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| Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo, Acting Secretary General ECM |
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has challenged members of Malawi Parliament, especially those from the Catholic Church, to strive for and announce the truth about human dignity, denouncing all injustices existing in the society.
Acting Secretary General for the ECM, Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo said this Wednesday when the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace held an interface meeting with Catholic members of Parliament at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe.
The meeting which was termed as working dinner between the Catholic Church and Members of Parliament who are currently meeting in Lilongwe for the 2015/2016 national budget was aimed at briefing the parliamentarians on issues that affect their constituents thereby challenging them as duty bearers to take actions during this time when they are meeting for the budget session.
“This gathering is an opportune moment for us as ECM to exposes the social teachings of the Church. This is part of the Church’s moral theological reflection on the complex realities of human existence in society-social, political, economic-in the light of faith, therefore, allow God to play a role in any intervention that you contribute in Parliament,” said Fr. Chimombo in his key note address.
Fr. Chimombo said the social teaching of the Church has a threefold task which is to: announce the truth about human dignity, denounce injustices in society and contribute to positive changes and real human progress.
“We encourage you, our honourable Parliamentarians to consider the plight of those affected by floods and droughts. Through this forthcoming budget deliberation currently in progress, the affected ones need to be strengthened hence resuscitating their livelihoods.
Their food situation needs also to be strengthened by deliberately putting in resources that would support their winter cropping, as an example,” said Fr. Chimombo.
CCJP’s national secretary, Chris Chisoni said the Catholic Church is also concerned about the attacks on albinism and xenophobia that rocked the country hence the need for parliamentarians to critically address the situation.
The event was organized in line with the Scaling up Enhanced Citizen Participation for Accountable, Transparent and Responsive Governance project which is being implemented in twelve districts across the country with the support from Tilitonse Fund.
Source: Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer