Clergyman detests the commercialisation of God's word

Cape Coast, July 13, GNA- A clergyman on Tuesday expressed worry about the commercialisation of God's word, with impunity, even in the media, especially the radio stations by some self-proclaimed pastors. The Most Reverend Daniel Adotei Allotey, Cape Coast Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Church, noted that the practice had reached an alarming stage, and called on true Christians to work hard to reverse the trend.

Bishop Allotey, who was speaking at the 'First Arch-Diocesan Synod' of the Catholic Church in Cape Coast, urged Churches to instill morality in their members.

Delegates from all the dioceses of the Catholic Church, as well as observers from other orthodox Churches are attending the two-week programme that is under the Theme: "Lord, that I may see: towards a new vision of the evangelising mission of the Church". Bishop Allotey said: "The moral fiber of our society is nose-diving leaving in its wake bad musical lyrics on the airwaves, chieftaincy and land disputes, low educational standards, corruption and deception on the political terrain."

The Very Rev. Douglas Peters, Cathedral Administrator of the Kumasi Arch-Diocese of the Church, also abhorred the high moral decadence in the country.

He said discussions about sex in the media, particularly on radio programmes were of great concern to the Church since some of them encouraged sexual promiscuity.

Rev. Peters observed that it was the fundamental duty of the Church to promote evangelisation to win more souls for Christ.

He said: "It is a task that needs to be carried out with urgency. In this era of poverty, corruption and armed robbery among other crimes and vices, the lack of commitment to the development of the Church on the part of any Christian is unacceptable".

Rev. Peters, therefore, called on the clergy and the laity to collaborate efforts to spread "evangelism with all the zeal that it deserves", in order to achieve the mission of the Christian faith. His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, in charge of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Catholic Church, urged the delegates to deliberate pertinent issues like freedom of association and unity that could assist in the growth and development of the Church.

He urged Christians to acquire more skills and knowledge to enable them to become abreast with the current advanced global development. Mr Isaac Edumadze, the Central Regional Minister, commended the Church for its contribution to national development.