BISHOP WIEHE-A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
The Catholic Bishop has, in an unprecedented move, directly appealed to our political leaders to put the national interest above partisan politics. In a sermon which was widely appreciated by the congregation and the public at large, Bishop Weihe talked at length about democracy in Seychelles. He expressed loathing and disgust at the October 3rd incident now dubbed “Black October,” where Wavel Ramkalawan and Jean Francois Ferari were violently attacked and assaulted by SSU officers. The same officers were later promoted within the ranks of the police force to the dismay of the Seychelles National Party. SNP was prompted to issue a press communiqué in which they accused the Commissioner of Police, Gerard Waye-Hive, of rewarding rogue officers who has used unnecessary force and violence against opposition leaders.
It has been years since the church has expressed its opinion on political issues in the country. A large section of our populace look up to the churches for spiritual guidance and enlightenment in their daily lives. The church has, not only a spiritual and moral responsibility to the nation, but can also play an active role in our political lives as well. The opinion of the church in respect of socio-economic, moral, spiritual and political issues are not only appreciated by the community at large but welcome. The church needs to play a more pro-active role in the lives of the community on all fronts and should not shy away from difficult tasks and utterances.
It would be unwise for the government to ignore the voice of the church and not pay heed to their opinion. It is hoped that other churches will follow suit and adopt a similar stance as that of the Catholic Bishop of Victoria. It is not only a duty, but a moral obligation on our religious institutions to address these issues comprehensively. In the same vein, the Anglican Bishop has also touched on these issues in his sermons. It is customary for many Seychellois to religiously attend Sunday mass in Seychelles and the Catholic Church is known to have a large catholic following. Many can therefore identify with the views of the Bishop and were full of praise for his sermons which came as a breath of fresh air.
