THE Catholic Church says it will respond to the call by the MMD for dialogue to resolve misunderstandings between the two organisations after a meeting of the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) in Lusaka next week.
ZEC spokesperson Paul Samasumo said in a telephone interview in Lusaka yesterday that the matter will be one of the issues to be discussed when Catholic bishops from all the dioceses meet from Wednesday to Friday next week.
And an official at the office of the ZEC president George Lungu’s office in Chipata acknowledged that the prelate has received the letter from the MMD, but referred queries to the ZEC secretariat in Lusaka.
“If you are talking about the letter written by the MMD, those issues are being handled by the secretariat. Yes, the letter was received by Bishop Lungu himself, but for arrangements and any other issues related to that, it is the secretariat which is responsible,” the official said.
Father Samasumo said the church could only come up with a response to overtures for dialogue from the MMD after the meeting of the bishops.
“They will start arriving on Tuesday. You know they are coming from different parts of the country. The meeting takes place from Wednesday to Friday,” Fr Samasumo said.
“It is one of the issues to be discussed at the meeting,” he said.
The MMD secretariat recently wrote the Catholic Church, inviting it to dialogue over repeated attacks on President Banda and the MMD government by some priests and bishops.
At the weekend, Medardo Cardinal Mazombwe said the relationship between the Catholic Church and Government should not be seen through the statements of a few individuals in the church.
Cardinal Mazombwe was speaking barely a fortnight after President Banda hailed the church as an important partner in development, and pledged that Government will continue working with the Catholic Church.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Paul, you are too cute to be in this mess. Go make some babies somewhere.
Take the words of the Cardinal seriously,its not the church against MMD, but individuals within the Church. The only problem is most of them are against MMD with reason and are abusing the church to promote their urgent, as a church no no no. What the church should do is deal with those individuals and thats its weakness. Please PRIESTS dont use God for this Mess. Not so long ago PK sang POLEPOLE, We know you too well. But MMD KUYA BEBELE this year.
#1 Nubian Princess, you are a fool. Respect other people’s choice of life. Rev Fr Paul Samasumo have offered their lives to serve God in celebacy life. Pray for them as leaders of the Church so that they don’t fall into sin. And Princess continue to serve God as married. Man & Woman marriage was first instututed by God. Even when you get married you are not immuned from sin. If marriage was sinproof scientists who have been singing that a cure for AIDS/ HIV has been found.
Leaders of the Catholic Church don’t rush into reconciliatory talks with the falling MMD. Its a bait to rescue a Catholic vote they have realised is vital at the last minute for their survival. What is there to reconcile? Corruption, poverty??