Bishop exonerates priest, nun in sex claims

THE Roman Catholic Church Mutare Diocese this week concluded investigations in the alleged illicit affair between a priest and a sister at St Charles Lwanga in Chimanimani and said no evidence incriminating the two was adduced.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the diocese's Bishop Alexio Muchabaiwa said their investigations showed that there was no evidence that confirmed the alleged affair between Fr Taurai Oswold Saunyama and Sr Rukudzo Nyamugunduru.

"The priest in question, Reverend Father Taurai Owold Saunyama, and Sister Rosemary Rukudzo Nyamugunduru both took the vow of celibacy and know what it means.

"There are allegations that the two, both staying at St Charles Lwanga in Chimanimani, had an illicit affair by sleeping with each other and after thorough investigations, we did not get enough evidence beyond reasonable doubt that the said allegations are true.

"Please let us remember that a false witness will not go unpunished and the liar will perish. Proverbs 19.9," said Bishop Muchabaiwa.

Fr Saunyama and Sr Rukudzo's alleged affair was allegedly unearthed by a pair of sisters who decided to inform the Sisters' Council of their discovery. Investigations were commissioned to look into the allegations.

"It is indeed common knowledge that Catholic priests and sisters take the vow of celibacy. The vow of celibacy means a priest is forbidden to marry and a nun is forbidden to be married. Any attempt to marry whether civilly or customarily is forbidden by this law. Not only that the vow of celibacy obliges the priests, brothers or sisters to live a chaste life free from all forms of immorality.

Canon 277.1 states that: 'Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. They are therefore bound to celibacy. Celibacy is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can more easily remain close to Christ with an undivided heart, and can dedicate themselves more freely to the services of God and their neighbour. Clerics are to behave with due prudence in relation to persons whose company can be a danger to their obligation of preserving continence or can lead to scandal of the faithful," said Bishop Muchabaiwa.

He took time to warn people to be wary of the emerging technology which can be used either to build or destroy individuals.

"Let us be cautious because in these days of cellphones, whatsapp and modern technological advancement, one can make up a story so that it can appear as true when in fact it is a fabrication of his or her fertile imagination. This is why our elders have and idiom which says: "mbavha haibatwi". We have also noticed that the police through experience do not believe that a person has committed suicide if they see him or her hanging.

"This is because a person can be killed first before his murderers hang him or her to give an impression that a person has killed himself or herself.

"For those who think that the Catholic Church's stance on celibacy is too difficult and the church must therefore review it, let me advise them to read the following passages from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 5: 1-13; 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20; 1 Corinthians 7: 1-40. Almost in every age there are people who produce reasons to try to persuade the Latin Church to make celibacy 'optional' as they call it. Each time, the church has said no and for good reasons. Matthew 19:11-12," said Bishop Muchabaiwa.