The Catholic Church of Zambia has restated its official position on politics: that it is neutral and will not take sides.
But the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), the conclave of Catholic
bishops, has also accused the government of orchestrating a campaign of
attacks against the church and warned that this was not the way to win
the Catholic vote.
ZEC president the Rt Rev George Lungu, who is the bishop of Eastern
Zambia, in a statement that will be read in all Catholic Churches on
Ascension Sunday, June 5, said: "Our engagement in politics is only
motivated by our divine obligation to speak on behalf of the voiceless
in our country. In exercising this prophetic ministry, we will be
neutral in so far as partisan politics are concerned. When we speak, as
bishops, our message has nothing to do with any perceived dislike or
preference for any particular sitting president or any political party."
His statement was prompted by mounting attacks on the Catholic Church
and its clergy by supporters of the governing party, who see the church
as spearheading a campaign of what is termed "regime change".
Its outspoken clergy are seen to speak in favour of the opposition and
never in support or in sympathy with the government.
The ZEC said that
"in recent months, we have all witnessed a growing barrage of attacks in
the public media against the Catholic Church in Zambia, its leadership,
priests and even its doctrine.
"Many of you have made representation to us, your bishops, and spoken of your pain at these unwarranted attacks."
It said it was clear that the attacks on the church were coordinated and
planned: "We also note the growing but steady stream of individuals,
journalists and questionable organisations that are ready to parade
themselves before the public media vilifying innocent citizens and the
Catholic Church.
"These individuals and organisations are given such puzzling and
unfettered access to the public media. They are allowed to despise, with
such venomous passion and impunity, more than three million Catholics
in Zambia (a third of the country's entire population). How can this
happen in a country where we, the Zambian people, as taxpayers, are
supposed to be the owners of these public media?
"Since all public media are owned and controlled by government, we can
safely conclude that these attacks on our church are sponsored by
government. Whatever the case, this is not the way to win the Catholic
vote in an election year."
"When these attacks distort the Catholic Church's moral doctrine on
celibacy or homosexuality, we all have cause for alarm. With regard to
homosexuality, let me restate categorically that Catholic teaching does
not promote homosexuality," Lungu said.
In his reaction President Rupiah Banda said he had never attacked the
Catholic Church and that some members of the church were his supporters.
A spokesperson for the protestant Christian Coalition, said what the
Catholic Church needed to do was to "discipline its loudmouthed bishops
and priests".
It needed to separate the gospel from politics and blamed the ZEC for the situation.
"They have failed to put their house in order by keeping quiet when their priests insult the government."