Catholics call for vigilance against Covid-19

CATHOLIC priests, the religious and catechists should continue providing the necessary pastoral care to people while strictly adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines and using the available online or virtual platforms, the Catholic secretariat has said.

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) also urged all Zambians, regardless of their social, cultural, religious and political affiliation, to put aside their differences and unite against Covid-19.

ZCCB president, George C.Z. Lungu urged citizens to religiously follow the guidelines set out by the Ministry of Health and the Zambia National Public Health Institute.

“This is not a time to relax in wearing masks and observing the social distance. We therefore exhort our people to avoid conducting funerals without following the public health regulations, which includes the reduction in numbers attending,” Bishop Lungu said in the ZCCB exhortation on the needed response to the second wave of Covid-19.

Bishop Lungu said the tragic death of some Catholic priests and members was a vivid reminder to all of that Covid-19 was real, serious and deadly.

“Surely, the dire situation in which we are living requires an urgent and decisive pastoral response at both the personal and communal levels,” he said. Bishop Lungu urged the Catholic leaders and priests to act responsibly always and everywhere as brother and sister's keeper.

He said in the like manner, the lay faithful need to protect their priests and other pastoral agents by strictly observing the preventive measures given.