Friday, March 29, 2024

Catholic priests told refrain from being agents of political and social change

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Zambia Episcopal Conference-ZEC-President, Ignitius Chama
Kasama diocese Archbishop Ignatius Chama

Kasama Archbishop, Ignatius Chama, has advised priests to concentrate on their pastoral work of evangelisation and refrain from being agents of political and social change.

Archbishop Chama was speaking during the official opening of a conference for the National Association of Zambian Diocesan Clergy (AZADCC) held at Laura Secondary School in Kasama.

The three day conference, which was also attended by the Bishop Director for AZADCC, Bishop George Lungu, has attracted Catholic priests from all the 11 dioceses in the country.

The conference is held bi-annually and this year’s theme is ‘’Diocesan Priesthood as an agent for evangelisation in the 21st Century.’’

Archbishop Chama noted that today’s priests faced the challenge and temptation of becoming social and political agents, adding that yielding to the temptation would be a betrayal to their priestly mission and a disservice to society.

He called on priests to be joyful in their work and create harmony with the Church, their fellow priests and the faithful.

Archbishop Chama also called on priests to uphold their priestly commitments of celibacy and detachment from material possession in order to preach the Gospel and build up strong Christian communities.

“Right conduct in carrying out evangelisation is not so much brought about by words but by a way of living, by way of witnessing. By your fruits the world will know you belong to Christ and the world would want to know more about Christ,’’ he said.

He said there was need for Zambian priests to show solidarity among themselves.

Archbishop Chama added that for Diocesan priesthood to be true agents of evangelisation in the 21st Century meant that preachers of the Gospel carry out the Lord’s mandate to spread the faith of Christ in every corner of the world.

Earlier, Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Hlobotha Nkunika, said he was proud to host the historical event, adding that according to historical records, the province was the birth place of the Catholic faith in Zambia.

He said the government had confidence in the input of the Catholic Church in matters of national development especially in the health and education sectors.

Mr Nkunika said the contribution of the Church has over the years led to poverty alleviation especially among the rural poor.

“As Diocesan priests sometimes you evangelise in remote places where even government offices are non-existence…please take advantage and communicate developmental related issues so that our people are not left behind,’’ said Mr Nkunika.

The three day conference will run from the 19th to today.

12 COMMENTS

    • Speaking as a catholic, I find the statement contradictory to the prophetic mission of the priesthood. What does St Francis of Assisi’s prayer teach is in our daily lives? As clergy, I dont see how they can see poverty and injustice in our midst and keep quiet about it. Three years ago the catholic church was in the forefront talking up Sata, what is wrong now to correct that mistake? Your Grace, the man has failed and its not politics stating the obvious. An apology would go some way in redeeming the image of the church. We are not asking the clergy to wear sack cloth and ashes.

  1. Chama is a PF cadre, he was the one who was used by Sata to convince GBM not to resign but failed. He has seen that fellow priests are condemning the PF government on the way they are running things hence this advice.

    • Excellent point though politics should not be separated from religious. Those making comments should have respect for church Leaders, Thank you.

  2. You can say that again. Very often, the clergy become politicians hiding in religious robes. That is not right. The right thing to do for the clergy is remain committed to the soul healing of humanity. Materialism is essentially a political project.

  3. This is strange coming from a Priest. It’s their duty to be agents of at least social change otherwise what is it that they’re preaching to their congregants?
    It seems to me the Archbishop does not understand his own job.

    • True pastors and all the men of God must be part of social change. This man is not talking with his senses

    • Exactly my thoughts. Priests hold the power to influence social change. Social change in Zambia can only be achieved by Political change. It is inhuman for a priest to preside over a hungry people – people that are oppressed. Bwana Priest please leave priesthood and do some other NGO jobs.

  4. Surprised to hear this from the Right Reverend. I thought the mission of the Church was to ensure social justice?. How can social justice be achieved without social change?. Didn’t the Catholic church play a major role in bringing down Communism because it was viewed as unjust?

  5. Iam nor surprised to see mixed reactions. We should not forget that the Church is an agent of community development. It took missions schools and hospitals to improve the quality of life. I think what Bishop Chama is saying is that we should observe our boundaries.

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