Maravi

Catholic Church stands by Duffy

Catholic Church stands by Duffy
By Florence Bupe and Mwala Kalaluka
Wed 13 Oct. 2010, 04:40 CAT

THE Catholic Church has vowed to stand by Mongu Catholic Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy and other church leaders. And Bishop Duffy has urged Christians not to fear being ridiculed and spat upon when they speak against social injustice because Africa seems to be a continent infected with corruption.

In a statement yesterday, Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) spokesperson Fr Paul Samasumo said the Catholic Church was disturbed by the continued trends of attacks and threats of violence against its leadership.

“The Catholic Church is disturbed by the continued trend of attacks and threats of violence against its leadership starting with the Archbishop of Lusaka, Most Rev Telesphore-George Mpundu, the Bishop of Mongu, Right Rev Paul Duffy (OMI), and now against the Executive Director of Caritas Zambia Mr Samuel Mulafulafu. We condemn these acts of intimidation and reiterate that the whole Catholic Church stands with its leadership in working for a more democratic Zambia,” Fr Samasumo said.

“It should also be noted that Caritas Zambia is not an NGO but an integral component of the structure of the Catholic Church mandated to promote the social teaching of the Catholic Church. Caritas Zambia also works to empower Zambians in issues of justice, peace, development and governance concerns.”

Lately, MMD cadres have issued threats of violence against Archbishop Mpundu, Bishop Duffy and Mulafulafu for speaking out against government’s shortfalls in the management of the country.

“As a church, we believe that differences or misunderstanding can be resolved through dialogue rather than threats and violence in whatever form,” Fr Samasumo said. “Participation in politics is a noble call to all Christians and the Church’s involvement in the politics of governance is not outside its mandate.”

Fr Samasumo urged Christians to take keen interest in the governance of the country because they were part of the day-to-day happenings. He encouraged Christians belonging to various bodies to volunteer as monitors in the 2011 general elections as part of their contribution to the promotion of fair elections and improved political governance.

And Fr Samasumo warned that the existence of militia in political parties was a recipe for anarchy and lawlessness.

“We are alarmed by claims of the existence of organised militias within political parties. This is a true recipe for anarchy and lawlessness in a country that has embraced peace since independence,” Fr Samasumo said.

“We are equally alarmed by the failure of senior political leaders in resolutely disassociating their parties from such unlawful groups.”

Fr Samasumo also condemned the violence that rocked Chilanga Constituency during the filing in of nominations for the October 30 parliamentary by- elections.

“At this time and age, violence should have no room in our politics,” said Fr Samasumo.

And during an address delivered at the priestly ordination Mass for Deacon Kennedy Katongo at Lusaka’s Good Shepherd Catholic Church last Saturday, Bishop Duffy said some Christians were scared of sticking their necks out on issues of justice and peace for fear of being made fun of.

Bishop Duffy said during the Second Bishop’s Synod for Africa that was held in Rome last year, Pope Benedict VXI described the African church as the lamps of the Universal Church.

“That which gives light to the Church, that which keeps the Church alive. But he (Pope Benedict VXI) cautioned that we should not allow these lamps to become infected by materialism, consumerism, corruption, that we really need to make sure that we kept our hands clean so that we could invigorate the Church throughout the world,” Bishop Duffy told a packed church.

“During that Second Bishops' Synod for Africa, the Bishops resolved that every parish on the African continent should have a commission for justice and peace, that Africa seems to be infected with so much corruption; that Africa should be a rich nation, not a nation of poverty that so many of you African nations have.”

Bishop Duffy said at the beginning of this month he went to Accra, Ghana, where he represented the Zambia Episcopal Conference at the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

He explained that the meeting was a follow-up on the African Bishops’ appeal for the setting up of justice and peace commissions in all the church’s parishes on the African continent.

“Are we having an active justice and peace group in each of our parishes? During my homily today, I addressed most of my words to our new priest Fr Katongo, but now I want to address my words to you (audience) because you are the church of God in Africa. You have a responsibility to stand up for justice,” said Bishop Duffy as the church erupted into an applause.

“The Holy Father said there won’t be peace unless we first have justice on this continent. But it’s like so many people are afraid to stick their necks out on justice issues, for fear they will be criticised, they will be made fun of, they will be burned up, they will be ridiculed.”

Bishop Duffy said Christians profess to be followers of Christ.
“He was ridiculed, he was made fun of, he was spat upon and he was nailed to the cross. We prophesy to be his followers, should we expect less ourselves? We say we are Christians!” Bishop Duffy said. “He told them (disciples) that he was going to suffer and die but he asked them to be a people of faith.

“We profess to be people of faith. Is that faith strong enough that we can stand up when we know there is injustice going on in our midst?” Bishop Duffy asked. “You know the story of the tortoise; unless it sticks its neck out, it can’t move…we have to be willing to stick our necks out for what we know is just and right in our society.”

Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, PAUL DUFFY, PAUL SAMASUMO

posted by MrK @ 3:48 PM