Despite Acquittal: Priest Remains Suspended After Assassination Attempt
Last month, South Sudan's High Court acquitted Machol of all charges and ordered his release from prison, after he had been found guilty in April 2022. He announced his intention to return to his priestly duties in the Rumbek diocese.
Machol had been accused of masterminding the shooting of Bishop Christian Carlassare, an Italian missionary appointed to Rumbek in April 2021, because he wanted to become bishop himself. Carlassare was attacked a month before his scheduled episcopal consecration and seriously wounded with several bullet wounds in his legs.
In May 2023, the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelisation issued an interdict and suspension against Machol.
The Sudanese bishops consider the priest guilty despite the judges' acquittal and still support the 2023 suspension, they wrote in a statement on 16 April. Machol "shall not receive or administer the sacraments until further notice".
Picture: John Mathiang Machol, Christian Carlassare © NAME, CC BY, #newsPzxmmsobjf