“ A combination of factors made relations between TPLF and the EOTC church difficult … the church taught its followers to respect their allegiance to the Ethiopian state and was, in effect , a school for national consciousness, using national symbols such as the flag in all religious and social events. No church ever conducted major ceremonies without hoisting the Ethiopian flag – an act also regularly observed …’ page 244
“ The pragmatic TPLF understood the church’ s role in village social life and its support for the unity of the country .It also understood a possible alliance between the Church with its forces that stood against socialism and nationalization of the land as well as separatism .The church was viewed as a force standing in the way of TPLF. … there was no doubt that it wanted to subordinate the church to its cause” page 245
“ the second step was to try and move the socio economic focus of life from the church to the peoples assemblies. All administrative and social activities were taken over by the associations and the baitos and even church affair such as the rights and obligations of the church and its followers fell under the jurisdiction of the assemblies. The capacity of the church to mobilize and influence waned. The church lost its status as mediator in conflicts, rights over spiritual and familiar issues because the new political authorities… .”
“ thirdly , the TPLF launched a series of conferences or seminars for selected parish priests in 1970 to win them over. The underlying motive of the seminars was to isolate the church in Tigray from the wider Ethiopian Church in order to foster Tigraian nationalism along the lines of the TPLF strategic objective. Suppressed Tigraian nationalism was invoked to challenge the dominant Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The initial wereda seminars for the priests were conducted by an eloquent TPLF fighter,Gebre Kidan Desta, a graduate of the theological College at Addis Ababa university .The themes of the seminars were to replace the Ethiopian Church authority by TPLF – minded church and the language in the church with Tigrigna and ultimately, to further Tigraian nationalism and identity ‘ page 246
“ this process involved the mobilization of parish priests and ordinary Christians to isolate them from the church national hierarchy. To weaken church authority, an intelligence group was formed under Sibhat Nega to infiltrate the wel-established monasteries in Tigrai, such as Debre Damo , by planting TPLF members’ camouflaged as monks and influencing church activities in the interests of TPLF”
“ in 1987 and 1989 ,regional and national conference for priests were organized by the TPLF in liberated territories to reshape the Tigray Church in line with the TPLF program . A separate secretariat of the Orthodox Church was formed in the liberated areas of Tigray and was supposed to operate under TPLF guidelines. Practically, the Ethiopian Church was divided in to two secretariats…’
This message expresses the views and opinions of the author and not necessarily
those of CyberEthiopia, its staff or its affiliates. If you think this message
is inappropriate or violates our rules and regulations , please notify the Administrators by clicking on the report button below.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Home (New!) 
