MELODY MUPETA
Kitwe
PEOPLE charged with the responsibility of leading the church should ensure that they refrain from engaging in partisan politics, a Catholic priest has advised.
St Johns University expert in Global Development and Social Justice father Ignazio Muyunda said those charged with responsibility of leadership should ensure the church and her structures steer clear of politics.
Fr Muyunda said politicians must also not be allowed to hijack the church’s pulpit to push their own agendas.
“As Cardinal Muller reminds us, the church is not a man-made organisation or institution.
She is a divine mystery,” he said in a statement.
Quoting Pope Leo’s October message, he added: “A Church that knows no enemies to fight, only men and women to love, is the Church the world needs today.” He urged leaders to follow “the voice of the Chief Shepherd — the way of peace, the way of love.”
The cleric said the church’s power lies in its spiritual mission and not in playing partisan games.
He quoted Mathew 22:21, which reads that Jesus said ‘render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s’.
Fr Muyunda also quoted 1 Timothy 2:1-2, which reminds us to pray for leaders but to keep the church’s focus on God’s Kingdom and not worldly power…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
