Johannesburg December 21st, 2011 - President Jacob Zuma's hypocritical and unjustified attack on Christianity should be condemned by all loyal followers of Jesus Christ, and the South African public as a whole.
This is the view of Rev Kenneth Meshoe, President of the African Christian Democratic Party, commenting on President Jacob Zuma's statements made at KwaMaphumulo on the KwaZulu Natal north coast during the launch of a road safety and crime awareness campaign.
In his speech, Zuma attributed the arrival of Christianity to bringing problems such as "orphans and old age homes" on Africans.
"It is wrong for the head of state to lie to the public for cheap political point scoring, and to lay the blame at a single religion for the problems facing our society," Dr Meshoe said.
"The President needs to be rebuked for hypocrisy because firstly, he knows churches were at the forefront of the struggle, secondly during elections he runs to churches to get votes, and thirdly Christians both privately and institutionally have made and continue to make a substantial contribution to the development and well being of all South Africans," he added.
Meshoe added that it is the ANC led government instead, that should take the brunt of responsibility for the "loss of humanity in society" that the President spoke of in his speech in KZN.
"It was the ANC that initiated the removal of prayers and reading of the Bible in schools and is now, having realised the resultant increase of violence and ill-discipline, contemplating bringing back prayers and reading of the Bible to our schools," he said.
"Furthermore, the ANC has led the passing of laws that prohibit parents from using corporal punishment on their children. Christianity teaches that corporal punishment is to be used on a child as a form of discipline.
The ruling party has also led the passing of laws that recognise the murder of innocent babies in their mothers' wombs as a woman's right to choose, when Christianity teaches that life is sacred and is to be protected, particularly the life of one which cannot speak for itself," he said.
"These are but some of the many examples of how the exclusion of Christianity in our legislatures, schools and society in general has caused the "loss of humanity in society" and a decay of morals and values in our country," Rev Meshoe said.
"The truth is, it is Christianity that brought humanity to this world and Christ Himself who taught us to love our enemies and feed them when they are hungry, as well as take care of the poor including the widows and orphans," he said.
If the President does not know what Christianity teaches, then he should refrain from making comments about things he does not understand, than continue to discredit a religion that makes enormous social contributions to the poor and needy, as well as the downtrodden and oppressed," Rev Meshoe concluded.
Statement issued by Rev Kenneth Meshoe, President of the African Christian Democratic Party, December 21 2011
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
