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SONG SERVICE: Phylis Craft plays the organ for St Alban's Anglican Cathedral congregants in Pretoria at a Sunday service. The church has been embroiled in a legal battle. PHOTO: BAFANA MAHLANGU

 He is a rascal bishop and we believe that he has lost his mind 

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The move follows a decision on Thursday by South African Council of Churches chairman Bishop Johannes Seoka to close the St Albans Anglican Cathedral for worship.

Seoka took the drastic decision following the resignation of resident priest Father Rudolph Paulse. The priest resigned last week after he was allegedly threatened with death by parishioners.

The Pretoria High Court ruled that the 130-year-old church be opened with immediate effect for worship.

The court also ruled that Paulse be reinstated as a caretaker priest while mediation between the warring parties is being instituted.

Yesterday parishioners welcomed the court ruling and accused Paulse of lying about the death threats.

They also accused Seoka of misappropriating the cathedral's funds, dishonesty, breach of trust and corruption.

It is claimed that Seoka used R500,000 of the Pretoria diocese's money to pay for his bond. He is also accused of misappropriating R162,000 to fund legal representation against a church dean.

"He is a rascal bishop and we believe that he has lost his mind," a church member said yesterday.

Seoka, on the other hand, believes he is being targeted.

"Those are baseless accusations and if indeed I stole R500,000 I should be in prison. They should have reported the matter to the police because anybody who steals that much money should be arrested. They should also come up with proof that indeed I stole that money," Seoka said

"They are trying to character assassinate me and discredit my leadership."

Seoka also laughed off the allegations that he is "a rascal that has lost his mind".

"I was not aware that I was a rascal and that I have lost my mind. I'm actually baffled by all of this talk and as far as I'm concerned, I still have my senses," he said.

In March it was reported that five men armed with guns threatened to kill Seoka and his wife at their home.

Yesterday Seoka confirmed the incident saying the case was in the hands of the police.

• The courts have recently been inundated with cases relating to battles between various factions within churches.

In Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, factions within the St Johns Apostolic Faith Mission Church have taken their dispute to court. The case is to be heard in the Johannesburg High Court at the end of the month.

The litigant is a faction led by a former secretary of the church, Simon Mofokeng, who wants to take power from Bishop Gladys Maragu.

Maragu is the widow of the late Archbishop Jacob Maragu, who led the church until his death in 2005.

In 2004, a court interdict stripped Maragu of his leadership after he was accused of wanting to amend the church's constitution to make way for his wife to lead when he died.

She succeeded her husband in October last year .

In Kwazulu-Natal the case between Vela and Mduduzi Shembe of the Nazareth Baptist Church is still before the Durban High Court. The church has been embroiled in a leadership battle since its leader Vimbeni Shembe died last year.

According to a will presented at Vimbeni's funeral, the deceased chose his cousin Vela as his successor. But senior leaders prefer his son Mduduzi.

In Randfontein, the Methodist Church has been divided after a regional bishop evicted a resident priest three months ago. The matter will be heard in the Johannesburg High Court on May 29.

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Sat May 25 05:54:25 SAST 2013 ::

May 21, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

It is claimed that Seoka used R500000 of the Pretoria diocese's money to pay for his bond. He is also accused of misappropriating R162 000 to fund legal representation against a church dean
______________________________
8 commandment: Thou shall not steal!!!!

"He is a rascal bishop and we believe that he has lost his mind," a church member said yesterday.
_________________________________________________
9 commandemnt: Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor!!!!!

Nuff Said!!


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May 21, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

Phew! There are fights everywhere, even men of the cloth.............

Should push come to shove, at leaast they will hit each other with bibles and hymn books not stones..................
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May 21, 2012

TKay

haaaiii Churche.....
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May 21, 2012

theMrs

our judges and magistrates are quite busy these days. the CHURCHES are fighting are taking each other to court, the PRESIDENT is also taking to court for various reasons art, cartoons and maybe defending his appointments gosh! the PUBLIC is taking the government to court for e-tolling..POLITICAL PARTIES are also fighting it out in the courts...the banana republic we live in
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May 21, 2012

bokaba.123

This is why I don't go to church anymore.
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May 21, 2012

Thesh

Tebogo, your source gave you false information. I hope journalists could start by finding facts before they try and sell their papers.

For your information, the reasons put in this publications are lies, but you had to sell your paper, and we cant penalise you for that.
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May 21, 2012

RobinH

And this absurd dispute with such violent rhetoric is BETWEEN CHURCH GROUPS!!!! Disgusting!
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May 21, 2012

SassyPrincess

@Thesh that is your opinion and you are entitled to it, what makes you think the information provided by the sources were unfounded?

Yes, if the facts are baseless where is your version of correct information? St Albans parishioners have been waiting for the so-called truth from Bishop Jo Seoka and to date nothing has come forth.

Its a free country you are also more than welcome to help AVUSA sell the paper with your version of the facts.
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May 23, 2012

ericklets

1 Corinthians 6
New King James Version (NKJV)

Do Not Sue the Brethren
6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?

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May 26, 2012

Archbishop

We are praying for Jo consider retiring! He has really overstayed his welcome in the church. He is making headlines in the media fairly recently for wrong unethical reasons, whats more, he is misrepresenting the Anglican Church and crippling the image of the SACC, which are both institution that are known for standing against evils and injustices caused by cruel and autocratic leadership in every aspects of God's people. What pains me is that he does see wrong in himself but quick to state that his faithfuls are 'liars' and accuses them of 'discrediting' his leadership. Those are his favorite words he always utters in his defense, and Thesh, u sound like him and I cant bet that u are him! Anyway,The diocese is now divided, let alone the cathedral parish. The DCS is used as an instrument to hide his immoral behavior. I think that the best favour Jo can do for himself is to retire! Bless you All!
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