Mozambican Bishops Call For Help

Another controversial measure of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Mozambique is being strongly opposed, as it was in relation to the others that preceded it and which were received with displeasure in certain circles of that religious confession. Recently, the IURD in our country has issued an appendix to the internal regulations, which prohibits pastors and other volunteers who serve the one who is surely the most crowded church in Mozambique, to create and publish information on social networks, at risk of termination immediately in case of breach of the order. According to the IURD internal regulations appendix, no one can create and publish their own content on digital platforms, including photographs, testimonies, prayer calls, notices, billboards or posters for any event, meeting or service. of the church. The new IURD regulation states that only the local content of the church can be shared on social media platforms, prepared and published on official platforms, such as the site, the Facebook page or the country's leader's blog, the wife's Facebook pages of the leader, press releases published by the IURD communication office on the official website. It also points out that "only the leaders of the IURD and official spokespersons can speak on behalf of the Church".

In cases where the pastor intends to start a blog, the regulation determines that he or any other volunteer should contact the church's management to provide information about proposed titles and content. You should also be allowed to create the blog and adhere strictly to the guidelines and restrictions provided, in addition to submitting a copy of the draft to the church board to approve it. It is stated in the appendix that non-compliance with the procedures referred to above may lead to the immediate cessation of voluntary work, as such action constitutes a breach of the internal rules of the shepherds. Also in the same appendix, the IURD in Mozambique defined 10 rules on publications on electronic platforms and / or social networks. The rules advocate that the pastor or other volunteer can not create, publish or share videos or photos of people participating in demonstrations. It is also forbidden to publish anything related to offerings, tithes, sacrifices, campaign promises or other manifestations of faith. It is not allowed to publish anything that is related to objects or elements provided during a meeting, for example anointed cloth, oil or salt, a cross, etc. The list of rules states that the volunteer should not publish something that defames the image and role of the IURD or its members, assistants and pastors, even indirectly. The publication of matters of a political or prejudicial nature that erroneously may indicate a position held by the Church, as well as everything related to products, services or trademarks, is also prohibited. The document that we have been quoted put forward that these rules are applicable to all social networks, groups of Whatsapp, Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, etc. The appendix warns that "this list is not a conclusive or exhaustive definition of content that can not be shared or published on social networking platforms, but is provided as an example of some types of material that should not be shared or published in the public domain."

The appendix to the IURD's internal regulations comes at a time when her pastors in Mozambique are facing back with the leadership of that religious congregation, accusing her of several desmandos, in a situation that has been aggravated since 2017, with the coming of the Brazil of Bishop Honorilton Gonçalves da Costa. According to the report of the Parliamentary Committee on Petitions, Complaints and Complaints (CPQR), published in December last year, the bishop "treats Mozambican pastors as if they were foreigners, in the face of the President of the Church , José Guerra, who does nothing to defend his compatriots. "

The report reads that since the arrival of Bishop Honorilton Gonçalves da Costa in Mozambique, Mozambican pastors are being oppressed and are forced to undergo vasectomy, in addition to signing a new regulation which includes a set of obligations such as providing telephone numbers whenever the Church requests them, passwords or access codes, including Internet accounts. Pastors are subject to expulsion even without prior presentation of the reasons for such a measure, just a charge of theft, adultery, among others. In accusations that people are required to file complaints at the leadership of the Church, rights are not foreseen, there are only duties.

Also under the new regulation, according to the report, (CPQR) of the Assembly of the Republic (AR), published in December last year, said Bishop "treats Mozambican pastors as if they were foreigners, in the face of President José Guerra, who is doing nothing in defense of his countrymen. "

The report reads that since the arrival of Bishop Honorilton Gonçalves da Costa in Mozambique, Mozambican pastors are being oppressed and are forced to undergo vasectomy, in addition to signing a new regulation which includes a set of obligations such as providing telephone numbers whenever the Church requests them, passwords or access codes, including Internet accounts. Pastors are subject to expulsion even without prior presentation of the reasons for such a measure, just a charge of theft, adultery, among others. In accusations that people are required to file complaints at the leadership of the Church, rights are not foreseen, there are only duties.

Also under the new regulation, according to the CPQR report, IURD pastors are forced to leave their family affairs to devote themselves to the complete cleaning of the cenacle building located at Av. 24 de Julho in Maputo. It reads in the report that when pastors are expelled there is no place for complaints nor even any kind of claim in court! The document refers to discrimination against older or older pastoralists in the IURD. Whether by time of service or by age, old or older pastors are subject to expulsion, and those who remain are sent out of the country or end up assuming occupations of mere servants to do "dirty service."

The report says that it is permissible to invade the homes of expelled shepherds, corrupt police officers to help oppress pastors who refuse to leave their homes when they are fired, influence property owners to help themselves to violence to drive pastors out of their homes. homes, with promises to continue to benefit from lease contracts, as well as frightening workers with biblical words so they do not relate to laid-off pastors, and driving out workers who somehow help pastors. According to the report produced by the CPQR, the former pastors are taken out of the country, because the IURD does not intend to hand over the leadership of the church to a Mozambican. To achieve this desirability, she opts for the concentration of new pastors who do not have the capacity, voice and experience to lead.

In the face of the pastors' complaints, the CPQR contacted the President of the IURD in Mozambique, José Guerra. However, according to the report of the CPQR of the RA, Guerra "declined to provide any clarification regarding the complaints lodged by the complainants." After analyzing the pastors' complaints, the CPQR concluded that the petitioners report cases that show labor and human rights irregularities.   (Evaristo Chilingue in CARTA)