Apam, Oct.1, GNA - The Parish Priest of the Apam St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Reverend Father Jude Eduafo Ampah, has noted that Christianity does not abhor the acquisition of wealth. He said, however, that what the Church was against was "employing dubious means to become rich".

Father Ampah was preaching at Apam to climax a three-day retreat of the Agona Swedru Area Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Charitable Society within the Church concerned with the welfare of the sick and the destitute.

He expressed concern about the wrong interpretation some people gave to the Gospel quotation, which stated that "It is easy for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God," to mean that well-to-do people could not go to heaven. The Parish Priest explained that the quotation was referring to wealthy people who had made their wealth "tin gods" and did not have time for their neighbours and God. He urged the rich to spend part of their wealth to comfort the poor and the sick.

Referring to the rich man and Lazarus also in the Gospel, Father Ampah said the well-to-do person was tormented after his death because he did not have sympathy for the poor.

A seven-member executive was elected at the retreat to run the Area Council, which comprised societies at Agona Swedru, Winneba, Bawjiase, Ajumako Bisease, Breman Asikuma and Apam. Mr. Anthony Amoquandoh was elected as President, Mr Francis Amoh, Vice President and Nana Kwaku Nti, Secretary. Mr John Murphy Amoh is the Assistant Secretary, Mr Paul K. Arthur; Financial Secretary while Madam Rebecca Holdbrook was elected as the Treasurer and Mr Mike Badzi, Public Relations Officer while Father Ampah was named as the Spiritual Director.

Food items and soap were distributed to the sick and needy; who were also refreshed with soft drinks and biscuits.