MALAWI: Archbishop Msusa Condemns Stigma and Discrimination of Covid-19 victims
Luke Chimwaza
The Catholic church in the country has, in a space of three days in a week lost two priests due to Covid-19.
On Monday January 18, 2021 Reverend Father Dr Dominic Kazingatchile of Dedza Diocese who until his death was Director of Academic Affairs at the Catholic University of Malawi was laid to rest at Bembeke Cemetery in Dedza after succumbing to Covid-19. He was diagnosed at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Blantyre while receiving treatment for high blood pressure.
On Tuesday evening, January 19, 2021 Father Frederic Chinkhoma who was serving at Nguludi parish in Chiradzulo in the Archdiocese of Blantyre, died and was buried on Wednesday, January 20 at Limbe cathedral cemetery in Blantyre. He was admitted at Nguludi Mission Hospital on January 12 after suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. While receiving treatment, Fr Chinkhoma took Covid-19 test and results came out positive.
There are rumours that many other priests in the Archdiocese of Blantyre and other dioceses in the country are in self isolation after testing positive for the Coronavirus. Stories in social media are being shared about priests in isolation in parishes where they save or admitted hospital. Some radio stations have become an easy way of sourcing news for online platforms where viewers screenshot and share, a trend which has worried the Catholic Church leadership especially Most Rev. Thomas Msusa in the Archdiocese of Blantyre.
In his eulogy on Wednesday at the funeral of Fr Chinkhoma, Archbishop Msusa who is also chairman of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, ECM, expressed worry over how some people are publicizing the health status of priests particularly on Covid-19.
He said when a priest goes for Coronavirus test even with or without results, some Church leaders rush communicating to their members without permission from their priests. This he said is exposing the priests to discrimination.
“I’m not against informing our people that we’re sick, or need prayers because of our health condition, no! But the way we do it must be considerate, professional and ethical. It is wrong to publicize the health status of any person without their consent, even your own priests or nuns. We’re your leaders but we are also human beings, who walk around interacting with people not only in our pastoral or social work, but even meeting our parents and relations. So, when you put across a message that one is Covid-19 positive, you’re making him or her suffer discrimination.”
Archbishop Msusa further condemned some media houses for prioritizing stories of priests and nuns.
“It is a known fact that Covid-19 is amongst us: anyone can be affected or infected, while carrying out our duties. We need to be mindful of personal privacy,” he said.
When contacted to comment, chairperson for the Laity Council in the Archdiocese of Blantyre Mr Joseph Kachala said it is worrisome that some Church leaders and Christians rush to post private messages on social media and other platforms.
“It is not within our (Christians) law to announce the health status of any person including our own priests. We’ve seen some Church and parish councils making such announcements, some going as far as mentioning the name of the priest and his health status. This is not legally allowed. However, we may do so if the priest himself has given us consent to do so. We want to remind all Church leaders and lay faithful of these ethical values,” he said.
The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has hit Malawi hard which has seen government officials, religious leaders and other professionals testing positive at a rate of 36% to 40% of total tests per day since January 1, 2021.
