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Malawi |
CHURCH
The faithful in Malawi hope and pray that the Church
will be able to face
up to challenges
In recent months, two issues have cropped up causing concern and worry among the faithful.
Archbishop Chiona
The first problem concerned circumstances surrounding the retirement of Archbishop James Chiona of Blantyre. Let’s take a look at what happened. The Archbishop had passed the 75 year retirement age as laid down in the Church’s law concerning bishops.
Some people said he should continue in Office, while others urged him to name a coadjutor who would normally take over «in due course». In fact, the Archbishop has now resigned, and has been replaced by Bishop Tarsizio Gervazio Ziyaye of Lilongwe, who became Archbishop of Blantyre.
But there’s another matter. Some people said that Archbishop Chiona was a personal friend of President Bakili Muluzi and that certain priests were regular visitors to Sanjika State House in Blantyre. Other priests were against this situation as they said this could place the Church in such a position that it would have to remain silent, unable to criticise the government on its failures.
Indeed, concern about the Catholic Church’s silence over issues of national importance is causing concern. Previously, the Church was renowned in Malawi for having spearheaded the change from single-party dictatorship, to multiparty politics.
Readers will recall that in 1992, seven Catholic bishops signed and released a Pastoral Letter, entitled: «Living Our Faith» which strongly criticised the former single-party dictatorial regime of the late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, for gross human rights abuse and unequal distribution of national resources.
At that time, Malawi was a place where political dissenters mysteriously disappeared, while thousands of Banda’s critics fled into exile. Most returned after Malawi’s first multi-party elections in 1994.
When the bishops released their Pastoral Letter in 1992, Banda’s regime plotted to murder them at a special convention of the then ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), held at the party’s headquarters in Lilongwe. The bishops were saved because the Media got hold of the information and published it world-wide.
Political analysts worry that politicians, knowing the Church’s influence within the country are offering lavish gifts to church congregations in order to gain their support. They are concerned that this tendency is eroding the Church’s true role in Malawi. Father Andrew Kaufa, put it bluntly when he said that it was time the Churches established fund-raising projects independent from other bodies, and thus avoid being manipulated by politicians.
He says: «Religion is no longer influential, because of President Muluzi’s gifts to Churches. This has managed to silence the Church. If it is to promote civil society, education and health, the Church has to be financially independent of any other influences».
President Muluzi’s supporters are campaigning for the extension of his presidential mandate so he can contest the 2004 presidential election. (According to Malawi’s Constitution, a President can run for only two five-year terms). Muluzi’s aides openly state that he will stand again «because he is the right man to lead the country.»
The opposition parties and some NGOs have already expressed discontent with the campaign, saying that Malawi is in danger of once again, becoming a one-party dictatorship. The silence of the previously outspoken Church on this vital issue, has raised more speculation about the political manipulation of the Church by the ruling clique.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Ministry
Another contentious issue has been that of Father Mark Kambalazaza who, last year was suspended because he claimed he had healing powers. On 15 December 2000, the ECM issued a communique prohibiting Catholics from attending the launch of his new Church in Blantyre.
Kambalazaza has registered his Church, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Ministry with the registrar-general’s office.
The Catholic bishops were irked by the inclusion of the word «Catholic», and asked the registrar-general not to recognise the new Church.
Some people have blamed the church leadership for taking a hard line instead of working for reconciliation.
The fact is, however, the Church authorities had invited their estranged priest to rejoin the Church — a gesture which Kambalazaza declined. He said he would carry on with his new ministry, as such charismatic Churches were now spreading across the world.
All these are challenges facing the Church, and the faithful in Malawi hope and pray that the Church will be able to face up to these challenges and emerge renewed from these experiences.
Editor’s update: Malawi’s seven Catholic Bishops have cautioned President Muluzi to desist from changing the Constitution so as to stand for a third term without consulting the people. The 24-page Pastoral Letter issued by the Bishops, is to commemorate 100 years of the Church in Malawi. The Catholic Bishops caution that the government should respect and safeguard basic democratic principle as enshrined in the Constitution. (ANB-BIA, 3 April 2001)
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