AMECEA: ‘Whatever you do as an Individual Priest, affects the entire Body of Christ,’- Bishop
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| Bishop Montort Stima (right) and Bishop George Lungu |
Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mangochi
in Malawi, has challenged Catholic Priests from AMECEA Region to be cautious of
their activities as individuals because as shepherds of the flock, the
scandalous activities of a single priest can easily affect the entire Body of
Christ, the Church.
Bishop Stima said this in an interview with AMECEA Online News in Nairobi where he had attended a workshop on
Assessment of the Performance of Priest in Eastern Africa.
Assessment of the Performance of Priest in Eastern Africa.
According to Bishop Stima, these are the realities on the ground
that perhaps the Catholic Church has undermined them and thus, need to be taken
seriously during the formation of the priests.
that perhaps the Catholic Church has undermined them and thus, need to be taken
seriously during the formation of the priests.
“We understand that priests are struggling and some are tempted to
indulge in private businesses. It is good to have money and to have resources
but what I have discovered with the little experience I have been in the ministry,
is that these good initiatives can also generate very negative impacts in the
Church,” Bishop Stima said adding that there are instances where some
Christians have chosen not to support the Church because Priests are considered
as competitors in the business world.
indulge in private businesses. It is good to have money and to have resources
but what I have discovered with the little experience I have been in the ministry,
is that these good initiatives can also generate very negative impacts in the
Church,” Bishop Stima said adding that there are instances where some
Christians have chosen not to support the Church because Priests are considered
as competitors in the business world.
He said, “So we have to realize that whatever we do as an
individual can bring a big negative impact on the whole Church. One person in
the Church may commit a scandal but people generalize it and so it affects
everybody. I would encourage priests to engage in development initiatives but
not as an individual but as the Church. This is because we cannot separate the
Priests and the Church.”
individual can bring a big negative impact on the whole Church. One person in
the Church may commit a scandal but people generalize it and so it affects
everybody. I would encourage priests to engage in development initiatives but
not as an individual but as the Church. This is because we cannot separate the
Priests and the Church.”
He also said that the issue of collaboration between the Priests
and their Bishops needs to be fostered in order to forge ahead with the pastoral
programs. He urged the Priests to foster a good relationship with their Bishops
in order to be at the same level.
and their Bishops needs to be fostered in order to forge ahead with the pastoral
programs. He urged the Priests to foster a good relationship with their Bishops
in order to be at the same level.
“Bishops relates to their priests as father and son; I am sure in
the family that relationship is there and has to be cultivated. Likewise Bishops
should extend their hands to invite them to come closer to him and let them
feel at home,” he said.
the family that relationship is there and has to be cultivated. Likewise Bishops
should extend their hands to invite them to come closer to him and let them
feel at home,” he said.
He said, “there could be some punishments in some cases; however,
those are meant to correct someone from misconduct; to bring him back in the right
direction. Just like a real father to
his sons, the Bishop must carry his responsibility of guiding his sons into the
right track.”
those are meant to correct someone from misconduct; to bring him back in the right
direction. Just like a real father to
his sons, the Bishop must carry his responsibility of guiding his sons into the
right track.”
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online
News
News
