Bishop in South Sudan Urges Politicians to “carry values of faith into government"

Yei, 31 March, 2023 / 9:00 PM

There is need for politicians serving in the South Sudanese government to render services to the people of God in the East-Central African nation under the guidance and influence of values drawn from their respective religious affiliations, especially truth, a Catholic Bishop in the country has said.

In a Wednesday, March 29 message shared with ACI Africa, Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo  of South Sudan’s Yei Diocese calls upon South Sudanese politicians not to compromise their respective faith values.

“My brothers in political life, we are happy for your presence in the government both at State and national levels. We would like you to carry the values of your faith into the government,” Bishop Lodiong says.

Politicians in South Sudan, he adds, “should not compromise the values of faith in your service within the government.”

“Let the values of your faith influence your service within the government,” the South Sudanese Catholic Bishop emphasizes, and continues, “Let this value of faith influence the decisions of the government.”

He underscored the need for South Sudanese politicians to be influenced by the value of truth, saying the people of God will be served better if the value is fostered.

“You should not bury truth in your service because it’s the truth that makes people believe in your work,” Bishop Lodiong says, and emphasizes that South Sudanese politicians “must live by the truth.”

“Speak the truth for the good of your people in the government where you are speaking out,” the 51-year-old South Sudanese Bishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in May 2022 further says.

He continues, “As representatives of the people you need to speak the truth because the truth will set you free.”

Truth needs to be fostered even if it results in being sucked, the Catholic Church leader says, adding that a politician who does not “practice the values of faith” is not “in the right place”.

“You are in the government a member of the Church, the Catholic and Anglican Church for that matter and you are carrying these values which are the same values of Christ that we believe in,” the Local Ordinary of Yei Diocese says in his March 29 message.

He encourages South Sudanese politicians to “take advice from the Church to continue serving the citizens better.”