TANZANIA: Nation Should Develop Values of Fraternity, Unity, Solidarity says TEC President
Sarah Pelaji
The President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference TEC Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga has urged Tanzanians to develop the values of unity, solidarity, mutual respect, tolerance and obedience to the laws of the country.
He said this when he was addressing the community during the event of cleansing Geita Cathedral of Mary Queen of Peace which was blasphemed on the 26th of February on the eve of the first Dominica of Lent where a person invaded the Cathedral broke the door, blasphemy against the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, and the desecration of the sanctity of this Church building and the various equipment of Holy worship.
He said that he received the news of the terrible incident with shock because it is not a normal incident where the liturgical services at Mary Queen of Peace Cathedral of Geita Diocese had to be “suspended” following an incident.
“The level of damage done proves that the perpetrator clearly understood the value of what he destroyed, otherwise he probably wouldn’t have bothered with it.
He understood its value to us who believe and that’s why he destroyed it on a large scale.
The actions of the destruction emphasize the faith of the Catholic Church that what it believes is right and explain that these actions undermine the character of trust and mutual respect in our differences as human beings,” said Archbishop Nyaisonga who is also the Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mbeya.
Also, all Tanzanians should develop the values of fraternity, unity, solidarity, mutual respect, tolerance and obedience to the laws of the country.
Also live the Catholic Bishop’s Lent message which insists praying for all people to be strengthened in their inner personality.
He also said that the sorrows of the Catholic Church do not reduce God’s Mercy, so the Church forgives him and prays for conversion and grace for that person and all people who intend to do such evil against people or holy things. In addition, he has urged and encouraged the believers of Geita Diocese not to lose faith and the spirit of mercy for that incident has already passed and now the Church can start anew.
In conclusion, he thanked people with good will towards the Catholic Church for giving donations and comforting the Geita Catholic Diocese.
He congratulated the people of Geita Catholic Diocese for facing the challenge with faith-based methods and now the Church has been restored to its status, so they should use it to get new strength to proclaim Christ ..
The Archbishop Emeritus of Dar es Salaam Archdiocese His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, in his sermon said that the blasphemy committed has not only hurt the Geita Diocese but the entire Church.
It is impossible for us to think that this is an issue of the Geita Diocese only, it is for all the people. The Episcopal Church is part of the Church of Tanzania and the Universal Church. That is why we have gathered here people from various Catholic Dioceses in the country,” he said.
He said the Cathedral of Geita is part of the body of the Catholic Church in Tanzania and the Universal Church so the incident hurts the whole Church in the world. He explained that the buildings which are consecrated have been offered to God and God has added value in them for they are used to adore him.
“The sad thing is that the hands of man through the action that happened means that man wants to take away the rights of God to own the building that was given in His honor.
Man wanted to rob God our human goal of giving thanks, offering and worshiping God.
So, we are invited in the first place as human beings to repent for this act committed by a man,” he insisted.
Conveying condolences of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, Regional Commissioner of Geita Region Hon. Martine Shigella said that the Government is disappointed by the incident done by the criminal and the criminal has already been arrested and his case is in court.
He has also said that the President has directed the security agencies to strengthen security in all places of worship and to ensure that believers of all religions fully participate in their worship.
“The government led by President Samia is a government that believes, respects and obeys that the foundations of our beliefs must be observed by each one of us,” said Hon. Shigella
