Maravi

Catholics respond to govt’s slander

Catholics respond to govt’s slander
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 15 Apr. 2011, 04:02 CAT

ARCHBISHOP Telesphore Mpundu says the Catholic church will remain strong no matter how much persecution it receives from the government.

And Archbishop Mpundu says amending the presidential emoluments Act to allow President Rupiah Banda get his gratuity is voracious, unethical and shocking arithmetic. In an interview, Archbishop Mpundu who is in-charge of Lusaka Catholic Diocese said those in authority had vilified the Church mainly because of greed.

“We have repeatedly told successive administrations, particularly the current one, that the Catholic Church has no need for, nor is it interested in political power. Though ‘seemingly weak’, the Church is founded on the Rock of the Faith of St Peter and the Apostles in Jesus Christ so the powers of Hades will not manage to bring it down or prevail against it!” Archbishop Mpundu said.

“The accusations don't bother us in the least; we treat them with the derision they deserve and regard them as a calculated campaign of misinformation of the public by intransigent administrations that don't like to be challenged by their own people who vote them into power even and especially when there is a legitimate reason to do so.”

Archbishop Mpundu said public slander of the Catholic Church by the MMD government was not something new.

“It is just a continuation of and a purely nefarious smack by successive governments at the Church that refuses to compromise or to be bullied into silence on important national issues that affect our people particularly the poor, marginalised and the voiceless,” he said.

Archbishop Mpundu said the present scenario of the clowning disparagement of the Catholic Church called for urgent need for a new constitution. He said it was sad that the government had included the media on its speculation list.

“It is so sad to see private media personnel persecuted, dragged into courts on flimsy charges. It is equally sad to watch our public media professionals and practitioners being told how to do their work, that is: what to say, what to write and what to do so often against their professional judgement and ethics,” Archbishop Mpundu said.

And Archbishop Mpundu said the courts should help stop plunder of public resources through the presidential emoluments Act.

“If the amendment of presidential emoluments Act infringes on the Constitution then our courts of law must come to our rescue and stop the attempt to legalise plunder of the national financial resources,” said Archbishop Mpundu.

“Besides, one marvels at the generosity of Zambians in giving the retired Zambian President a gratuity over and above a ‘life-long contract’ with the people of Zambia in that after leaving office this person is given a multi-billion Kwacha house, security, tip-top transport, free medical care, other allowances and fringe benefits… It is surely a very attractive package and a strong motivation for people to aspire to be at plot number 1!”

Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, TELESPHORE MPUNDU

posted by MrK @ 2:34 PM