Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has raised the question on how the Methodist Church can allow SODELPA to hold a service at one of its churches but the church refused to take part in the multi faith thanksgiving service organized for the 45 soldiers who were released after being held hostage in Golan Heights.
Speaking to Fijivillage from Rio, Bainimarama said it is insulting to the soldiers who were held captive and their families and friends because when the government organized the multi faith service to thank the Almighty for their release, the Methodist Church through Reverend James Bhagwan said that they refused to participate because it was political in nature.
He said church ministers, priests and imams of all faiths turned up for that service.
Bainimarama said the soldiers and families who were all Christians if not Methodists were forgotten by the Methodist Church.
He said their sacrifices and gratitude of their families to the Almighty were not recognized by the Methodist Church when it decided not to participate in the service.
Bainimarama then raised the question on how Reverend Bhagwan is now saying that the church allows all groups to have their services after getting SODELPA to have a service at the Methodist Church.
Reverend Bhagwan maintains that they did not want to attend the multi-faith thanksgiving service for the soldiers as it was too close to the elections.
He said the church held a vigil during the hostage situation and the military chaplain who was a Methodist Church minister attended the thanksgiving service.
Bainimarama said a certain talatala came to the aid of the organizers when he found out that the Methodist Church was not going to participate in the service.
The Prime Minister has also raised the question on how the Methodist Church can say that it is not getting involved in politics when people like SODELPA Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka and former SDL Leader, Laisenia Qarase continue to preach from the pulpit.
Bainimarama asks how low can the church go.
While responding to this issue, Reverend Bhagwan confirmed that Rabuka and Qarase continue to preach at the Methodist churches.
He said Rabuka will continue to hold that position although he is now the SODELPA Leader.
Bhagwan said when they approach the elections, those who are standing in the elections will be asked not to preach.
Although it is clear that Rabuka will lead SODELPA in the 2018 general elections, Bhagwan said he can continue to preach for now with clear rules that he cannot talk politics from the pulpit.
