Makeni Bishop Saga Intensifies - Local Diocesan Priests in Makeni Diocese have debunked a rumour spreading like wild fire in the diocese during their respective Sunday Masses that Bishop Henry Aruna (photo) will be officially installed on the 29th June at Bishop Conforti parish in Makeni. This announcement was also denounced by Fr. Benjamin Sesay during the Sunday mass at Radio Maria addressed to all local diocesan priests by their coordinator – Rev. Fr. Leonard Bangura that this rumour was baseless and that the situation or stance of the clergy and lay faithful remains the same – meaning a resounding NO to Bishop Henry Aruna as the substantive Bishop. It could be recalled that the three day working visit of the Prefect of the Justice and Peace Commission to the Vatican, Cardinal Peter Tuckson seems to have not succeeded in changing the stance of the local Priests and lay faithful of the Makeni Diocese as they still insist and stayed firm on their position which is NO amidst several appeals by the Pontifical Cardinal. Speculations from various quarters insinuated that Cardinal Tuckson’s visit will see light at the end of the tunnel but it was the contrary as various meetings with Priests, Religious and lay faithful turned out to be an interactive dialogue session and at the end snap shots with the cardinal who many people considered is very close to Pope Francis and having a picture with him will serve as remembrance on their part for various reasons. Unlike Cardinal Rogagwe, Cardinal Peter Tuckson organised separate meetings with all stakeholders in the diocese and the country including the conference of Bishops in Sierra Leone who met in Lunsar, the local priests and religious and the lay faithful at Pastoral center in Makeni. He was very patient to listen to all concerned especially the lay faithful who proved to be very desperate and outraged with various play cards and banners some reading, ‘we are not disobeying the Pope, But we disagree’, ‘We reject Henry Aruna’, Don’t impose a bad shepherd on your flock’, among others. The meeting with the lay faithful including very eminent personalities in the diocese lasted for over an hour with representative speakers drawn from the various parishes stating their ‘NO’ position to the Cardinal who together with the Secretary to the Nuncio listened attentively. The lay faithful during their statements appealed to the Cardinal for a way forward based on their non compliance and acceptance of the Bishop elect to the diocese of Makeni. Amidst several appeals to the lay faithful to save the face of the church and the Pope to accept Bishop Henry Aruna and within six months their appeals and request will be addressed’, their stance including priests and religious was NO. According to the Apostolic Administrator, Fr. Natalio Paganeli, he has no clue as to where this rumour is emanating from but he can only confirm the existence of a letter from one Cardinal Feloni congratulating the clergy and lay faithful of the diocese of Makeni for accepting Henry Aruna as Bishop of Makeni diocese. "But I cannot say when this acceptance was made and who transmitted such information to the cardinal," he said. “But I believe that whenever such decisions are to be taken I will not be taken by surprise. All I know is that there is a priestly ordination of Brother Peter Fornah on the 29th June 2013 at Blessed Conforti and not an installation of Bishop Aruna, “he stated. Meanwhile, Bishop Charles Campbell has withdrawn his decree banning all Priests, religious and lay faithful from Bo Diocese following a meeting with Cardinal Tuckson in Lunsar.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:53:15 +0000
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