Criticised fellow clerics for sinning A pastor of the Ethiopian Catholic Church in Zion has been suspended for what he says was his outspokenness against sin.
“I spoke against fellow clerics who smoked, drank, stole, had extra-marital affairs and engaged in sex with members of the congregation,” he said.
Pastor Diphapang Potsane of the church’s Soshanguve, Pretoria, congregation told Sowetan that his six-month suspension came four days after he demanded that action be taken against errant deacons and bishops.
He claimed they stole from the church coffers and had extra-marital affairs with members of the church.
Potsane said he raised his concerns during the church’s provincial synod and convention at Voeteen near Bela-Bela, Limpopo, this month.
“I was summoned to an urgently convened hearing and found guilty of gross insubordination and violation of the church’s constitution.
“Leaders who are supposed to lead by example have sexual relationships with youths in the church,” Potsane said.
“ They drink and smoke publicly. I know was suspended because I wanted to bring order in the house of the Lord.”
He said he feared for his life because a priest in his branch was gunned down in September 2001 after complaining about the misconduct of the church’s provincial registrar.
“The registrar wanted to meet the priest to discuss the matter but the priest refused. Later that afternoon he was gunned down in a hijack attempt but nothing was stolen,” Potsane said.
Leader of the church Archbishop Simon Moloisane said: “Potsane wants to do things his way and with total disregard for authority and that is why he was charged with violating the oath of canons which require respect.”
Moloisane threatened to sue Sowetan if it published the story.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND — The mother of a security guard stabbed outside a Wellington bottle store last year dropped dead when he phoned her in Ethiopia to tell her, the High Court at Wellington was told today.
Justice Denis Clifford sentenced Gordon John Tui, 46, to eight years in jail for wounding Mukter Kadir Wadow with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The judge said Tui had become enraged after a young associate was turned away from The Mill liquor store in Victoria Street for not having identification.
Tui went to the store and stabbed Mr Wadow once in the stomach and once in the back.
Justice Clifford said Wadow was lucky to be alive after the first wound missed his heart by 1cm.
Mr Wadow, a 37-year-old Ethiopian, emigrated to New Zealand in 2001.
When his mother in Ethiopia heard he had been attacked she reportedly fainted and could not be revived, Justice Clifford said.
“This was a severe and serious assault, it was…gratuitous and premeditated.”
Justice Clifford adopted a starting point of 10 years’ imprisonment but mitigating factors, including a guilty plea, reduced the sentence.
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Crown prosecutor Kate Feltham acknowledged the plea as a mitigating factor but said it came very late – 14 months after the attack.
Defence attorney Tony Rickard-Simms said the plea was late because Tui’s understanding on the night of the attack was impaired by alcohol and uncontrolled diabetes.
“When his health improved it soon became apparent that he was responsible and there was no excuse for his behaviour,” Mr Rickard-Simms said.
Tui was sentenced to eight years’ jail with a non-parole period of four years.
The Voice of America (VOA) gave a wide coverage of the formation of the Ginbot 7 Movement on its afternoon broadcast. Yesterday, Dr Berhanu Nega and colleagues had announced that Ginbot 7 Movement for Justice and Democracy will be officially created today, May 15, to coincide with the 3rd anniversary of the May 2005 elections that were overturned by Meles Zenawi’s dictatorship. Click here to listen VOA’s report
GARLAND, TEXAS (CBS 11 News) ― Police have released new information today about a deadly hit and run case that killed a Garland mother.
Juan Pedro Tobias, 30, is wanted for crashing into Tsigereda Kassaye’s car last week at the intersection of Jupiter and Buckingham. Kassaye later died at a local hospital from her injuries.
Police say Tobias fled the scene on foot.
Berhane Hagos, describes his wife as an angel. Without her, he said his life “looks like hell.”
Berhane fell in love with Kassaye in Ethiopia. But he was forced to move to the U.S. without her to seek political asylum. Ten years later, he went back to get and marry the love of his life.
Together they had 9-year-old Esrom, who finds it too painful to speak of his mom. He expressed his love in a Mother’s Day card he can only hope she will see from Heaven.
“He’s never been away from his mom,” Hagos said.
The family recently learned Tobias’s license was suspended for a list of previous offenses.
In 2004 he was sentenced and served two years for a DWI. In 2001 he was arrested for driving with a suspended license. In 2000, he was arrested for another DWI.
“I pray for him, and I forgive him,” said Hagos. “I believe in the system in this country, and I believe the system will take its course.”
Hagos said he has to forgive for the sake of himself and his son. It’s also the type of faith his wife had.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Juan Pedro Tobias, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 972-272-8477. You can remain anonymous, and police say you may be eligible for a reward.
