The Bishop of the Independent Catholic Church of Liberia (ICCL), Nimely Jacobkly Donyen has outlined reasons for a Muslim Holiday in the Liberia.
He said Muslims and Christians worship one God but in two distinct ways and his decision appeal for a Muslim holiday is based on the theological teachings that he received from the Roman Catholic Church many years ago.
Bishop Donyen made the assertion during an interactive engagement forum over the weekend at the Johnsonville Public School in Central Johnsonville.
“A huge population of the people who belong to various ethnic groups are now Muslims and so we need to manage our diversity as Kissi, Via, Gola, Kpelle as well as Lorma, Gbande are members of the Islamic faith,” the bishop said.
He said the late Chief Kafumbaa Konneh and his friend, the late Bishop Michael Kpakala Francis of the Catholic Church worked together in Liberia for many years.
“They were strong members of the Inter-Faith Mediation Council of Liberia and they and others mediated among warring factions for the peace we enjoyed today,” he pointed out.
He added that a Muslim Holiday at the end of Ramadan is indeed appropriate to give our religious counterparts a time to rest and reflect.
Bishop Donyen referred the gathering to a theological concept of Nostra Aetate #3, Latin Word that says the church should respect Muslims and that they should co-exist in line with religious tolerance as he rallied the understanding of others.
Commenting on other issues while being X-Rayed by the council, the Montserrado County District # 2 would-be aspirant indicated that his community initiatives in the district are evidently visible in every area.
He stated that for health, a project to has been approved for 1000 students to be enrolled at the University of Liberia (UL) to read Biology and Chemistry upon their graduation, they will enter the UL Medical School so as to mitigate the shortage of doctors in the country.
The ICCL Clergyman disclosed that the free education program he’s currently running at Cheerful Givers School will be extended to other institutions including the construction of offices for County Education (CEO) and District Education Officer (DEO)
Bishop Donyen who is seriously considering to contest as an Independent Candidate said the decentralization of the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) is cardinal on his plan.
According to him, he has set-up vocational schools in some of the communities with the provision of sewing machines and it extended to others.
“We will be affiliating with the MVTC as such, it will provide teachers for the programs and issue certificates to graduates; we will be responsible to pay the instructors,” he averred.
The Independent Catholic prelate has denounced gay and lesbian and called on the government to take drastic action against persons engaged in such unreligious act.
“This is evil and against every societal norm especially in Africa as well as biblical principles and I will not support anyone who is engaged in such demonic act,” the bishop said.
On issues of corrupt the bishop said, “I will not interfere with the district development funds because my entitlements are my salary and benefits; the funds will be expended on development projects only with genuine receipts as evident.”
Bishop Doyen promised that he has concluded negotiations with African Housing Aid in the United States of America to repair the roof of anyone’s house on a business level so that the beneficiary can repay in five to six years asserting that they can even start the foundation and complete it for the same duration.
“If your structure is completed, unforeseen circumstances affect you, they will rent it and give it back when the total money is collected,” he promised.
“I can’t do any major project now because powerful people are here who are capable of destroying good innovations so when I have the power and influence to protect initiatives that I will undertake, then everything will be in full swing; because I brought water to Red Hill that should have been extended to every community but was diverted by those same elements.
For his part, the head of the Johnsonville Council, Jackson C. Nyenpa explained that the forum was intended for the 38 community leaders to get the positions of individuals on issues who will be vying for district’s Legislative stating that they have drawn up the schedules for them to appear at a time.
“We expect all the would- be aspirants to participate in the process including the incumbent. Today was scheduled for Hon. Sekou Kanneh and Bishop Donyen but he traveled so he asked for deferment,” the chairman explained.
He maintained that they may support an individual principally based on the person’s platform, evaluated records of community initiatives and or what he or she brings to the table.
