Differences Between Church and Government More Perceived Than Real- Catholic priests

6 June 2011

editorial

IT is gratifying to know that there are still people within the Catholic Church who are committed to promotion of reconciliation and dialogue with the Government.

Today we carry views of eminent Catholic priests who have all spoken on the need for love and forgiveness stating that the differences between the church and the Government are more perceived than real by those who want to push a certain agenda.

These respected men of the robe understand the prophetic role of the Church which is to preach the gospel of Christ whose bedrock is love.

The priests have given the context of the pastoral letter issued by Zambia Episcopal Conference president George Lungu explaining that it was meant to promote love, reconciliation and forgiveness.

President Rupiah Banda on his part has openly stated that he could never attack the Church because he presides over a Government and other MMD members who belong to the Catholic Church.

It is rather, as Education Minister Dora Siliya noted, some individual priests who the Government is not happy with because of the partisan stance they have taken discarding their pastoral role of uniting the body of Christ.

The Catholic Church has a notable place in Zambian society because it has from time immemorial complemented Government’s development agenda through the provision of quality education and health care.

But like in any community, there are some elements within the church that are radical who try to use the institution to advance their selfish agendas.

As his grace Cardinal Merdado Joseph Mazombwe said, it was a wrong philosophy for the people to say that the Catholic Church in Zambia was having differences with the Government of the day when the perceived differences were with individual members of the church.

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