Faith leaders told to address social, political ills
LEADERS of faith-based organisations must address corruption and the unequal distribution of national wealth if social and political crises are to be averted in the Pacific. Bishop Jack Urame of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea has spoken out against division within the Christian faith which has led to stagnated development.
And he has accused church leaders of seeking short cuts using religion and religious values. “Instead of addressing corruption and unequal distribution of the nation’s wealth which lead to development stagnation and social crisis political leaders attempted to create political holiness to solve social and development issues,” Urame said.
In a paper delivered to leaders of PNG’s main churches at the Melanesian Institute in Goroka, Urame pointed to a number of local approaches including the destruction of cultural symbols in the name of God and for the sake of development. These included the importation of a 400 year old Bible from United States, the supposed dedication of PNG as a nation to God after a mass national repentance and the removal of traditional carvings from Parliament House.
“(The) National Speaker, Theo Zurenuoc, claimed that Parliament House was decorated with motifs of bad spirits,” Urame said.
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