Samoa’s longest serving television broadcasting network has issued an apology in response to a warning from the Government of Samoa, “to expect the Government’s full legal wrath” in regards to controversial sermons by Pastor Willie Papu of the Samoa International Seventh Day Adventist Church (SISDAC).
TV1 Samoa aired Pastor Papu’s sermons with strong views of early Church history with references and implications on the Roman Catholic church. The SISDAC leader also mentions the Samoa Prime Minister with accusations that Tuilaepa is enflaming violence and unrest amongst churches in Samoa.
Pastor Willie Papu alleges in his sermons that Tuilaepa’s appointment as the Government Leader was influenced by a Foreign Government.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi hit back this week, tasking the Office of the Attorney General to bring charges of criminal libel against the church leader and TV1 Samoa.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa described Tuilaepa sermon as, ‘slanderous, insulting and will incite chaos and division amongst churches in Samoa’”.
“This is character assassination. It’s worse than murder because the public shame will be inherited by the victim and his or her children forever,” the Prime Minister said in Parliament.
“Small knowledge is extremely dangerous,” the Prime Minister added.
Chief Executive Officer of TV1 Samoa Galumalemana Faiesea Matafeo immediately issued a formal apology, now widely distributed through local media.
“TV1 sincerely apologizes for any pain and discomfort inadvertently caused by SISDAC’s religious sermons broadcast on television, TV1”.
The national broadcasters say they have discontinued the broadcasts of the controversial sermons as from yesterday evening.
“SISDAC however, as a paying customer can still broadcast sermons purely on the word of God and without reference to any other church or beliefs”
“It is not the intention of TV1 to discredit any person or any church nor to cause divisions amongst religious organizations in Samoa”.
“We take pride in providing equal access to broadcasting services to all members of our community.”
Galumalemana says censorship of church ministers’ sermons had never been seen by them as being necessary however, they have now changed their policy.
“We count on the integrity and noble judgments of Church Leaders and all Servants of God when it comes to matters of spiritual teachings.”
“As a consequent, we will now have to approve all religious sermons before broadcast.
PRESS RELEASE
SISDAC SERMONS BROADCAST ON TV1
E momoli atu vaimalu I puega pe afai ua faamanualia se finagalo I lauga a le Ekalesia Aso Fitu Tutoatasi, SISDAC sa faasalalau I luga o le TV1.
Ua maea ona faailoa I Taitai o le Ekalesia so matou atugaluga. Ma ua taofia foi le toe faasalalau o lauga o loo taua ma aafia ai isi Ekalesia ma isi talitonuga.
Ae talu ai ona o le Ekalesia, o se tasi o faalapotopotoga loo faaaoga ma totogi le auaunaga e pei ona tatala ai le avanoa i tagata uma, o lea e faaauau ai ona faasalalau polokalame a le Ekalesia e auga i le Talalelei e aunoa ma le taua fua o isi Ekalesia.
E leai se agaga o le TV1 e upuia pe faaleaga e Ekalesia po o soo se tasi pe faatupu foi ni feseeseaiga I talitonuga ma ekalesia eseese ua I totonu o lo tatou atunuu.
E maualuga pea lo matou talitonuga i le maua o avanoa tutusa o Ekalesia uma, o Faalapotopotga ma tagatanuu uma o Samoa i auaunaga tau faasalalauga.
E iai taiala e lima taitaia ai galuega tau faasalalauga e aofia ma Tala Fou. Peitai e le i iai se manatu e faaaoga ia taiala I polokalame faale-agaga. Sa maualuga lo matou faatuatuaga ma le talitonuga i le tofa mamao ma le faautaga loloto a e ua taua o auauna a le Atua ma Taitai o Ekalesia.
O le tulai mai o lenei mataupu o le a toe fetuunai ai taiala o le faatinoga o auaunaga tau faasalalauga.
O finagalo o le Ekalesia Aso Fitu Tutoatasi e le o ni manatu ia o le TV1.
Ia iai le filemu o le Atua i lo tatou atunuu.
Galumalemana Faiesea Matafeo
mo le TV1
