Unity of the nation must start from the church - Palmer-Buckle

Tema, July 20, GNA - The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Reverend Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle on Sunday called for unity among Christians as the first step towards uniting the nation. He said to ensure that the peace Ghanaians desire was obtained, unity must start from the churches and advised church leaders to make sure that unity prevails among the various groupings in the church. Most Rev Palmer-Buckle made the call in a sermon to mark the 40th anniversary of the St Joseph the Worker Catholic Church at Tema Community 8 under the theme; 'Making our faith perfect through our works', during which 200 members received confirmation into the parish. He noted that Christians must know that they are all worshiping one God, irrespective of their denominations, adding that, creating divisions among themselves would negatively impact on the unity of the nation as a whole.

He said Christians must desist from only professing their faith in God verbally as their faith must be perfected by extending love and kindness towards other people, irrespective of their religious and ethnic groupings. To this end, Ghanaians especially Christians must love and protect life as one of the responsibilities associated with professing their faith in God.

He advised against lynching of criminals, murder and terminating pregnancies as life is a gift from God.. The Metropolitan Archbishop stated that respecting God's creation was one of the responsibilities of Christians noting that, the habit of indiscriminate disposal of refuse, felling of trees and polluting the environment among others must be stopped. Mr Joseph Botchway, Catechist of the Church giving a brief history of the Church said the parish started in the house of one of its members at Community 7 in 1964.

The Church then moved to Datus Complex School in 1975 where the various groupings in the Church were inaugurated to enhance its growth and moved to its present location in April 1982. Touching on its projects, the Catechist said the church has initiated a church building project for the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at Prampram as well as assisting St. Dominic Catholic Church, Dawhenya to construct a two bedroom mission house. 20 July 08