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	Don't Let Adultery Charge Divert Attention from Zimbabwe Crisis, Region's Catholic Bishops Urge Catholic Online July 23, 2007 http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=24789 Pretoria, South Africa (Catholic Online) – Allegations of adultery against an archbishop who has been an outspoken critic against the Zimbabwean government should not divert attention about the political and economic crisis gripping the African nation, said the region's Catholic bishops. In a letter published July 20, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg, expressed "sadness and concern" about the suit filed against Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city, by a state worker who charged the church leader had sexual relations with the man's wife who worked for the archdiocese. It has been suggested that the charge of adultery may be a part of a campaign to silence the church's leading voice against bad governance in the country. "These allegations (and corresponding publicity) unfortunately come at a time when Zimbabwe is facing one of its worst political and economic crisis in its history, a crisis which Archbishop Ncube has consistently expressed great concern about and which we believe the country should be focused on," Archbishop Tihagale said, noting that the crisis has caused many from crossing the border to find refuge in neighboring countries. The region's bishops' conference hopes, he said, that "Zimbabweans and the international community will not be sidetracked by these allegations in their efforts of finding a lasting solution to the serious problems bedeviling the country at present." Archbishop Ncube's "voice of reason," he said, is "very important and should continue to be heard." "At the moment, the archbishop's guilt or innocence has yet to be proved and therefore we appeal to the media and everyone concerned to allow the law to take its course without passing premature judgment on the archbishop aimed at casting doubt on his credibility reputation and dignity," said Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, urging Catholics in Zimbabwe and throughout the world to offer prayers for the church leader.
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