by Adelaide Kari – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The issue surrounding the national day of repentance has further escalated with the grand chief Sir Michael Somare claiming that the national day of repentance, when first signed in 2007, was intended for the country to come together for prayer and repentance.
Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is furious over the fact that the signing of the new covenant in 2007 by the Grand Chief himself when he was the Prime Minister, was used in a 2 page advert on repentance day, to justify the burning of objects related to idol worship and witch craft and also the collecting of the Aliyah offering.
Somare has questioned why the repentance day would burn down idols that have been a part of PNG culture and identity before independence, and the taking of the Aliyah offering.
Saying that the speaker and other churches were misleading the people of Papua New Guinea, the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has stated that he could potentially take the speaker Theodore Zurenuco to court over the issue.
Bishop and Chairman of PNG Council of Churches, Bishop Denny Bray, warned the people behind this that they would end up bringing a religious war to Papua New Guinea.
He also went on to explain who was first behind the National day of repentance and how particular groups had other intentions for this day.
Somare believes churches should instead collect offering to give to national disaster areas.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=DkoRMllERd0%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
