The Bishop of the Effiduase Diocese of the Methodist Church in the Ashanti Region, Very Rev. Moses Quayson, has cautioned ministers of state and other politicians to desist from insulting the clergy for criticising government policies or expressing their opinion on national issues.
He said attempting to gag the clergy was not only illegal but morally wrong since the clergy were also Ghanaians concerned about the welfare of their members and the development of the nation.
Rev. Quayson made the call when he addressed the 18th Synod of the Effiduase Diocese of the Methodist Church in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region.
The synod brought together members from all the 19 circuits of the Methodist Church in the Effiduase Diocese.
Rev. Quayson said calling on the clergy to remove their cassock and become politicians was very unfortunate and urged such politicians to desist from such acts.
The Bishop recounted how Prophet Amos in the Bible spoke against corruption, injustice and other social vices that had enveloped the people, saying that “speaking against wrongdoings in the country is not wrong at all” and called for the insulting of the clergy to stop.
According to Rev. Quayson, there was the need for the church and politicians to come together and collaborate in providing the needed development and peace for the people in the country.
“Bringing the plight of the people we lead to the attention of the government should not be interpreted as doing politics or speaking for the opposition,”he said.
The Bishop challenged the government to not see people who criticised them constructively as enemies but rather see them as concerned citizens who were seeking the welfare of the masses.
He rather urged the government to come up with pragmatic policies to help solve the numerous challenges confronting the nation such as youth unemployment, poor health care, as well as the energy crisis confronting the nation.
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