Judge Slams Mudslinging Pastors

Justice Dennis Adjei, an Appeals Court Judge, has urged the clergy to use the pulpit to encourage deference to the state and its institutions. He criticised the practice of preachers who hide behind the Bible to insult people with impunity and throw mud at those in authority. �This is unhealthy and must end,� Justice Adjei said. He gave the advice when he addressed the annual national delegates� conference of the Brotherhood Church at South-Suntreso in Kumasi. The meeting, which was attended by more than 600 pastors and laity, was held on the theme: �Growth, vision and challenges � Gates of hell can�t prevail.� It provided the platform to chart the way of growing the church. Justice Adjei said it is important for all to accept to be more constructive in their criticisms of perceived acts of omission and commission by their leaders. This, he, said must be done within the confines of the law, adding: �This is the way to promote and maintain the dignity of national institutions.� He said freedom of speech and expression should enhance healthy national development and not to hold the society back. Justice Adjei warned that any nation that shows disdain for law and order would be heading towards doom. He expressed disapproval of the unbridled use of the Frequency Modulation radio stations for discussion of legal matters and said the appropriate forum is the court. The Right Reverend Seth K. Adofo, Primate of the Church, asked Ghanaians to talk peace and do everything to protect national unity. He counselled against political intolerance, inflammatory and reckless utterances, likely to tear the people apart.