|
|
|
|
| National |
| Catholic bishops, priests in wrangle |
|
by
Henry Chilobwe, 15 June 2005
-
14:31:46
|
A wrangle has erupted between Catholic priests and their bishops regarding the ownership of an office complex in the capital city, Lilongwe.
The priests, who belong to Association for Diocesan Catholic Clergy of Malawi (Adccom), say the building, St Martin’s House, belongs to them but claim the bishops want to take it over.
The priests also accuse their bishops of undermining their status by dissolving Adccom’s national executive without following the association’s constitution.
Minutes of a meeting of priests from Chikwawa and Blantyre convened in place of the national Adccom executive, held in Blantyre from May 4 to 6 indicate that the priests were unhappy with the dissolution of the Adccom executive and resolved to defy the bishops’ order.
The meeting also agreed to register the association so that it could have legal protection “from abuse”.
“Members noted with sadness that the ECM (Episcopal Conference of Malawi) acted rather hastily by dissolving the Adccom executive without regard for the constitution.
“Members felt dissolving the national Adccom executive was tantamount to undermining the status of the Diocesan priest... and to let the bishops know that the problems of their dioceses should not creep and affect national matters relating to Adccom,” read the minutes in part.
One priest from Blantyre Archdiocese, who spoke on condition of anonymity, on Monday hinted that the association feels the dissolution of the national executive was targeted at removing the then acting Adccom chairman Father Edward Masauko from his post for his fearless comments and remarks.
“We know that the bishops did not like Father Masauko because he does not mince words and we told them plainly that the whole move was unconstitutional and if it were a in court they would have no case at all.
“As it is now we still regard the former executive as our leaders but because of the way the church works and out of respect and obedience for the bishops, the committee cannot do anything,” said the priest.
On St Martin’s House, the priests said they were surprised that the bishops are interfering with the management of the house when they refused to get involved in its construction.
“Members wondered why the bishops are now interfering with the management of St Martin’s House when the same bishops refused the idea of setting up such a project in accordance with the intention of the donor; the bishops refused to get involved in the construction of the house.
“ECM cannot produce documents to back itself up in claiming ownership of the project. As per ECM’s Secretary General’s remarks during one the Catholic Secretariat-Mzuzu Plenary Session, there are no such documents.
“The project belongs to National Adccom hence the management and ownership of the project has nothing to do with ECM,” the minutes said.
ECM’s acting communications director Alexius Goddia concurred with the priests that the house belongs to the priests and that the bishops have no mandate over it.
But he refused to comment on the relationship between ECM and Adccom and referred the reporter to ECM general secretary Fr Robert Mwaungulu.
But Mwaungulu demanded the names of the priest who spoke on condition of anonymity before he could comment and dismissed the allegations as mere fabrication.
“Give me the names of the priests who spoke to you or signed the minutes otherwise I regard the whole story as a fabrication,” said Mwaungulu.
He also refused to comment on the ownership of St Martin’s House.
Bishop chairman of Adccom Thomas Msusa and Masauko could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
