South African archbishop: Murderers should not get Catholic services

Published: 2007-10-16

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNS) -- Murderers should not be buried from Catholic churches, and recipients of stolen property should be banned from receiving Communion, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg said at the funeral of a murdered priest. "We have every reason to be outraged," Archbishop Tlhagale said at the Oct. 11 Johannesburg funeral of Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Allard Mako, 42, who died in Nelspruit after being shot by carjackers. After AIDS, violent crime "is the biggest and most sinister threat to the well-being and security of South Africa," said Archbishop Tlhagale, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference. He said many people "live in fear for their lives, many have been stripped of their freedom and dignity, many have been killed in cold blood, fallen prey to these heartless, senseless, cold criminals -- who kill with impunity." Father Mako, an associate novice master who was ordained in 2003, was driving home to the Oblate house in Nelspruit late Oct. 5 when he was shot. He was found at the side of a road and taken to hospital, where he died the next day after surgery.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .