Catholics reconcile after 2017 scandal

The Catholic Church in the Diocese of Gaborone gathered at St Charles Lwanga Minor Seminary at Kgale this past Saturday for a pilgrimage of faith to claim back peace in the church. According to the Bishop of the Diocese of Francistown and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Gaborone, Frank Nubuasah, a pilgrimage of this nature is taken by those who intend to achieve something important.

“Many things happened in the church last year. In the history books, 2017 will not be seen as a very good year for the Diocese of Gaborone but 2018 is the year of blessings, promises and anointing,” said Nubuasah. He said last year the church was attacked both from inside and outside by an invisible army of faceless people.

“The church was used for selfish purposes to achieve short term gain. We were crippled last year and we need to be healed so that we can get up and walk.” He alluded to the African proverb that talks of an ant that bites you while inside your own clothes, saying the church was similarly bitten by those inside, aiding another attack from those outside the church. “It was difficult for people to be proud to identify with the Catholic Church, even there were times when I felt it was difficult to call myself a Christian, a Catholic, a priest or a Bishop.” He emphasized that they gathered because they wanted to accept responsibility as many people are hurt and are carrying pain in their hearts while others are so confused that they cannot trust each other.

“All have been affected, we are all wounded people, some suffer physical symptoms of that, and there are psychological, emotional and even spiritual symptoms so we need to be healers of each other.” He challenged Catholics to understand that the Catholic church is bigger than anyone. “The Pope can resign and the church will continue as if he was never born; no one is bigger than the church. For many years before you were born, the church existed and many years after you are dead, the church will still continue to be in existence.

That is why we continued to gather despite the confusions and people should not think that the church needs them most.” Nubuasah urged Catholics to stop finger pointing and the gossip to move forward as an army of love. The pilgrimage comes after the shameful events that the church faced last year including the shock resignation of Bishop Valentine Seane. It was the first thing to happen since the church was established in Botswana. At the time of the resignation last year, there were allegations of divisions within the church, with further reports suggesting that Bishop Seane’s life was in danger as some people within the church and those with business interests in the church land wanted to kill him.

There were further accusations of sexual abuse by Seane who, it was later reported, resigned to clear his name against the accusations. Upon his resignation, the Pope appointed Nubuasah as an apostolic administrator. The Diocese of Gaborone currently awaits the Pope’s final decision on the Bishop of the Diocese. However, many Catholics believe Nubuasah to be the right candidate to address the current problems faced by the Diocese.