Malawi Catholic faithful gang up against ‘racist’ Capuchin Fathers
Catholic faithful at Kagwa Woyera Catholic Parish in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe have expressed their discontentment over the appalling treatment local priests get at the parish which is largely run by Capuchin Fathers, Nyasa Times has learnt.
Capuchin Fathers is an Indian congregation of catholic clergy, working as missionaries in a number of Catholic dioceses in the country.
According to information Nyasa Times has sought, much as such missionaries technically support their establishments once they get into a new territory, they are expected to respect and live in harmony with the local leadership of the Church.
“But the situation is different here [at Kagwa parish] as the [Capuchin] fathers seem to dislike locals so much,” a source said.
On Sunday, the faithful locked up three of Capuchin priests based at the parish in protest against their connivance to have a local priest Harvey Chikumbu transferred from the parish.
“They want him to go to Mikoke in Ntcheu so that they remain alone,” said the source. “They don’t just like him because he is Malawian.”
A private radio, Zodiak, reported Monday that “priests were locked in their rooms at the parish while three more were also said to have been locked up at outstation of Area 49 in Gulliver.”
Fr George Buleya, Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) spokesperson said “I’m not aware of the incident.”
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