Opinion
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Mr Samuel Gibba and the Rt Rev Michael Cleary:
An unwarranted attack on the Bishop of Banjul (Part 2)
By SHM Jones
Jan 28, 2005, 08:05

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Question 2
Is Bishop Cleary losing his grip? Is he failing in the discharge of his Priestly duties and in the exercise of his role as a leader?
Thirdly, Mr Gibba asserts that in the Homily delivered on Christmas Eve, Bishop Cleary engaged in an act which: “borders so closely on incitement of trouble. Instead of preaching Peace, you are preaching spite division, disintegration and anarchy”.

Comment
I listened attentively to the Bishop’s Homily and can state that I did not think that what he said, “borders so closely on incitement of trouble”. I deny categorically that he was “preaching spite, division, disintegration and anarchy”.
What he did do was to call on Gambians to express their revulsion at the heinous crime, which had been committed by persons unknown and publicly condemn the perpetrators of it. His call for Gambians to “STAND UP AND BE COUNTED” was not a battle-cry; most definitely not a call to arms!

With this background information in mind, please answer the following question:-
Question 3
In calling in his Homily for Gambians to “STAND UP AND BE COUNTED” was Bishop Cleary irresponsible? Was he thereby inciting them to commit an act, which “borders so closely on incitement of trouble”?
Fourthly, Mr Gibba states that Bishop Cleary has: “elected to abuse your welcome and hospitality of the people of The Gambia. Society now identifies you as a septic sore in the body of this hitherto healthy nation”.

Comment
In many counties, Governments which are either irritated or embarrassed by criticism from a National of another Country, often use the following tactics to silence him.
1. Firstly, they accuse the person concerned of having “abused the welcome and hospitality” accorded to him.
2. Secondly, they declare him to be PERSONA NON GRATA, that is to say, he is not acceptable to the Government in question.
3. Thirdly, they then serve him with a Deportation Order.
4. Lastly, they formally expel him from the Country. A Diplomat is usually not served with a Deportation Order; the Government he represents is usually requested to withdraw him.

The question, which I would like Mr Gibba to answer, is this:
“Is it conceivable that someone who has been domiciled in The Gambia for over fifty years and has been rendering selfless service to the people of this country can now be identified as:
‘a septic sore in the body of this hitherto healthy nation’?
Bearing this background information in mind, please answer the following question.

Question 4
Has Bishop Cleary “abused the welcome and hospitality of The gambian people who now allegedly regard him as
“a septic sore on the body of this hitherto healthy nation”
Finally, Mr Gibba asserts that Bishop Cleary’s moral stature is:
“equivalent to that of a Cockroach”
“if you continue with moral turpitude at this rate, Society may find it inappropriate to address you as ‘Bishop’.

Comment
The expression “Moral turpitude” has connotations of extreme cruelty on the one hand and depraved and disgusting sexual behaviour on the other. In the former category are included persons who have inflicted widespread suffering and the death of millions of human beings. Adolf Hitler of the former Nazi Germany, Joseph Stalin of the former USSR (Union of Socialist Soviet Republics of Russia), Pol Pot, Leader of the Khymer Rouge of Cambodia and more recently, the perpetrators of “Ethnic Cleansing” in the former Yugoslavia and the Sudan have all committed “Crimes Against Humanity” or Genocide.

In the other category are included persons whose vile, degrading and disgusting sexual behaviour transgress the norms of decency and public morality - persons who seem to behave more like brute beasts and wild animals than like human beings “made in the image and likeliness of God”. The Emperor Caligula is the outstanding example in Ancient History of persons in this category.
With this background information in mind, please answer the following Question.

Question 5
Is Bishop Cleary a man of “loose morals”? Does he deserve to be in the same category as such monsters of Cruelty or Depravity as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot and Caligula?

As one who has spent more than a third of his life in the United Kingdom, I very much doubt whether any Gambian (or African from another country) living in that country would have reacted to Bishop Cleary’s call for Gambians “to stand up and be counted” in the manner in which Mr Gibba has done. Readers should know that in that country no one escapes the attention of the Press:
The Queen and members of Royal Family, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the House of Lords as well as the House of Commons and Indeed all who may be described as the “Pillars of the English Establishment” receive critical attention in the columns of the Press. Articles about them pour out incessantly both from the Quality Newspapers as well as from the Tabloids. However, it is the case that those who write critical articles about people do not use the intemperate language that Mr Gibba has used. As he lives in England, he will understand when I say that the tone of his letter suggests to me that he belongs to “THE DIRTY TRICKS BRIGADE” of some organisation or other.

I have expressed myself at very great length in defending the integrity of the Rt . Rev. Michael Cleary. Now that I have comprehensively refuted the allegations of Mr. Gibba against him - even though I say so myself- I hope you, Gentle Readers, will agree with me that the attack was unwarranted and in extremely bad taste. It has in fact exposed what I would, charitably, describe as Mr Gibba’s own inadequate knowledge of the English Language and its usage.

Finally, it only remains for me to state that during The First Republic, The Rt Rev Michael Cleary was honoured by His Excellency. the President Alhaji Sir Dawda Jawara with the Award of OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE REPUBLIC GAMBIA (ORG). During the Second Republic that Award was “upgraded” by the current President, His Excellency, Alhaji, Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh and he was decorated with the Insignia and Rank of COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE REPUBLIC GAMBIA (CRG.) As he is a National of The Republic of Ireland in both cases the Award was “Honourary”. However in each case, it was in recognition of Bishop Cleary’s outstanding service to The Gambia and her peoples.

I would like to end by quoting from a Petition we make in Anglican Churches in The Gambia every Sunday - it is part of a prayer for OUR COUNTRY and it reads:
“THAT PEOPLE MAY HONOUR ONE ANOTHER AND SEEK THE COMMON GOOD”.

In my opinion, this petition provides a fitting conclusion to my Defence of the Integrity of Bishop Michael Cleary. It is my earnest hope that not only Mr Gibba but also all your Readers will always bear in mind, the words of this Petition and strive to carry them out in their daily life.

© Copyright 2003 by Observer Company

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