Be Service-Oriented – Archbishop Sarpong Urges Politicians
Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, says that a true Catholic politician must put himself at the service of the people and ensure that the community achieves what it wants and needs.
He stated this in a 23- page Article to The Catholic Standard to be serialized. The article is divided into three sections: True Politics is Leadership Service, Servanthood and Stewardship; Catholic Politicians; and must the Church herself indulges in Politics?
Tracing the origin of politics, the Archbishop said politics produces people who are leaders and who go in for the protection of society, trying to get what the society needs and wants and, above all, help members of the society to enjoy peace in abundance and security.
Whatever the type of governance we are talking of, it has the same aim as other forms of governance.
Unfortunately in our society, the Archbishop said “we have adopted the so called party democratic system which we are not used to”.
Because of the enormous influence that politics gives, many just rush into it for the by-products, completely ignoring the main fruits of politics which are happiness, peace, security, development and order in society.
Looking at the political leadership and indeed the leadership in other areas of our lives such as Civil Service, Corporations, Banking Systems, the Army, the Police Service, the Education Service and Chieftaincy, can we honestly consider it unjustified that politics has been described as a dirty game? Archbishop Sarpong asked.
Archbishop Sarpong noted that politics had earned the odious name of a dirty game and people who aspire to be politicians are often described as wishing to be players in that dirty game.
Many educated and respectable persons in this country, on account of this derogatory and uncomplimentary game, proudly denounce interest in politics.
This “dirty game” is regarded as necessary, and politicians are for this reason regarded as a band of crooks whose presence in society is evil, but a necessary evil.
Quoting Plato, one of the greatest and wisest men who ever lived many centuries ago, Archbishop Sarpong said “wise men pay the price of subjecting themselves to a government by fools when they refrain from taking an interest in politics”
He said on no account should Christians shun politics. On the contrary, the followers of Christ, who could, should involve themselves in the management of public affairs so that they would be able to bring the principles of the Gospel of the Lord to bear on shaping the destiny of the nation.
“A Christian who can but refuses to do this and carry it through, is in effect saying that he agrees with whatever a politician says”.
Archbishop said he found it absurd that when Priests and ministers say something about what is happening in the country some people accuse them of doing politics. They order them to stick to the pulpit.
But in the pulpit who is the preacher talking to? Is it not to human beings affected by politics? And when he advises people to be honest, morally upright, hardworking, tax-paying, serious with their education, is this not politics? Is he not speaking for the common good?
Touching on the quality of a true Catholic politician, he said they should put themselves at the disposal of the community they serve.
At the end of the day, “let Catholic politicians realize that they are servants and that they are entrusted with patrimony of the nation as stewards. Let them realize that they are to help in the building of civilization of love”.
Let them realize that false solidarity, power drunkenness, illegal acquisition of wealth, crave for honour are tools that the devil uses to demolish the edifice of that civilization.
And let them realize that these two worldly values feed on pride, selfishness, and greed. And, finally, that they can win the battle against the devil if they take seriously the Christian value of love.
Archbishop Sarpong cited the late President Julius Nyerere as an exemplary Catholic President, whose Cause to Beatification prior to Canonization is not a surprise.
He was an exemplary Christian Leader, a Christian politician who is worthy of the name. He attended Mass everyday riding a bicycle.
His salary was not higher than the salary of a teacher of primary school. He eschewed all pomp and showmanship. He conceived and practiced a political system suitable for his people, namely Ujaama, the Archbishop added.
Serialization of Archbishop Sarpong’s article begins in the next issue of the Catholic Standard
Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, says that a true Catholic politician must put himself at the service of the people and ensure that the community achieves what it wants and needs.
He stated this in a 23- page Article to The Catholic Standard to be serialized. The article is divided into three sections: True Politics is Leadership Service, Servanthood and Stewardship; Catholic Politicians; and must the Church herself indulges in Politics?
Tracing the origin of politics, the Archbishop said politics produces people who are leaders and who go in for the protection of society, trying to get what the society needs and wants and, above all, help members of the society to enjoy peace in abundance and security.
Whatever the type of governance we are talking of, it has the same aim as other forms of governance.
Unfortunately in our society, the Archbishop said “we have adopted the so called party democratic system which we are not used to”.
Because of the enormous influence that politics gives, many just rush into it for the by-products, completely ignoring the main fruits of politics which are happiness, peace, security, development and order in society.
Looking at the political leadership and indeed the leadership in other areas of our lives such as Civil Service, Corporations, Banking Systems, the Army, the Police Service, the Education Service and Chieftaincy, can we honestly consider it unjustified that politics has been described as a dirty game? Archbishop Sarpong asked.
Archbishop Sarpong noted that politics had earned the odious name of a dirty game and people who aspire to be politicians are often described as wishing to be players in that dirty game.
Many educated and respectable persons in this country, on account of this derogatory and uncomplimentary game, proudly denounce interest in politics.
This “dirty game” is regarded as necessary, and politicians are for this reason regarded as a band of crooks whose presence in society is evil, but a necessary evil.
Quoting Plato, one of the greatest and wisest men who ever lived many centuries ago, Archbishop Sarpong said “wise men pay the price of subjecting themselves to a government by fools when they refrain from taking an interest in politics”
He said on no account should Christians shun politics. On the contrary, the followers of Christ, who could, should involve themselves in the management of public affairs so that they would be able to bring the principles of the Gospel of the Lord to bear on shaping the destiny of the nation.
“A Christian who can but refuses to do this and carry it through, is in effect saying that he agrees with whatever a politician says”.
Archbishop said he found it absurd that when Priests and ministers say something about what is happening in the country some people accuse them of doing politics. They order them to stick to the pulpit.
But in the pulpit who is the preacher talking to? Is it not to human beings affected by politics? And when he advises people to be honest, morally upright, hardworking, tax-paying, serious with their education, is this not politics? Is he not speaking for the common good?
Touching on the quality of a true Catholic politician, he said they should put themselves at the disposal of the community they serve.
At the end of the day, “let Catholic politicians realize that they are servants and that they are entrusted with patrimony of the nation as stewards. Let them realize that they are to help in the building of civilization of love”.
Let them realize that false solidarity, power drunkenness, illegal acquisition of wealth, crave for honour are tools that the devil uses to demolish the edifice of that civilization.
And let them realize that these two worldly values feed on pride, selfishness, and greed. And, finally, that they can win the battle against the devil if they take seriously the Christian value of love.
Archbishop Sarpong cited the late President Julius Nyerere as an exemplary Catholic President, whose Cause to Beatification prior to Canonization is not a surprise.
He was an exemplary Christian Leader, a Christian politician who is worthy of the name. He attended Mass everyday riding a bicycle.
His salary was not higher than the salary of a teacher of primary school. He eschewed all pomp and showmanship. He conceived and practiced a political system suitable for his people, namely Ujaama, the Archbishop added.
Serialization of Archbishop Sarpong’s article begins in the next issue of the Catholic Standard
