The Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference (SSSCBC) on Tuesday announced the suspension of Rev. Fr. John Mathiang Machol, a Catholic priest who was released from prison last month after he was accused of orchestrating the 2021 shooting of the then Bishop-elect of the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, Christian Carlassare.
The churchman was attacked by armed men at his residence in Rumbek, Lakes State, in April 2021 and shot and wounded in both legs. While in hospital in Nairobi, he told Radio Tamazuj that he forgave the people who attempted to kill him but was not deterred and would go ahead to be ordained Bishop and serve the people of Rumbek Diocese. He was then consecrated Bishop in March 2022.
The Supreme Court released Fr. Mathiang in March after serving more than two years behind bars.
Addressing a news conference at the Secretariat of the SSSCBC in Juba, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba, said the case of the shooting was so complicated, noting that the first part was done by the government and that the church had now come with its action of interdiction and suspension.
“A priest who attacks or who does violence against a bishop is always suspended once he has been known as a person connected with that attempt. He will not celebrate mass as a priest any longer and he will not receive the sacrament also and even in case of danger, he is not to serve anything,” he said. “So, he will be suspended as far as the church would like to give him a kind of opportunity to repent and to reconcile himself to the church and all members of the church.”
The prelate said the church expresses their deep solidarity with Bishop Christian Carlassare of Rumbek following the recent release of Fr. John Matiang Machol, the main suspect in the attempted murder of the Bishop three years ago.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this heinous act of violence against a shepherd of the Church. Attacks on religious leaders have no place in a just and peaceful society. We call upon the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into this incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Ameyu said.
He said the Church in South Sudan will not be silenced or intimidated by such acts, stands united with Bishop Carlassare, and will continue to be a prophetic voice for justice, reconciliation, and the dignity of all people.
He stressed that the suspension of Fr. John Mathiang is by section 1370 (2) of the Code of Canon Law which states, “A person who attacks a bishop incurs a latae sententiae interdict and, if he is a cleric, also a latae sententiae suspension.”
“This means that Fr. Machol, by his actions against a bishop, has automatically incurred an interdict and suspension from the exercise of his priestly ministry. He shall not receive sacraments nor administer them until further notice,” Cardinal Ameyu underscored. “We will continue to work tirelessly to foster dialogue, promote reconciliation, and build a society where all people can live in dignity and security.”