MALAWI: Catholic Legislators Attend ICLN Conference in Rome
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| Malawi delegates to the ICLN |
Three
Members of Parliament (MPs), from Malawi recently participated at the
International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN) Conference held at Villa
Tusculana in Rome.
Members of Parliament (MPs), from Malawi recently participated at the
International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN) Conference held at Villa
Tusculana in Rome.
The three,
Hon. Lingson Belekanyama of Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Hon. Charles
Tikhiwa and Hon. Gereson Solomoni, from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party,
were among many other delegates who had an audience with the Holy Father, Pope
Francis.
Hon. Lingson Belekanyama of Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Hon. Charles
Tikhiwa and Hon. Gereson Solomoni, from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party,
were among many other delegates who had an audience with the Holy Father, Pope
Francis.
Speaking in
an interviews upon returning from Rome, Episcopal Conference of Malawi’s (ECM)
Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Officer (CPLO) Fr. Henry Chinkanda, who led the
delegation said that the Conference was crucial to the Malawian
Parliamentarians because such meetings are designed to encourage, support and
offer fellowship and formation to Catholics in elected offices from all over
the world.
an interviews upon returning from Rome, Episcopal Conference of Malawi’s (ECM)
Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Officer (CPLO) Fr. Henry Chinkanda, who led the
delegation said that the Conference was crucial to the Malawian
Parliamentarians because such meetings are designed to encourage, support and
offer fellowship and formation to Catholics in elected offices from all over
the world.
“Besides
offering a learning opportunity to all participants, a series of issues
emanating from the various political situations in the countries were discussed,”
said Fr. Chinkanda.
offering a learning opportunity to all participants, a series of issues
emanating from the various political situations in the countries were discussed,”
said Fr. Chinkanda.
He said that
among others, participants to the Conference discussed several topics including
developing a global pro-life strategy to end the culture of abortion, Mass
migration, in global perspective-root causes and solutions, the risk of
genocide of Christian minorities and religious intolerance in some parts of the
world and understanding some foreign policies that adversely affect societies,
particularly the poor nations.
among others, participants to the Conference discussed several topics including
developing a global pro-life strategy to end the culture of abortion, Mass
migration, in global perspective-root causes and solutions, the risk of
genocide of Christian minorities and religious intolerance in some parts of the
world and understanding some foreign policies that adversely affect societies,
particularly the poor nations.
“It was
gratifying to see over one hundred high-profile Catholic politicians from over 30
countries exchanging views on how best Politicians can be handled as a vocation
in the service of God’s people,” he said adding that “One thing was clear that,
the politicians that gathered in Rome expressed their bitterness after
realizing that most of the misery, poverty and wars that adversely affect
humanity in the world are caused by bad Politicians.”
gratifying to see over one hundred high-profile Catholic politicians from over 30
countries exchanging views on how best Politicians can be handled as a vocation
in the service of God’s people,” he said adding that “One thing was clear that,
the politicians that gathered in Rome expressed their bitterness after
realizing that most of the misery, poverty and wars that adversely affect
humanity in the world are caused by bad Politicians.”
He said that
it is up to the Church to accompany, and form the politicians to have sound
conscience that would uphold and respect human life and opt for a culture of
life against a culture of death.
it is up to the Church to accompany, and form the politicians to have sound
conscience that would uphold and respect human life and opt for a culture of
life against a culture of death.
During the
audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in his speech stressed the
important role Catholic Politicians can play in shaping the social and economic
situation in the world.
audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in his speech stressed the
important role Catholic Politicians can play in shaping the social and economic
situation in the world.
“Addressing
the audience in Italian, The Holy Father repeated several times saying, Voi potete fare tanto” meaning that ‘they
can do a lot’ in working for the common good if only, as leaders, politicians
would allow themselves to be inspired by Gospel values,” said Fr. Chinkanda.
the audience in Italian, The Holy Father repeated several times saying, Voi potete fare tanto” meaning that ‘they
can do a lot’ in working for the common good if only, as leaders, politicians
would allow themselves to be inspired by Gospel values,” said Fr. Chinkanda.
The
International Catholic Legislators Network Conference takes place once every
year and it attracts politicians from all over the world.
International Catholic Legislators Network Conference takes place once every
year and it attracts politicians from all over the world.
By Prince Henderson, ECM
Communications Officer
Communications Officer
