THE Government has said that the Catholic Church should state the action that it will take against priests and members issuing utterances that are against the official voice of the church.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said the people expected the Catholic Church to state the action to be meted out against priests and members issuing personal remarks on political and economic issues of the country.
On Tuesday, Vatican ambassador to Zambia Nicola Girasoli said that utterances by individual priests and members of the clergy in Zambia should not be misconstrued as representing the official position of the church.
Ambassador Girasoli said the church only speaks through the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) and through the Vatican Embassy on matters related to the church and the State.
“If the statements that the clergy and some members are issuing are not official positions of the church, the Government and the Zambian people will want to see the action that the church is taking against its members,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
Gen Shikapwasha said the Government and the citizens expected that there was a code of conduct among the Catholic clergy and the general members and when such were violated, he expected that the church should take appropriate action.
In many instances, he said the statements by Catholic priests and some members were annoying and frustrating to many and as such the public should be informed on the course of action taken against erring Catholic believers.
“Just to say that the statements are not the official position is not enough, we want to hear the action taken,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
Now that the Vatican has stated that the position of some clergy and members was not the official position of the church, he said that the Government would be keen to hear what kind of action the church would take against erring members.
[Times of Zambia]
Shikapwasha you should first apologize to the catholic Church before you ask them for an action against their people. Why are you so quick at pressing for action against those whom the Church feel speak their mind in the name of the Church when you have been the one who has offended the Catholic Church at large by calling them perpetrators of genocide? Why don’t you just go to hail and fill your space where you belong? Who ever ordained you as a Reverend must be very disappointed at what an evil man he has ordained.
In Fact the Pontifical ambassador to Zambia is wrong. He is not the official voice for the Catholic Church in Zambia but merely a representative of the Roman Pontifical Council. The Archbishop of Lusaka is the spokes person for the the Catholic Church in Zambia.
Ronnie, you are speaking for the Devil leave us alone
#1 Kadya, I am not a Catholic to know the procedures in that church, so maybe the Pronuncio is wrong or maybe not but whether YOU are right or not, Mr Kadya, will also depend on your position in the Catholic hierarchy. In fact that is exactly what the Pronuncio is talking about, so are you the official spokesperson of the Catholic Church? If not then do not say “in fact”, rather say “I think that” .
With regard to the Archbishop of Lusaka being the official spokesperson of the Catholic Church in Zambia this is what happens when a senior person allows himself to go astray, there will be external intervention within the hierarchy. In this case, if you have read between the lines since this saga started, Archbishop Mpundu has been reprimanded by the Pope’s representative…… CONT
With regard to Ronnie’s demand, he just has to be patient. The Pronuncio is unlikely to sanction anyone publicly. The reprimand is sufficient for now, but it will take time to sink in the local Catholic hierarchy and among the likes of “father” Miha, “father” red card walya, and other truant so called fathers who may have missed the pontifical language. But sink it will for sure because Archbishop Mpundu has got it crystal clear.
Does it mean that when one belongs to the catholic church, or any church for that matter, they cede their individual rights and freedoms to the church? Give us a break!
What issues has Shikapwasha got against the Catholic?
First he also needs to tell the nation whay action the MMD will take against people like the Rapists (Chalwe) in his Party
Father Bwalya has been sent on forced leave to go and reflect on his actions, so what does Nose the Ogre want?
#5 I agree with you. Just because one is a priest, or indeed a Catholic or any other christian for that matter doesnt mean they should lose their personal stance on issues, and only speak what the church says. Ba Shikapwasha you are losing it.
The Catholic Church comprises pipo of diferent persuations. Some are in MMD and others in the opposition. it is for this reason that the church as a body canot take a unified position as regards its view on a purely political matter, therefore, those who make political coments, regardless of their rank do so in their individual capacities.
However, the church has been consistent in denouncing mismanagent. It does not condemn RB of MMD, but it condemns their mismanagement of public affairs. Those of you in the opposition, I can assure you that dont get excited by thinking you have bought off the church, never, you will be denounced the way your friends are being denounced should you come into power and start abusing our resources.
So no need for any action to anybody , for anybody.
There are 11 million opinions in Zambia on Zambian issues. Each is allowed to own an opinion. BUT not all will be heard except those who by reason of their positions in the country have access to publicity. This is the situation where a Clergyman abuses his position to use it to utter ‘personal’ opinions in a partisan way, for or against! However, Gen Shikapwasha should oloso not be one-sided only against those who deride the government, but even those who are in favour. The point is, that people should do what their job description says. It would be wrong for a politician to criticise a particular church in how it administers communion, for example.
Thanks Ketie 3 and 4.:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x
:(( rubbish. to quick to act against others. how abt yo cadres?
What action has the govt taken against those who have misapplied public funds as reported by the Auditor General?