The Catholic Church of Botswana stepped closer to a schism this week as some members started circulating SMS messages, apparently lobbying for the removal of Bishop Valentine Seane and the consecration of Leader General and Chancellor, Father Johannes Kgaodi.
The running feud between the two Catholic Church leaders in Botswana reached a head last month when Father Kgaodi tendered his resignation.
The struggle among the church followers over who between Bishop Seane and Father Kgaodi is fit to wear the bishop’s mitre has destroyed the coherence of the Catholic communion and turned it into a loose grouping united only in their convictions that the other group is backing the wrong man for the top position.
The sms message from some members of the Chiro Movement in Gaborone talking about the existence of two factions is being circulated among church members across the country. Part of the sms reads: “…A o amogetse molaetsa yo?…. Hetang tlh[e] le re thuseng Valentine o re thubela kereke, kampo o mo Valentine Mastik faction, nna re baga Tshosa Kgaodi team.”
The message loosely translates: “Have you received this message? Come to our rescue. Valentine is ripping our Church apart. Or are you in the Valentine/Mastik faction? We belong to the Tshosa/Kgaodi team.”
Supporters of Kgaodi claim he has been given a raw deal. By whom, it is not clear. The faction claims Kgaodi and not Seane was the rightful priest to succeed retired Bishop Boniface Setlalekgosi owing to his many years of experience at the Church.
The other faction on the other hand, maintains that while Seane is relatively new, he is more schooled than Kgaodi.
As the crisis unfolds, Father Kgaodi has resigned as Leader General and Chancellor, but remains a priest at the Corpus Catholic Church in Broadhurst after he allegedly fell out with Bishop Valentine Seane.
The Catholic Church tried, in vain, to sweep the matter under the carpet.
The Church spokesman, Father William Horlu, was not amused when the Sunday Standard asked him about Kgaodi’s resignation and allegations against Seane.
Despite Horlu’s claim that he knew nothing about the resignation, Kgaodi himself confirmed that he tendered his resignation on 17 January this year but refused to disclose reasons. He would not answer subsequent questions. “I cannot communicate anything with you. You will have to go through the Bishop’s office. I don’t have any rights to communicate with you. Only the Bishop’s office has that right,” Kgaodi told the Sunday Standard.
Then there are allegations that Bishop Seane, contrary to tradition, occupies a rented house in Gaborone at a cost to the Church although he has been provided accommodation at Christ the King Cathedral. Further, there are allegations that the bishop runs some businesses for his personal gain along with his family.
Asked for comment on the allegations, a peeved Horlu threw a tantrum instead of responding to the allegations against the bishop.
“Are you a Church member? Why are you interested in the life of the Bishop?” he retorted.
It did not end there.
At the sight of a camera, the spokesman issued threats to our cub photographer.
“What do you need my photo for?” he bellowed before he bolted out of his office.
Seane is out of the country until next month, the spokesman had said before the interview went horrible. He did not disclose where the bishop went to but speculation is that Seane might have flown to Rome where he might probably brief the Vatican about the developments in Gaborone.