Catholic Youth Fight Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu Over Gitmo Duo
Some young Catholics are fighting the president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for asking President John Mahama to “balance common sense with compassion” as far as his decision to allow two ex-detainees from Guantanamo Bay to be transferred to Ghana a two-year stay is concerned.
Concerned Catholic Youth, Ghana also said in a statement that Most Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu’s call for demonstrations against the president’s acceptance of Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby, as part of a deal reached between the governments of Ghana and the United States of America, was in bad taste.
“This type of speech and others should never be tolerated, let alone uttered by any religious leader. Most Rev. Osei Bonsu must apologise for his comments.
“As a religious leader, he should know that his remarks send wrong signal that ‘it is acceptable to discriminate against any group’. Hate is never acceptable,” the group condemned in a statement copied to the Nuncio, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the National Catholic Secretariat, and the Ghana Catholic Council.
Read the full statement of Concerned Catholic Youth, Ghana below:
REJOINDER: CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE CONCERNING THE ISSUE OF GUANTANAMO DETAINEES
On 16th December, 2014, the US government consulted the Vatican with regards to finding "adequate humanitarian solutions" for the inmates of Guantanamo Bay. Pope Francis stressed the need for inmates to be treated as humanely as possible and with dignity and not on the conditionality of "common sense" as being relayed by the President of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
The Pontiff and the Catholic Church have been unequivocal in the need for people around the world to respect the rights and dignity of prisoners. The church has on countless occasions condemned inhumane treatments and the wrongful detention of prisoners.
Abuses of such nature can only end if the international community firmly commits to recognising the principle of placing human dignity above all devoid of "common sense especially from our religious leaders.
The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference in a radio interview weeks ago asked Ghanaians to demonstrate against the government for its decision to offer humanitarian assistance to the Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Most Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu further went on to say: “We will not relent till government does the right thing.” That brings forth the question of: What is the right thing? To do what he wants?
In the wake of these comments, the clergy need to stand up for the rights of all people and not be selective.
This type of speech and others should never be tolerated, let alone uttered by any religious leader.
Most Rev. Osei Bonsu must apologise for his comments.
As a religious leader he should know that his remarks send a wrong signal that “it is acceptable to discriminate against any group". Hate is never acceptable.
The Holy Pope Francis and the Catholic Church have been frequent advocates for the rights of all minorities and have worked to combat forms of intolerance that continue to spread across the world.
We seek to refer Most Rev. Osei Bonsu to Hebrews 13:3.
“Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves are also in the body”.
We, the Concerned Catholic Youth, Ghana wish to appeal to the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference to call our Rev. Bishop Osei Bonsu to order.
We also entreat Most Rev. Osei Bonsu to be circumspect in his utterances in dealing with this issue, since we believe President John Dramani Mahama, in his wisdom as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, has done everything necessary to keep the safety and security of the country and wouldn't do anything to destroy it.
Our group has been reliably informed of the ZERO risks the two detainees possess to Ghana that is why the President took the decision to grant them humanitarian assistance.
He knows they do not pose any major threat to our dear nation. In all these we entreat all citizens especially all Catholic faithful to adhere to the Pope's declaration of the year 2016 as the "Year of Mercy" and have a merciful heart towards our brothers and sisters.
We also, by this press release, wish to plead with all communicators (political parties, religious leaders, social and government appointees) to tone down and as well avoid the use of invectives in their commentary. Two wrongs can never make a right!
Finally we want to call on the Government of Ghana and the Catholic Church to dialogue and continue to do so in finding a common ground in strengthening the unity of the country and a harmonious government, religious bodies coexistence.
Amen.
God Bless Ghana
God Bless The President of the Republic of Ghana
Long Live The Catholic Church
God Bless Our Motherland
Long Live Concerned Catholic Youth, Ghana
Thanks
Acting President
Anthony Selorm Kofituo Morrison
General Secretary
Justice Kpornyo
Director of Public Relations
Kporku N. Wilberforce
Greater Accra Coordinator
Justine-Marie Senchim
Joseph Yiranbon
Upper East Coordinator
Volta Region
Victor Kodzo Kudoadzi
Njonolah Linus
Ashanti Regional Coordinator
CC:
The Nuncio
Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference
The National Catholic Secretariat
The Ghana Catholic Council