Liberia: Catholic Church Clarifies Position Statement
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The NEWS (Monrovia)
4 September 2008
Posted to the web 4 September 2008
T. Michael Johnny
Monrovia
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Liberia (CABICOL) has clarified that statement by individuals, whether laity or religious, within the Catholic Church calling for the establishment of a war crimes court for Liberia are not the official statements or position of the Church.
In a statement Wednesday, the Catholic Bishops' Conference said all official statements of the Catholic Church of Liberia are made by the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference Reverend Lewis J. Zeigler or by the Secretary General Rev. Patrick M. Kabba.
The clarification of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Liberia comes in the wake of assertions by the Administrator of the Catholic Church, Rev. Andrew Karnley in support of the establishment of a war crimes tribunal to prosecute individuals who committed atrocities and crimes against humanity during the 14-year civil war in the country.
The pronouncement calling for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal in Liberia from a hierarchy within the Catholic Church had boosted confidence and support of a group known as the Forum for the Establishment of War Crimes Court in Liberia led by civil rights activist Mulba Morlu, whose group is advocating for the court.
But the Catholic Bishops' Conference said the position of the Catholic Church is very clear and unambiguous, that the Catholic Church supports the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) brokered in Ghana where Liberians settled for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and not a war crimes court.
The Church further explained that, "As a matter of policy and tradition, the Catholic Church is represented by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Liberia, which comprises the Bishops of the three Dioceses in Liberia which is presently headed by a President, Rev. Zeigler, while the day-to-day affairs of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Liberia is run by the Secretary General Rev. Kabba.
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The Catholic Bishops' Conference said, "The position of the Catholic Church has not changed. For the record, let it be made clear that the Catholic Church is not divided on this issue. The Catholic Church of Liberia can never be divided on internal or on national issues."
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