Malawi ‘free to choose bishop’

Lilongwe: A Malawian High Court has lifted the injunction filed against the Central African House of Bishops, blocking the appointment of a bishop.
On June 13 a judge lifted the injunction after finding the complaint had not been properly notarized. On Feb 16 the diocese failed to elect a bishop after two candidates, the Rev Jeremy Sheehy, the former principal of St. Stephen’s House, Oxford and Canon Alinafe Kalemba, Dean of the Zomba Theological College failed to gain a two-thirds majority after six ballots.

Delegates from the diocese voted for Fr Sheehy, while the provincial electors voted for Canon Kalemba. The former provincial secretary of Central Africa, Fr Eston Pembamoyo explained the “house was divided between those who said no to mzungu [white man] and those who said no to the black man.” Under Central African canon law the diocese’s 12 electors and the Province’s nine episcopal electors must elect a candidate by a two-thirds majority.

Under canon law, in the event of a failed election, the House of Bishops is authorized to appoint a bishop. A clergy and lay group within the diocese filed suit against the Central African House of Bishops, which sought to appoint Canon Kalemba bishop, arguing the appointment would violate canon law.

Last week’s court decision permits the House of Bishops to appoint Canon Kalemba bishop in succession to the former Archbishop of Central Africa and Bishop of Upper Shire, Bernard Malango. However, the court also granted leave to appeal to the petitioners, allowing them to take their case to the country’s supreme court in Blantyre.