Catholic priest publishes book
Catholic priest Father Joseph Kimu has published a book in which he is exploring why evil and suffering remain a profound and troubling experience in human existence.
Kimu was scheduled to launch the book, titled Theology of Suffering in the Teaching of John Paul II, yesterday at Limbe Cathedral in Blantyre.
The priest told Nation on Sunday that the book seeks to offer theological solutions to pressing spiritual problems and anxieties among believers across the globe.
Kimu said evil and suffering become more acute when considered in relation to innocent people and the presence of an all-powerful and loving God.
“At times, this experience has driven people to utter despair and even the rejection of God. In this book, I have built and presented a systematic theological response to the problem of evil and suffering based on the teachings and personal experience of Pope John Paul II,” he said.
In the prologue to the book, Kimu says while he acknowledges that evil and suffering are a mystery originating from the ‘sin of Adam’, God in Christ Jesus has once and for all provided a response to the mystery.
He said the problem of evil and suffering does not reside in an abstract scientific, ideological or philosophical proposition, but in a concrete historical person, Jesus Christ.
“In a remarkably unique and bold manner, the author contends that with the coming of Christ here on earth, suffering has already been defeated by his passion, death and resurrection, but at the same time, it is not yet eradicated because it must be used as an instrument of salvation by all those who take up their crosses and follow his life,” says Kimu in the prologue.
Meanwhile, Kimu said donations received during the launch of the book will be used to buy materials for building St. John Girls Boarding Primary School in Mangochi.
He said a complete compound will include hostels, classrooms, dining room, multi-purpose hall, administration block, library, brick fence, ablution block, infirmary, septic tank as well as houses for sisters, matron and members of staff.
