Stop state violence, Archbishop Banda
By George Zulu
THOSE with power use instruments of state violence to publicly intimidate, humiliate, and persecute their people, who they perceive as enemies, Archbishop Alick Banda has said.
During his Sunday Homily held at St Ignatius Parish of the Catholic Church yesterday, Archbishop Banda said the crucifixion of Jesus was a story of how the powerful across places treat their perceived enemies using instruments of state violence.
“The crucifixion of Jesus is a story of how the powerful across places and times treat their perceived enemies; using instruments of state violence to publicly intimidate, humiliate, and persecute its people. However, what they do not realize is that their actions work into God’s plan,” he said.
Archbishop Banda said only those sidelined by people in power would see the truth.
“Only those on the margins, and on the periphery of power, testify to the truth. It is one of the criminals, rightfully condemned, who recognized Jesus’ innocence, and he begged for mercy…” he said.
He urged the Church to denounce and condemn evil and prevent cruelty.
“…we stand frightened at the power of evil, wondering why we could not prevent malice and cruelty. This happens time and again when we stand powerless in the face of evil, lies, insinuations, abductions, violence, humiliation, the lack of medicines, power outages, disparities between the rich and the poor, high levels of poverty, shrinking democratic space; selective application of the rule of law, selective application of justice and selective adherence to the rule of law,” he said.
Archbishop Banda said Christians must rise above and speak on matters of injustice without fear.
He said Jesus was hanged, knowing too well that he was innocent.
“Jesus hangs on the cross, fully aware of what it means to be innocent and yet proven guilty. Jesus understands what it means to be charged with a crime you did not commit but found guilty by a kangaroo court. Jesus understands what it means to receive a sentence far worse than the crime for which one has been charged with.
“Jesus understands what it means to be labelled an enemy of the state and being pursued to be contained. Jesus understands what it means to sit on death row, waiting for your life to be terminated. Jesus died fully aware of His ordeal,” he said.
