MALAWI: Prelate Challenges Catholic Journalists to “Reverse Society’s Acceptable Values” through Media Platforms

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

The need for Catholic journalists to reverse the societal values which are believed to be the desirable standards for social life has been emphasized by a Prelate at a meeting of media practitioners in Malawi owing to the fact that the acceptable values are currently being swept away.

Speaking to nearly 50 Catholic journalists from various media houses within the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) in his opening remarks, the Bishop Chairman for Communications and Research Commission for the Conference Rt. Rev. Montfort Stima challenged the journalists that in their role of evangelization, they need to educate the people on the accepted societal values which need to be upheld.

“Today the society is immersed in values which are against the teachings of the Church and against the gospel values,” Bishop Stima of Malawi’s Magochi Diocese disclosed during the fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the Association of Catholic Journalists (ACJ) reminding communicators, “It is the media people who can reach out to the mass in the society and let them know the values we cherish.”

Giving reference to corruption, gay rights and abortion which are being embraced the society yet do not portray the Christian and cultural values Bishop Stima decries, “People want to make these acceptable and to be part and parcel of our society’s values, but no! As Catholic journalists, even if people are doing it, you have the responsibility and the power to let people know that it is wrong, so we have to reverse.”

He reminded journalists who held their meeting at Mzuzu Diocese’s Nkhata Bay Pastoral Centre on Saturday, August 27, that reversing the society’s values calls for standing for the truth in disseminating news.

“Truth should make us free. We cannot balance our communication by disseminating false information,” the Bishop said and highlighted further, “bring out the truth whether people like it or not.”

In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration just before the commencement of the meeting, the Local Ordinary of Magochi Diocese encouraged the Catholic Journalists of Malawi to always make good use of their talents and speak up whenever there is need.

He gave reference to St. Mathew’s Gospel which notes that, “He who does not gather with me (Christ) scatters,” to emphasize that Journalists who do not use their talents to speak up when things are wrong, are promoting the very wrong act they are not talking about.

“You gather with Christ by doing, and scatter by not doing, hence if you keep quite when things are wrong, it means you are scattering,” the Bishop challenged the journalists during Mass adding that journalists communications should be influenced by Christ “who is the chief-communicator.”

The 5^th AGM held under the theme ‘The Role of Journalists in Synodality and Climate Change Resilience’ saw a number of journalists awarded for their dedication in disseminating information to the people on the Church’s role in the country of Malawi.