South Africa breeding a generation of criminals - Archbishop

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg presided over the requiem mass for Fr Lionel Sham at the Cathedral of Christ the King and deplored the high rate of violent crime in South Africa.

The late Fr Sham was tragically murdered on the March 7 after being abducted from Mohlakeng, Gauteng.

"South Africa is breeding a generation of criminals, animals, who have no regard for the worth of human life; who have no respect for property that belongs to others. This culture of impunity has to be reversed," the archbishop said.

While faith reminds all Christians that death is a gateway to being integrated into the glorious body of Christ, the prelate said, "We would have preferred that he died from sickness, or better still from old age, and not at the hands of vermin."

The archbishop challenged the church and communities to support police in their work by fundraising for police vehicles to help fight crime.

"There is an increasing number of priests and religious who are being targeted by robbers. They are gagged, stabbed and beaten up. Some have been killed like Fr. Declan Collins in Ennerdale, Fr. Thabo Mokomela in Vosloorus, Fr. Daniel Mahula in Klerksdorp, Fr. Allard Mako in Nelspruit."

Each person, he said, has the moral duty to promote and live the virtues of patience, self-control and respect for the inestimable value of life. "We have a moral and civic duty to promote the rule of law.

Our society appears civilized on the outside, but at its core, it is a terribly sick society."

He described the late priest as a simple, humble and dedicated person with a heart of gold. "In the hands of his youthful captors he longed for freedom, for relief, for an escape. Lionel Sham was betrayed with a kiss of Judas. Though he died a painful end and an untimely death, his 42 years of priesthood had not been in vain. He touched the lives of many people. Always kind, always gracious."