Catholic Directive Is Show Of Support - Rev. Mensah

The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Kumasi Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, Most Reverend Thomas Mensah, has explained that the directive by the Catholic Bishops Conference not to celebrate Mass on the election day was to prevent a situation where members would use the church as an excuse for not exercising their franchise.

Describing the directive as the church's demonstration of love for the nation's growth, he stressed, “ We don't want to hear anybody giving excuses by saying that he or she attended mass from this time to that time and that was why he or she did not get time to vote.

“You must all attend the Saturday evening mass as directed and go to the polls to vote on the election day,” the Archbishop added.

The Most Rev. Mensah gave the explanation during the 60th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Saint Theresa's Catholic Church at Asawase in Kumasi.

The celebration was on the theme: “60 years Of Church Founding: The Way Forward”.

The Metropolitan Archbishop questioned the views people had about Christians getting involved in the politics of the country.

According to him, it was not wrong for Christians to partake in political activities that would contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation.

He explained that the growth of the country, in no small measure affected the well-being of the church.

“How can the Church grow if all of us don't support the growth of the nation first?”

He used the occasion to advise Ghanaians not to indulge in acts that would disturb the peace of the nation during and after the December general election.

Archbishop Mensah congratulated the church on their anniversary and further urged the congregation to contribute their quota to the growth of Catholicism.

“Sixty years signify maturity; you must therefore continue to behave as a mature church. Don't get yourself involved in acts that will tarnish the good image of the church and the entire Catholic Church as a whole,” he added.

The Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Asare Amankwatia V, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, congratulated the church on their anniversary and urged them to continue to pray for peace, unity and prosperity in Asanteman and the country in general.

Former Parish Priests, chiefs and queens as well as founder members of the church were rewarded for their meritorious services to the physical and spiritual development of the church.