Don Luiz Fernando Lisboa guaranteed that he has a clear conscience after the criticism that was targeted by the “friends of the regime”. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, the bishop of Pemba talks about the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado
Don Luiz Fernando Lisboa, in an interview with Deutsche Welle Africa, says that he sees all this “with serenity”. “It won’t be the last and I’m not the only one hit. Many people are attacked for speaking the truth, for working for justice, for defending the weakest ”, he adds.
“There are people who think that religious people should only stay inside the church to pray. We work with people, we are with people and especially those who suffer the most. That was the example that Jesus set and we cannot do it differently ”, he said, guaranteeing that nobody will silence the Catholic Church:“ Nobody will silence the church, nobody. And hopefully these people realize that the more they do this, the more they will be ridiculed, because those who understand the mission and the work of the church will react, even if I don’t react, and I won’t react, I will continue. Nobody is going to shut up the church. ”
Criticism has risen in recent times, largely because of an article signed by Mozambican journalist Gustavo Mavie, where he pointed a finger at the Bishop of Pemba, Dom Luiz Fernando Lisboa, accusing him of colluding with the terrorist forces that have created a climate terror in Cabo Delgado.
Also to Deutsche Welle Africa, the controversial journalist, often associated with the current political regime, justified his accusations: “I have been quoting what he says in the pastoral letter of 18 July 2019. That bishop, instead of supporting and helping the Government to think better about how to solve the problems, is hitting the wrong entity. It doesn’t seem fair to me to blame the Government, which is led by a person who is even capable of talking to the devil, ”explained Mavie, extolling the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi.
The journalist made it clear in his article where he pointed the finger at the bishop of Pemba that he is not against the Catholic Church, but against “bad priests”. The text has already given rise to a general outcry in civil society, with several Mozambican personalities insinuating that the bishop would be, albeit involuntarily, supporting the insurgency.
