5  Malawi catholic priests defy celibacy, suspended

Five Catholic priests from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Blantyre in Malawi are on suspension for breaking the church’s celibacy law after it was discovered that the priests had fathered children while some are cohabiting  with their women.

The revelation on the suspension of the five comes soon after the church went against its own standing procedures to allow another priest who had fathered a child and was leaving with his ‘wife’ to be accorded all Christian burial procedures such as a mass, prayers and was buried at Limbe Cathedral Cemetery a place reserved for Priests.

His Grace Archbishop Thomas Msusa said the priests face discpline action
His Grace Archbishop Thomas Msusa said the priests face discpline action

During a news conferenc Head of the Archdiocese of Blantyre Archbishop Thomas Msusa disclosed that the concerned priest father Graciano Kunkeyani was not the only one as currently the church is investigating five other priests for similar offences and it has since suspended them.

“When one is on suspension, it means they have been given time to choose what they want whether to continue as a priest or not. The time one stays on suspension depends on the nature of the issue in question as there is need for thorough investigations,” he said.

The Archbishop was however quick to point out that everyone makes mistakes in life and priests are no exception.

“It’s not in our place as human beings to judge each other but fulfill God’s wishes of loving and forgiving one another,” he added.

According to Msusa, it is very rare that after suspension, a priest decides to abandon priesthood vocation as most of them repent and serve God actively through priesthood.

“I’m glad that most of the priests on suspension have shown remorse and are ready to come back. If during the suspension a priest is in need, the diocese is obliged to help since he is still our priest,” he said.

The Archbishop said depending on what mistake has been made, the diocese has several ways of helping the priest such as involving a Psychiatrist to assess him. When a priest is on suspension, they are at times sent somewhere to attend a course whilst the diocese is investigating the issue.

Msusa dismissed allegations that the church conceals sex scandals and denies that priests could engage in such acts saying suspensions are an indication that the church recognises that these things are real and happening.

The Archbishop could not be drawn to reveal the identities of the five suspended priests.

In father Kunkeyani’s case, he was suspended in 2010 over allegations that he fathered some children.

He fell sick while still on suspension and the church took care of him during the time he was admitted in hospital and was still under the church’s care whilst at Saint James home for the sick and retired priests situated at Limbe Cathedral, until his death.

Msusa explained that late Kunkeyani had been going to him telling him that he wanted to get back into priesthood.

When he died, he was granted all Christian burial procedures a thing which attracted a lot of criticism from many people.

However, Msusa backed the church’s action saying that Father Kunkeyani was granted burial according to what the Pastoral Directives on Christian Burial guides the church to do.

He said the guidelines have been there all along and they have also applied to other suspended priests before.

“A Christian burial is a right not privilege and whoever is baptised in the Catholic church requires a Christian burial,” Msusa said.

He could not, however, explain why the suspended late priest was buried at a site where only priests are buried.

Many men of the cloth in Malawi have been siring kids, with some keeping affairs.

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Shylock
9 years ago

Madolo stop bremin’ dem coz zimachitika ndimayeselo osatheka.

MaiMai
9 years ago

All Priests do sex with nuns who are all on contraceptive. ..those caught are the unlucky ones. Priest with sex oooooh koma inu zimabaya osati chibwana…

Mbanangwa
9 years ago

Concentrate on your work gentle ladies and men. You can not develop by spending your energies and time on talking about others. Go and prepare your farm gardens.

Opatulika
Opatulika
9 years ago

Ndinalawapo sistere. Akabvula gawoni uja, kolona kuponyanso apo, nditseketseke dala. Stop this celibacy nonsense

Paramount Chief Lundu
9 years ago

LOMA LUSAYO NDE WALEMBATU.

jj
jj
9 years ago

I think this celibacy thing really doesn’t work, catholic priests are kept prisoners of sexual feelings. We have many married men of God who are doing the real work of God and being mightly used by God. Some of these vows are not Godly but rather satanic as they promote promiscuous behaviour among the so called laity. Never bind yourself to vows you can’t fulfill otherwise you cause yourself to sin by your vows. Apostle Peter was a married man and yet was mightly used by God and many others alike. It is good to make vows but if you… Read more »

Lusayo
Lusayo
9 years ago

Kodi mmadzizunziranji, munthu ukakula thupi limanena lokha, umafuna mkazi basi mudzithandizani matupi akatentha. Ngakhale munene kuti simupanga ife tonse timadziwa kuti mmathira penapake. Nkhaza ndizoti simusamala ana anuwo. Musiyana bwanji ndiwosapemphera? Mkazi amakoma osati masewela, nanjinanji woti amakukonda, nayenso akufuna kukweredwa, akuchita kunanda kumunsiku ngati athila thelere, mudzalowetseko nyamatayu atadzukabwino, mudzayiwala ngakhale pemphero la Mayi Maria

mza
mza
9 years ago

Allow them to marry because not to marry is not a natural law from God . It just comes from you church people who forgoten. the nature of humanbing.

peter
peter
9 years ago

Nkhani yobvuta imeneyi

Zonse Zamveka
9 years ago

KOMA ZOOPSYA. NDIKHULUPILIRA ALIYENSE AKAZIYANKHILA YEKHA MALINGA NDI NCHITO ZAKE. NDIKUTITU ALIYENSE. TSOKA KWA UYO YEMWE ASOCHERETSA NKHOSA ZA AMBUYE,CHIFUKWA KUNAKAKHALA KWABWINO KUM`MANGILILA CHIMPHERO NDIKUKAMPONYA M`NYANJA. POWELUZA SAKAYANG`ANILA NKHOPE KUTI AWA ANALI AUJE AYI. SODOM NDI GOMOLA, KAYA TIYE NAZONI AMBUYE AKUONA ZONSE NDIPO MBALAME ,TCHIRE, MADENGA, MAKOMA, ABULUUZI,MAKOSWE NDIYE MBONI WA IZI.

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