'ANC must stop mocking Jesus'

2008-12-03 22:21

Cape Town - The African Christian Democratic Party has warned the ANC to stop making "mocking and irreverent" references to Jesus.

"Their habit of joking about and using the name of the Lord in vain is tantamount to blasphemy, and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms", ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe said in a statement on Wednesday.

He further warned that the ruling party's claim it would rule until Jesus returned was arrogant, and "will cause them to lose the privilege of governing South Africa".

The ACDP deplored and rejected a recent comparison - made by ANC Free State leader Ace Magashule - of the "unrighteous and unholy" ANC president Jacob Zuma with Jesus.

"In spite of what the recent opinion polls said, the writing is on the wall for the ANC that has no respect for God. The ACDP warns them to cease immediately from their irreverent and mocking references to a Lord we love and respect," Meshoe said.

On Sunday, Magashule reportedly told an interviewer: "Jesus was persecuted. He was called names and betrayed. It's the same kind of suffering Mr Zuma has had to bear recently, but he's still standing strong. He's not giving up."

- SAPA