The Catholic faithful in Juba appeals to the incumbent Archbishop to issue a statement condemning the letter written by a group of priests and laity rejecting the appointment of new Archbishop by Pope Francis.
In a letter dated 12th December 2019, at least three priests, doctors, government officials and professors accused and rejected the selected Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin.
They claim that the archbishop should have been someone who knows the language of the indigenous people.
But the Christians say God’s servant can work anywhere, saying let God’s will be done.
The faithful calls on Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro to condemn the act, because they did not present their issues in a professional manner.
‘His grace as our shepherd, the best thing to do is to respond to the document and make his position very clearly about the document. Our hope is that his grace will come up with a statement about the document to dispel a lot of doubts among the faithful. People are in darkness, they do not know what is happening’, says one of the citizens.
Meanwhile another concerned Christian Peter, not his real name says the outgoing Archbishop should come up with a public statement condemning the act of those priests who contributed in writing such a letter.
‘Even the Axillary bishop has to come out with a statement, condemning the act of those priests and these priests have to come out with apology because they can do something out of anger, self-interest or out of anything. But if they have realized that they have done a mistake, they should come out and apologize to the faithful who they took vow in-front of them’.
Another faithful also suggests that the archdiocese should clear this allegation.
‘This is tarnishing the image of the Catholic Church, especially the Archdiocese of Juba. It is actually very awkward to see that they are keeping silent. Silence means guilt. So he should come out and condemn it’ says the other Christian’.
Christians recall that the archdiocese recently celebrated its 100 years of faith and everybody collectively embraced and held on to good faith in the Church.
They regret that the active clergy and lay apostolate who were active participants through their homilies and promises, have failed to put their preaching in to practice.
The Christians say all the efforts of those faithful who wrote the letter have been reduced to zero level because they did not know how to present issues in a qualified manner.