PORT MORESBY (NAUFM/PINA) — The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands condemned the decision of five priests to contest June’s Papua New Guinea elections.
The conference president, Bishop Stephen Reichert, said priests choosing to run for parliament are acting in direct opposition to the Ramon Catholic Church law.
He said Catholic clerics are forbidden to assume public office, which entails a participation in the exercise of civil power.
He said the first ministry of the ordained members of the church is service to the church in building up all the members for the work of the whole church.
Reichert said that it is with deep sorrow and regret that the conference is once again confronted with priests choosing to run for political office.
Former or current priests who ran and won in the 1997 elections are Western Highlands Gov. Robert Lak, Simbu Gov. Li Ambane and John Momis, former priest and now governor of Bougainville.
