A forgiven Sinner? Robert Mugabe and the strained Catholic relations
In November 2017, a statement by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) thanked Robert Mugabe for the “good work” he had done as the President of Zimbabwe for 37 years but was quick to point out: “We forgive him for any shortcomings during his long tenure of office” (ZCBC, cited in Catholic...
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| Language: | English |
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LANGAA RPCIG
2022
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| Online Access: | https://muse.jhu.edu/book/62720-ER- http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4807 |
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| author | Mwandayi, Canisius |
| author_facet | Mwandayi, Canisius |
| author_sort | Mwandayi, Canisius |
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| description | In November 2017, a statement by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) thanked Robert Mugabe for the “good work” he had done as the President of Zimbabwe for 37 years but was quick to point out: “We forgive him for any shortcomings during his long tenure of office” (ZCBC, cited in Catholic Herald, 27 November 2017). Such a statement by the Catholic bishops summarises the controversy that surrounds Robert Mugabe. While he, at times, had good
relations with the church, as seen in him receiving holy communion on a regular basis, as well as attending important church functions such as the burial of the late Pope John Paul 11 in 2005, there were darker moments as well when he came out vicious through word and action towards the same church he purported to be a member.
Employing a socio-historical analysis, this chapter seeks to make a follow-up on
Mugabe’s relations with the Catholic Church, highlighting in particular the strained moments. The chapter is propelled by the hand of forgiveness that was stretched towards Mugabe at the end of an era of his battle with the same church he claimed to be a member. The chapter argues that by extending a hand of forgiveness to Mugabe, the Catholic Church demonstrated what ‘true Christianity’ is all about as expatiated by C.S. Lewis (1949:182) who said: “To be a Christian
means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” |
| format | Book chapter |
| id | ir-11408-4807 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | LANGAA RPCIG |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-48072022-06-27T13:49:05Z A forgiven Sinner? Robert Mugabe and the strained Catholic relations Mwandayi, Canisius Catholic relations Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe In November 2017, a statement by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) thanked Robert Mugabe for the “good work” he had done as the President of Zimbabwe for 37 years but was quick to point out: “We forgive him for any shortcomings during his long tenure of office” (ZCBC, cited in Catholic Herald, 27 November 2017). Such a statement by the Catholic bishops summarises the controversy that surrounds Robert Mugabe. While he, at times, had good relations with the church, as seen in him receiving holy communion on a regular basis, as well as attending important church functions such as the burial of the late Pope John Paul 11 in 2005, there were darker moments as well when he came out vicious through word and action towards the same church he purported to be a member. Employing a socio-historical analysis, this chapter seeks to make a follow-up on Mugabe’s relations with the Catholic Church, highlighting in particular the strained moments. The chapter is propelled by the hand of forgiveness that was stretched towards Mugabe at the end of an era of his battle with the same church he claimed to be a member. The chapter argues that by extending a hand of forgiveness to Mugabe, the Catholic Church demonstrated what ‘true Christianity’ is all about as expatiated by C.S. Lewis (1949:182) who said: “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” 2022-04-08T13:18:31Z 2022-04-08T13:18:31Z 2018 Book chapter 9789956550043 9789956550869 https://muse.jhu.edu/book/62720-ER- http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4807 en The End of an Era? Robert Mugabe and a Conflicting Legacy: by Mawere Munyaradzi;Chapter 3: p. 74-109 open LANGAA RPCIG |
| spellingShingle | Catholic relations Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe Mwandayi, Canisius A forgiven Sinner? Robert Mugabe and the strained Catholic relations |
| title | A forgiven Sinner? Robert Mugabe and the strained Catholic relations |
| title_full | A forgiven Sinner? Robert Mugabe and the strained Catholic relations |
| title_fullStr | A forgiven Sinner? Robert Mugabe and the strained Catholic relations |
| title_full_unstemmed | A forgiven Sinner? Robert Mugabe and the strained Catholic relations |
| title_short | A forgiven Sinner? Robert Mugabe and the strained Catholic relations |
| title_sort | forgiven sinner? robert mugabe and the strained catholic relations |
| topic | Catholic relations Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe |
| url | https://muse.jhu.edu/book/62720-ER- http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4807 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mwandayicanisius aforgivensinnerrobertmugabeandthestrainedcatholicrelations AT mwandayicanisius forgivensinnerrobertmugabeandthestrainedcatholicrelations |