Catholic church apologises after Maryam Nawaz makes political speech from pulpit
LAHORE: The Archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Lahore was forced to issue a public apology on Monday after Pakistani Christians across the world severely criticised the clergy for allowing Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, to make a political speech from the pulpit of the Roman Catholic cathedral in the city last week.
On Sept 1, Maryam visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral along with Senator Kamran Michael, Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sindhu and Bishop of Raiwind Rt Reverend Azad Marshall.
It was said that Maryam had visited the church for special prayers for her mother Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who is reportedly suffering from throat cancer and had undergone a surgery in London on Thursday.
During the special service, the former PM’s daughter was also allowed to address the audience from the pulpit, a raised enclosed platform from which the preacher delivers the sermon.
After acknowledging the role of the Christian community in the development of Pakistan, Maryam used the opportunity to appeal for votes for her party in the upcoming by-election in Lahore’s NA-120 constituency.
The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of her father Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case. Begum Kulsoom is the party’s candidate for the by-poll and Maryam is heading the campaign in her absence.
Maryam also criticised Sharif’s disqualification by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, saying the country needed a change in the judicial system rather than change of prime ministers.
While it is not yet known whether Maryam was told beforehand by the clergymen or her party members to avoid making political comments inside the church, the incident triggered an uproar in the community, as Pakistani Christians took to the social media to protest against the sacrilege of the pulpit.
The incessant criticism ultimately forced the Archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Lahore to issue a public apology.
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/20...yam-nawaz-makes-political-speech-from-pulpit/