. And these are rules and standards which this old man has followed and abided by throughout the many decades of his priesthood. He now wanted the rules and standards of Catholic priesthood to be altered by him or for him. Institutions are not run this way. Institutions are not reformed in this way. This is anarchy. This is destructive behaviour.

And it’s understandable why Milingo is today excommunicated by the Catholic Church. And which church in this country doesn’t excommunicate those who don’t live by their rules and standards?
Excommunication is actually not limited to churches only. In one way or another, political parties, social clubs and other associations of all hues in one way or another carry out one form or another of excommunication for members or associates who don’t live or work by their rules and standards.
But excommunication does not mean Milingo cannot start his own church and preach the word of the Lord in a manner he deems fit.

What this excommunication of Milingo means is that he cannot preach the word of God in the name or under the banner of the Catholic Church because he is no longer allowed by this Church to do so. And this is done by all other churches in this country. If Milingo wants to continue preaching the word of God, he is free to do so under any name other than that of the Catholic Church.

And it’s not just unfair – it is actually crassly dishonest - for Milingo to claim that the Catholic Church in Zambia was falling apart. The truth is actually the opposite. The Catholic Church in Zambia is gaining strength, its congregations are growing and its activities among our people are becoming more and more deep-rooted through its social teachings.

Probably, it is a question of ego on the part of Milingo to think that because he is no longer at the centre of the Catholic Church in this country, then everything will start falling apart. The Catholic Church is far much bigger than any one individual, no matter how talented or meritorious they may be.

The Catholic Church may be the oldest institution, and it has gone through some very difficult trials – schisms and divisions of all kinds. Other churches – the Orthodox Church, for example – were created as a result of schisms. Then came Reformation, which led to the appearance of many other churches.

It’s true that the rock of St Peter, on which the Catholic Church was built, is solid and lasting. Throughout history, that institution has demonstrated its experience, its wisdom, and its capacity to adapt to reality.

It must have had some very difficult trials, from the time Galileo was condemned to the nuclear age and space flights, theories on the origins of the galaxies, the laws of evolution, and the advances in modern biology.

But the theologians always came up with explanations, new religious concepts were developed, and steps were taken to adapt the institution to the major political, economic and social changes, and scientific discoveries that have taken place in the world.

Now, too, the Catholic Church may be going through some very difficult trials, but we have no doubt they will be overcome.

We don’t want – nor can we want – divisions within the Catholic Church. We would like to see a united church supporting legitimate claims of the poor and of all mankind. We don’t think it is right to try to reform the Catholic Church in the manner Milingo is trying to do it; nor do we think it is right to promote divisions and confusion within this Church.

We do think, however, that solidarity with mankind’s most deeply felt aspirations for a united Church is politically better for all of us, and we sincerely hope that whatever problems or challenges that may arise within the Church will be resolved rationally.

It cannot be denied that belief in the possibility of change and renewal is perhaps one of the defining characteristics of politics and of religions. But this should not be seen to be synonymous with anarchy and indiscipline. An institution can only carry out its mandate if there is discipline, and where there is no discipline there can be no real progress.

The simple lesson of religions, of all philosophies and of life itself is that, although evil may be on the rampage temporarily, the good must win the laurels in the end.

The process which Milingo has started is a very negative one. If you start a process in which all of an institution’s values begin to be destroyed, that process is very negative.

A process has been unleashed by Milingo to try and destroy the authority of the Catholic Church’s leadership, of its priesthood. And if one destroys or undermines that authority, the consequences will be terrible.

Milingo’s attitudes and actions are a matter not of the analysis or criticism of problems, but of destruction and negation of all the values, merits and history of the Catholic Church.

Milingo is making an enormous mistake by failing to see the consequences of what he is doing and by not doing the right thing to reach the goals and purposes he is proclaiming.

We think the Catholic leadership deserves all our support because it is defending certain principles that are of tremendous value at a time of confusion and opportunism in the world, a time when many clergymen are feathering their own nests.

It is very clear that Milingo does not like or accept the organisation of the Catholic Church; he disagrees with the standards, rules and values of its priesthood. This being the case, it is difficult to see how Milingo can meaningfully continue to be a member or a leader of this Church. Milingo can only do so if the Catholic Church accepts to bend and accommodate all his wishes and desires.

If it’s not possible for the Catholic Church to do so, then the only sensible thing is for Milingo to leave the Church and go and do his own thing, enjoy his marriage and preach the word of God in his own way and in his own church.

He cannot claim to be a Catholic priest without being willing to abide by its standards, principles, rules and values.

Actually, it doesn’t seem that Milingo really wants to remain in the Catholic Church. His discernible desire seems to be the destruction of this institution before he actually accepts to be excommunicated.
Probably that’s why he may seem to be blinded by this single ambition into believing that the Catholic Church in Zambia was falling apart.

This is his propaganda. This is his own lie. And he now seems to believe his own propaganda and lies as truth. The ending for Milingo will be disastrous if he does not change course.

Labels: BISHOP MILINGO

posted by MrK @ 5:06 PM