Catholic bishops cry for Malawi

On the 30th anniversary of the historic Living Our Faith pastoral letter, Catholic Bishops in the country have relived the spirit of the epistle by denouncing corruption and its agents that have kept the country poor and underdeveloped.

They have since described the present environment in the country as dehuminising with the nation regressing in some areas.

The pastoral letter is being read to the faithful today in commemorating the landmark March 8 1992 Lenten Letter which was influential in changing the country’s political landscape.

Titled Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Living Our Faith, the letter marks the beginning of this year’s Lenten Season which started on Ash Wednesday.

In the conviction of authors of the original letter “who were courageous enough to stand up and call a spade a spade by naming what was contrary to the Gospel of Christ in our country,” the current bishops say it is with the same conviction as present leaders of faith that they prayerfully reflect on the current situation in the country asking whether “Is this the Malawi we all aspired to and dreamt of 30 years?”

They further ask what ought to be done to secure a brighter future for all.

“We wish to offer our honest and sincere reflection on the current situation guided by the 1992 Pastoral Letter Living Our Faith,” the bishops say in the introduction to the letter, adding that this will accord the country an opportunity to celebrate and re-live the powerful message of that original Pastoral Letter.

As spiritual leaders, the bishops say they place these reflections under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the patronage of Mary, Queen of Malawi, and of Africa.

Referring to the1992 letter by their predecessors, they also remind their faithful that the bishops then called for the unity of the human race and for institutions to respect the dignity of every human being as created in the image and likeness of God.

On that note, signatories of the letter, Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) president Archbishop George Tambala and fellow Archbishop Thomas Msusa, alongside five other bishops, lament that the present environment in which the people of Malawi live can be described as very dehumanising.

“Vast numbers of men, women and children are today like Lazarus in the Gospel [Luke 16: 19-31], languishing in abject poverty while wealth and luxury are enjoyed by a few who are unconcerned about these dehumanising conditions of the majority,” the bishops lament in their reflection.

They further remind their faithful that in 1992 their predecessors pointed out how the church, as part of its mission, is called to comment on and participate in matters that affect human beings.

“We can now echo again the same words spoken by our predecessors. Malawi is a nation that has generally enjoyed peace. We thank God for that,” say the bishops.

While they further say multiparty granted the populace a certain degree of freedom, “it must be pointed out that here and there, we seem to be regressing and going back to where we were”.

Elsewhere in the commemorative Pastoral Letter, they remind their faithful that among other ills, in 1992 the bishops bemoaned growing gap between the rich and the poor; the reality of many workers’ failure to buy basic necessities because their meager wages rendered them unable to afford minimal material needs, the prevailing existence of bribery, nepotism, tribalism, apartheid, regionalism and divisions, and called on Malawians to embrace good values which foster justice, equality and unity.

But they lament that a generation later, Malawians are still grappling with the same vices.

“In fact, it is regrettable that these vices which the Catholic Bishops condemned three decades ago, have become even more deeply ingrained and are tearing our society and our nation apart while keeping the vast majority in grinding poverty,” the bishops say.

And they go on to say there is an urgent need for every Malawian, “starting from our political leaders, to stand up strongly and courageously against these vices, and to choose to amend and correct the situation by implementing the values of equality, justice and unity”.

Like their predecessors, the bishops decry that, currently, distribution of national resources, development projects and influential political positions are not based on merit and competence, but on nepotism, regionalism, tribalism and cronyism.

“This will not take this country anywhere near where it can be,” they advise.

While noting improvements in some areas, the bishops still call for the right to an adequate education, health services for all, participation of all in public life, freedom of expression and association and a workable system of justice for all.

Elsewhere in the letter, the bishops also touch on the political bickering emanating from the uncertain future of the Tonse Alliance, and propose the need for Parliament to put in place a legal framework for coalition governments.

Singularly, the bishops say they have noted with sadness that decision-making at the highest level of government is slow despite having the necessary legal powers, authority and information.

“This is particularly true with respect to the fight against corruption. We believe that a President who campaigned on a platform of anti-corruption, and promised to deal with the vice, will not keep any of his ministers and aides when there is sufficient information about their involvement in corruption,” the bishops say; further lamenting on the ineffectiveness of the Office of the President and Cabinet.

“That office, instead of being the centre of effective administration, radiating the essence of servant leadership, has become a source of inefficiency and underperformance in the public service,” the bishops say.

They further express concern over plunder of public resources, patronage and impunity before declaring that this year’s Affordable Inputs Programme “has been blatantly inadequate”.

“Similarly, we find the response to national disasters very wanting, especially in areas badly affected by Cyclone Ana, such as the Lower Shire.”

As decried by their predecessors, the bishops also raise concern on what they termed as ‘new threat to human life’, saying today the country is also experiencing a new threat to human life and diginity in the form of propaganda for the enactment of abortion laws.

“As Catholic bishops, our stand on abortion will never change. All instances of direct abortion are murder,” they declare.

Other bishops who have signed the letter are Montfort Stima of Mangochi Diocese, Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese, Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese, John Ryan of Mzuzu Diocese and Peter Chifukwa of Dedza Diocese.