GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS — REVEREND GYAMFI (PAGE 16)

THE Catholic Bishop of the Sunyani Diocese, Most Reverend Mathew Kwasi Gyamfi, has urged members of the church, particularly the body of Knights and Ladies to get involved in politics since it is not a dirty game.
“Seek positons in parliament, in cabinet and ministerial appointment as well as other posts, continue to get involved in decision making at the local, national and international levels because in this way you are able to bring the message of Christ to bear on socio-economic and political issues,” he explained.
Most Rev. Gyamfi gave the advice when he delivered the keynote address at the 7th Bienniel of the  Cape Coast Commandery convention of the Knights and Ladies of St. John International, a para military organization within the Catholic Church in Sunyani.
The theme for the five-day meeting is, “Go The Mass is Ended: Commission to Evangilisation — The Role of Knights and Ladies”.
He declared, “Evangelise politics because it is sick and do things as Christ did. Let us feel the touch of the Catholic moral and social teachings in the Presidency, if you become the president of Ghana, in parliament, Cabinet, in the Ministries, in your business and in all sectors of the society where you find yourself”.
The Bishop further pointed out that, as Knights and Ladies, “You are called to become agents of change in society through the exercise of justice and truth in all sphere of life and it is to help you do this that we urge you to actively get involved in politics”.
He said, however that, as they struggle to become defenders of truth and justice, they ought not to lose sight of the high ideals they were committed to pursue which he said, centred on love, compassion, honour and moral integrity.
Most Rev. Gyamfi, indicated that, the bishops would be grateful if the Knights and Ladies would openly support and even explain further the position of the church on issues such as the handing over of mission schools back to the management of the church, the computerisation of the Senior High School, abortion, same sex marriage, fidelity in marriage and abstinence as the only sure ways to prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
He said as a body and as individuals, they could prudently and respectfully draw the attention of the church hierarchy to certain things that they need to know but which they were apparently unaware of, saying, “That is also part of your responsibility in evangelisation”.
Bishop Gyamfi pointed out that, it was a matter of urgent concern for the church in Ghana that some members of the Knights and Ladies were also members of other secular Knighthood, such as the Freemasons and Odd Fellows.
“It is important to note here that, one cannot be a Catholic and belong to a Knighthood that is outside the church. Your allegiance as a Knight to Jesus and his Church must be complete and unequivocal. You cannot serve two masters and you know as well as I do that the Vatican has issued a statement since 1732 that makes it clear that Catholics cannot be members of orders, such as Odd Fellows and Freemasons or any secular orders outside the C atholic Church,” he cautioned.
According to him, the call of the time was to promote instead of defending the faith in the midst of cynism, faithlessness and godlessness, adding that, Knights of today were summoned to a renewed vocation of promotking and protecting the faith through genuine witnessing of their lives, both in word and in deed.
“Your role as Knights in the commission to evangelisation is to constantly carry the church with you to all areas of your life-family, politics, friendhips, work and business, among other areas”.
The outgoing Grand President, Noble Sr. Brigadier General Dennis Adjei, directed all district and local commandery exercutives to ensure that, no member of the Knights and Ladies belonged to any Masonic association since the church would not entertain such a person.