Catholic Archbishop lashes at prosperity preachers
The Catholic Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, has decried the commercialisation of the word of God by pastors to enrich their pockets.
According to the Archbishop, these pastors instil fear and superstition among their congregants to buy the numerous items they offer for sale.
“These so called pastors offer handkerchiefs, powder and oil for sale, and promise members of wealth and richness. The pastors embellish the word of God with fear and superstition to deceive their flocks to succumb to them,” he stressed.
Archbishop Kwofie was speaking to the Ghanaian Times, shortly after administering the Sacrament of Confirmation on 110 members of the St Margaret Mary Parish at Dansoman in Accra on Sunday.
He implored Christians to beware of the tricks and machinations of such pastors who have interpreted blessings to mean money and the acquisition of wealth, noting that preaching salvation was no longer their mandate.
“We have turned Christianity into something that must bring riches and wealth,” and wondered why men and women still follow these pastors who deceive them at both the church and on radio/television for their personal glorification.
Archbishop Kwofie asked Christians not to despair in the face of challenges but instead, remain steadfast in the Lord to provide their needs.
The confirmands were from St Margaret Mary Parish, St Jude Catholic Church, Weija, St Bernadette School, St Luke Catholic Church, Korle Bu and the University of Ghana, Legon.
In his Homily during Mass, Archbishop Kwofie implored the confirmands to be witnesses of the Lord.
He charged them to be real soldiers of the Cross and always defend the church, advising them not to waste their youthful years.
Turning to the congregation, Archbishop Kwofie admonished them to love one another and encourage each other in their faith.
The Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr Francis Masten (SVD), the Parish Priest and Rev. Fr Bernard Appiah, Associate Priest of the Church.
Earlier on Saturday, the Archbishop dedicated an Adoration Chapel to serve as a place of prayer for members of the Church.
He also interacted with leadership of various societies and visited some Catholic schools in Dansoman to round up his three-day pastoral visit.
By Augustine Cobba-Biney
