In a statement, Bishop Emeritus Joseph Osei-Bonsu, former Bishop of Konongo Mampong Diocese, has expressed concern over the growing trend of using Catholic churches for political and campaign activities, calling it a “profound pastoral crisis”.
Speaking on the matter, Bishop Osei-Bonsu emphasized that using churches for political purposes contradicts their sacred purpose and undermines the Church’s prophetic neutrality.
“A Catholic church is a consecrated space, set apart exclusively for prayer and the celebration of the sacred mysteries,” he said.
The Bishop Emeritus cited scripture, referencing Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple (Mt 21:13), and echoed the Catechism of the Catholic Church, stating that churches “signify and make visible the Church living in this place” (CCC 1180).
To address the issue, Bishop Osei-Bonsu proposes clear guidelines, including banning political campaigning inside churches, restricting politicians to brief, non-political messages at church events, using alternative venues for political gatherings, and ongoing education for the faithful on sacred space and Catholic social teaching.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference is urged to issue a nationwide directive to protect the sanctity of churches and ensure the Church’s moral credibility.
Bishop Osei-Bonsu’s statement comes amid growing concerns over the intersection of politics and faith in Ghana.
Story by Dominic Duut
