ZAMBIA: Prelate Calls on the Church to Examine how Circular Letters are Communicated to Local Churches
Bishop George Lungu of Chipata Diocese, Zambia
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Bishop George Lungu of Chipata Diocese has raised concern at how circular letters commonly known as Encyclicals issued by the Pope to the faithful including the clergy and Religious are communicated to the people at the grassroots once they are published.
The concern came about after a report by a delegate at the 20th plenary assembly of the AMECEA bishops revealed that some Catholic priests, Religious and lay faithful are not aware of the Encyclical letter Laudato Si’ that was published seven years ago in the year 2015.
“It is time now to examine seriously the way the universal Church communicates important and authoritative circular letters to the local church and how the people at the grassroots receive, appreciate, disseminate and implement such documents,” Bishop Lungu shared with AMECEA Online days after the presentation.
“Seven (7) years have passed since the publication of “Laudato Si” and yet it seems the larger majority of our Catholic faithful including priests and Religious Sisters and Brothers have no idea of its content, let alone its implementation,” Bishop Lungu who is in charge of the Religious at the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) bemoaned and expressed his fear: “This is a very surprising if not shocking revelation of the reality on the ground. It sounds like having “a party in a house that is engulfed in flames.”
He narrated in an interview Thursday, July 21, that “Laudato Si” will not be implemented “if no critical and profound analysis is done to find out the real cause of this scenario.”
The Plenary which took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania till Sunday 17, focused on the thematic theme; environmental impact on integral human development, a topic that was inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’ on care of our common home.
“Nature has finally managed to impose its own agenda on humanity’s survival instinct after being ignored for centuries,” the Bishop narrated in relation to climate crisis in the society adding that “The “Gospel of Creation” has become a brutal force compelling humanity to make choices that will inevitably determine its fate. It is a choice between life and death, survival and extinction.”
In sharing his thoughts and reflections, Bishop Lungu raised concern saying, “I shudder to admit and acknowledge the fact that the question, “why so much ignorance about “Laudato Si” among us is not as simple as it sounds.”
“It drives us to issues that seem unrelated to the topic but fundamental to understanding and appreciating the failure of some of our local churches to disseminate and implement the demands of “Laudato Si” in their communities,” he concludes.
