If you want to reduce tithes and offering; play politics – Pratt to clergy

The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has expressed worry over what he says is the increasing spate of clergymen turning their pulpit into a political platform.

He said the trend, if not curtailed, could be a threat to national cohesion and the survival of many churches in the country.

“If you [clergy] want to reduce your tithes and collections [and] make your religious industry less relevant than it has become, that is entirely your business,” he exclaimed.

“When you reduce your pulpits to political platforms for NDC and NPP, you divide the flock not on the basis of scripture but on the basis of politics which has taken us nowhere.”

Kwesi Pratt Jnr. made these comments on Alhaji and Alhaji, a political discussion on Radio Gold Saturday while discussing the critique of the Mahama-led government by the Obuasi Diocese Methodist Bishop, Rt Rev Stephen Richard Bosomtwi-Ayensu.

Obviously frustrated about the government’s approach to resolving the current social economic conditions in the country, the Methodist Bishop said President Mahama has been “dull and insensitive” to the plight of Ghanaians.

Addressing congregants at a crusade organized by the Methodist Church at Obuasi, Rev. Bosomtwi-Ayensu said “It is about time we the men of God took the President and his Ministers on face-to-face. We have prayed and fasted, prophesied and done everything spiritually possible to no avail and it’s time to now question the President and his ministers”.

But Kwesi Pratt said he is not surprised about the conduct of the Methodist Bishop because Rev. Bosomtwi-Ayensu has “rebelled against God”.

He stated unequivocally that “he [Rev. Bosomtwi-Ayensu] is engaged in mere empty, useless, naked, populism [which] is even an affront to his own God”.

The Insight Editor urged government appointees who have launched an attack on the Methodist Bishop to ceasefire since according to him; it is an exercise in futility.

“If a Bishop who owns his office directly as a result of his belief in God launches such blistering attacks on God, is it any wonder that he will turn round and launch a vicious attack on the president?” he quizzed.

Kwesi Pratt was convinced if all men of God speak like Rev. Bosomtwe-Ayensu, their churches will collapse.

He said if the clergy by their conduct want to bring political acrimony into their churches, it is up to them.

“People don’t come to your churches because they want to serve one political party or the other. No matter where they are coming from, whether CPP, NDC, NPP or whatever, they come to church to worship,” he stressed.