Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of the Blantyre Archdiocese has assured Catholics that the country’s Catholic bishops will issue a pastoral letter addressing prevailing socio-economic challenges when the time is right.
Speaking during Missionary Sunday Mass at St Anthony of Padua Parish in Blantyre, Msusa dismissed allegations that Catholic bishops had been bribed into silence over the challenges facing Malawi.
He said it was unfair to accuse bishops of receiving bribes simply because they had not yet released a pastoral letter. Instead, he encouraged Christians to exercise their responsibility to speak out about issues affecting their communities.
“Every baptised Christian has the gift of prophecy. Speak out. We will write the Pastoral Letter at the right time,” he said.
The debate comes after the bishops’ pastoral letter of 9 March 2025, titled Who Will Roll Away the Stone for Us? That letter called for an inclusive, purposeful and peaceful journey towards the 2025 general elections and urged political leaders and citizens to reflect on Malawi’s challenges.
The latest remarks place renewed attention on the Church’s role in public debate, social justice and the responsibility of Christians to contribute to the common good.