An elderly and devoted Catholic layman, Mark Chona, has called on the Catholic Church to renew her prophetic and pastoral mission by standing firmly for justice, unity, peace and the dignity of every human being.
In a fraternal appeal to the Church, Mr Chona says the Catholic Church has historically been a unifying force and a voice for the marginalised, speaking for those whose voices cannot otherwise be heard.
However, he expresses concern that, in some instances, sections of the Church leadership appear to be departing from these foundational values by being perceived as selective in defending the rights and dignity of citizens.
Mr Chona says the Church must defend every person without fear or favour, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, province, region, social status, economic standing, family connections or proximity to power.
He warns that when the Church is perceived to elevate some people while remaining silent on the suffering of others, it risks deepening divisions within congregations, communities and families, while weakening the confidence of the faithful in its moral leadership.
He has also challenged the Church to be more consistent in counselling the nation on respect for elders, national leaders, fellow Christians and fellow citizens, saying the Church must teach both truth and charity.
Mr Chona says while leaders must be held accountable, citizens must equally be reminded to uphold civility, lawful authority and the dignity of people with whom they may disagree.
He is further calling on the Church to lead the nation in prayer without political preference, urging prayers for those in authority and those in opposition, as well as for the powerful and the powerless.
According to Mr Chona, prayer should help soften hardened hearts, restrain reckless speech and remind citizens that their highest allegiance is to God.
He says concerns raised by lay members of the Church should not be viewed as rebellion, but rather as an expression of love for the institution and faith in its ability to continue providing moral and spiritual leadership.
Mr Chona has therefore appealed to the Catholic Church to unite rather than divide, defend the downtrodden and protect the dignity of all people without discrimination.
He says Zambia still looks to the Catholic Church for moral clarity, reconciliation and hope, and has urged the institution to rise above partisan and social divisions and remain a spiritual home for all.
