Poor villagers struggle as churches ‘bleed them dry’

SAMOA – Samoa’s daily newspaper, the Samoa Observer, has come out in criticism of the influence churches have over the people of the Pacific island nation where many families live in near poverty.

“It’s no secret that churches in Samoa hold a lot of influence over the people and that is expected with a nation claiming to be founded on God. But when churches misuse that strong influence then that’s when we know we need to take a few steps back,” writes reporter Vatapuia Maiava.

“It is noticeable that many times in Samoa, some preacher’s favorite teachings always centre on giving to the church – tithes and offerings, even when they see that many of their flock are struggling as it is.”

The newspaper spoke to Afoa Aliva, a farmer from the village of Tafitoala Safata, who says demands from the church are one of the reasons why rural villages suffer.

“There are many families in the rural villages just like my own who have no working family members,” Aliva says. “It is just me and my wife with our kids in school.

“A lot of our money goes to schooling because we put their education first. In these back villages there are many things that take up money such as village activities. But the money going to village activities is nothing compared to what goes to the church.”

Aliva says that life in the rural villages can get difficult at times with a lot of his money going to many unnecessary things.

“Money goes to things for the villages and especially things for the churches,” he said. “There is not a single denomination that doesn’t have church activities. At times I find myself praying to God asking if this is right.

“The fact of the matter is that there are way too many church activities and that is why the village really suffers.”

Aliva has ties to both the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) and the Catholic Church, but he says his comments are not biased in any way. For him, all the churches are the same.

“What I’m saying does not target one church – every church is the same. For my Catholic church there is so much money going into things.

Aliva feels that the solution lies within the leadership of the church to find ways to help the people rather than bleeding them dry.

He says only the thing he and the rest of the villagers can do is to just sit back and be obedient.

“The Bible teaches us the most important thing is obedience – even though you feel in your gut that that something is wrong but you just still obey.”

However, Aliva doesn’t just blame the churches for the lack of money in the villages. He belives people can help themselves pull away from poverty if they just work hard.

“If you don’t work, then you won’t get anything,” he said. “Sitting down doing nothing will make you poor.”

“There is not enough money going around in these villages. The prime minister is so right. People sit around too much and they don’t work. There is a lot of money in farming – you can make a lot of money with your plantations.

“If the people weren’t lazy and they have cows, pigs or chickens, then they will be all right.” - PNC/Samoa Observer