1 Dec 2003

PNG bishops deplore leaders' bad example

4:51 pm on 1 December 2003

Papua New Guinea's Catholic bishops say a major shift in social attitudes and behaviour needs serious attention from the churches and all sectors of society.

The General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands, Lawrence Stephens, says one of the issues raised at a weekend conference was the increasing crime and violence in the country.

Mr Stephens says the conference delegates felt many of the privileged and powerful in PNG society set a poor example.

"Laws are ignored or bent by people who have positions of responsibility and the attitude is picked up further afield. Also you find that people with positions of responsibility give themselves the right to go armed and actually use their weapons and this also is picked up."

The General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands, Lawrence Stephens