Spiritual leaders, where do you stand?

SORCERY related violence is a very serious issue, especially in the highlands.
What I find appalling is that religious people, especially church leaders, pastors, evangelists, priests and bishops, are quiet on the issue. Too quiet.
I’m not saying they haven’t done anything, I’m saying they haven’t come clear on their stance on the issue. Do witches exist or not?
Papua New Guineans don’t care what the government says about this, but everyone cares what the Churches say – because they are viewed as having authority on the matter.
The government has the police but they can’t really do anything about this, except arresting the accusers, so what about the accused witches?
Churches should be the ones at the forefront of this battlefield, aiding the Government and advising policy-makers.
The spiritual realm is supposed to be their domain.
PNG is a very religious country.
Our ancestors conformed to it very well because they were very superstitious people, and we still are. The men who are stringing women up, torturing and burning them alive, are Christians. They believe that these poor women are witches, that they have sex with demons and make pacts with them, and remove people’s hearts using black magic.
Clinics and hospitals outside Port Moresby and Lae do not have the necessary equipment to perform a thorough autopsy.
Since people just don’t drop dead for no reason, everyone blames witches.
Seriously though, if someone dies of cancer or a stroke, without proper medical facilities, how would you know they died of the said diseases?
So you see, these men believe without a doubt they are on God’s side.
The Bible in Exodus 22:18 says: “Thou shall suffer no witch to live.”
In other words, the Bible is telling us to kill witches.
So are these men doing God’s work or not? Or are we supposed to ignore that part of the Bible?
What do we do?
These pastors and evangelists always preach about the proverbial war against evil, why can’t they do something about this? Isn’t this a ‘war against evil?’
They make thousands of tax-free kina through tithes and offerings on an ordinary Sunday/Saturday, even more so during their crusades.
Why don’t they set up an office or a ministry, made up of prayer warriors that can take those who have been accused of being a witch, and ask God if these women are truly witches or not? Perform an exorcism or do something!
Do Churches really care about this country?
Isn’t that why they put up a holiday to pray?
Or are they afraid that people are going to see these pastors, evangelists, prophets, priests and bishops for the faithless charlatans they really are?

Bata Lux,
9-Mile Cemetery