Malawian church official says Catholics manipulated by government

Published: 2003-10-27

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- A Malawian church official said Catholics who protest what they call political sermons are being manipulated by the government. "Priests must be involved in politics, as it involves issues of justice and love," said Msgr. Boniface Tamani, vicar general of the Blantyre Archdiocese. A group of parishioners from Limbe cathedral in Blantyre wrote Archbishop Tarcisius Ziyaye of Blantyre that priests are persuading people to vote for particular parties in Malawi's general election, set for May 2004. The group, called The Voice, "is organized by the ruling party, and its aim is to be divisive in the church and to frustrate efforts within the church to promote justice and peace," Msgr. Tamani said in a late-October telephone interview from Blantyre. "It has been planted within the church as part of a dirty game," he said, noting that he suspects that those involved "are given money for their activities." People must distinguish between preaching on issues that concern politics and being involved in party politics, Msgr. Tamani said.

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