By
Emmanuel Gamson, GNA
Tamale, Dec 2, GNA –
The Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, has
observed that individualism among members of the Catholic faith was becoming a
challenge to Catholic teachings and principles.
“The fruits of
individualism are greed, selfishness, and exploitation. As it is expected,
these attitudes are common in our parishes, offices, families, and societies”,
and urged members of the church to avoid the act to strengthen the progress of
the church.
Delivering an
address, at the Opening of the 18th Biennial Plenary Assembly of the Tamale
Ecclesiastical Province Pastoral Conference (TEPPCON), in Tamale, the Most
Reverend Gyamfi said “Many people attend church not for love of God and
neighbour, but because of what they will get. When people are given positions
of service in the church, as Jesus demands, they think first about what is in
the position for themselves.”
It was on the theme
“Challenges and Prospects of the Catholic Church Today – the need for Renewal
Missionary Discipleship and Catechetical Formation”.
The Most Reverend
Gyamfi emphasised that individualism led to situations where individuals,
including Christians were ready to sacrifice the lives of fellow human beings
for their personal gains.
He stressed the need
for members of the Catholic Church to eschew such acts, and urged them to
emulate the lives of the early missionaries.
The Most Reverend
Philip Naameh, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale,called for strategic
measures to help prevent land and other environmental degradation in society.
“We can use the
power of moral outrage and peaceful protest to stop our rosewood, Shea trees
and others from being extracted by powerful economic interests, which has
serious implications for us as people”, he noted.
He encouraged
members of the public to adopt the habit of planting trees in their
neighborhood to help tackle climate change and make the environment safe for
living. The church also launched a
website for TEPPCON and TEPPCON Civic Education Training Manual
GNA
