Bishop asks faithful to help curb SA’s ills

ATOP South African Catholic bishop has called on faith-based communities to play their part to combat the country’s complex socio-economic problems instead of attacking the government.

Speaking at a bi-annual meeting of the South African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) in Mariannhill, the newly elected bishop of Klerksdorp in the North West, Bishop Victor Hlolo Phalana, said while it was good to challenge the state and expose its failures, “we cannot resolve all these issues at once.”

Bishop Victor, as he is known, was ordained in January. He is passionate about South Africa. He would like to see our story being a success, not of failure. He is concerned about those who criticise without putting forward solutions.

He believes that co-operation and collaboration are the best tools for success and development. He believes one must “be part of the solution, not part of whiners and reactionaries”.

His call reflects divisions among the country’s Catholic bishops on thorny matters in the country. Bishop Victor said the problems required “innovative” input and maturity. “We need one another. The government alone cannot do this.”

He cited poverty, pollution, lack of development, unemployment, a high crime rate and HIV/Aids as some of the most pressing problems. “We have to urgently deal with disintegrating family life, substance abuse, moral decay, nepotism and corruption.”

Bishop Victor said political and economic instability in the neighbouring countries was cause for concern since displaced immigrants at times fell prey to xenophobic crimes at the hands of “unemployed angry youths”.

Archbishop Stephen Brislin, of Cape Town, and SACBC president, said Christians must be steadfast in their belief and not compromise their faith.

Spokesman Father S’milo Mngadi confirmed that the bishops were doing their best to find each other on “sensitive” issues.

“Those that are a challenge to deal with head-on include race relations and how best to partake in the bigger conversation about current affairs in South Africa.”