The Pope and Biblical Purity
The Pope is in Canada to acknowledge the role of the Roman Catholic Church in clearing the ground for land theft in Canada. Rome had a formula, declare indigenous people as half-animal, then treat them as such. That justified taking their kids away and locking them up in residential schools.
They were called boarding schools in South Africa, but we went home during Jesus related holidays like Easter and Christmas. We were not totally removed from parents and our languages like in Canada, but we were given ‘civilized’ names like Mary, Sarah, Peter, Paul, Solomon, Joshua and other biblical names.
To coincide with the Pope’s visit, we will shelve the forced names for the time being and concentrate on Christianity and so-called purity. The ‘native’ had to cleansed, purified from himself, way of life, dress code and the land, although the Catholic Church did not emphasize the land reason.
Purity also included sustaining from temptations of the flesh. Africans found this particularly difficult because kids are a joy. In fact, they are regarded as a gift from ancestors.
Because sex was a sin, Africans that converted to Christianity and the RCC in particular, were forbidden from having it before marriage. Parents drummed that gospel into their daughters’ heads because punishment was harsh. They were kicked out of the RCC.
White priests are very few in countries like Nigeria now, but the teachings of the RCC are rock solid. They are enforced by organizations such as the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) and Catholic Men Organization (CMO). Both are status symbols.
The concept of purity based on how Jesus was conceived, was very easy for the RCC and all churches that came with European invaders. White is pure, the black skin is filthy. It is a lie. That is what the Pope should admit to indigenous leaders that agreed to meet him.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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