December 16th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – A group of South Sudanese clerics have protested the decision by Pope Francis to appoint Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla as replacement for Paulino Lukudu Loro as the metropolitan archbishop of Juba.
Last week, the Pontiff announced the resignation of Bishop Lukudu as the metropolitan archbishop of Juba and the subsequent appointment of Bishop Ameyu who served in Torit for a year as the replacement.
In a letter, a group of South Sudanese clerics said they reject Ameyu’s appointment saying “there is no chance for him to serve as archbishop of Juba,” since he will have to work from Torit threatening they won’t cooperate with him.
They accused the Vatican of ignoring the “concerns of the majority people of the Archdiocese.” They said Bishop Ameyu should not work in that capacity because he had fathered at least six children which they said violates church principles.
“Given the genuine concerns based on the legitimate issues cited in our memo, we had honestly expected the suspension of the announcement, until further investigation can be conducted on the matter,” they said in the letter seen by Nyamilepedia.
“Now that the misled Vatican has arrogantly ignored our concerns by choosing the path of undue confrontation, we have no other option than to respond with proportional means,” the letter added.
The clergymen who raised concerns over Bishop Ameyu’s knowledge of local language and the culture of the indigenous tribes of the Archdiocese of Juba said they “have evidence that some of the priests of Juba, are polygamists, businessmen and senior government security personnel.”
“We are against a person brought from outside just to promote personal interests while maliciously leaving out the qualified sons of this land. “We feel that the Vatican can still save the situation now instead of having to eat its words the hard way later.”
