Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Freetown (Agenzia Fides)- The 11th plenary assembly of the Catholic bishops of 5 English-speaking West African countries opened at Lagooda Conference Centre in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, Monday. The plenary brings together the Catholic bishops of Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Nigeria under the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa (AECAWA). Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, is the president of AECAWA. AECAWA secretary general, Fr. William Avenya, told CISA from Freetown that “the bishops are gathering here for seven days to do their normal collegial business as bishops, but they shall also undertake a workshop on the theme: ‘The Church and Christian-Muslim collaboration in West Africa.’” The prelates shall listen to a reflection by Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Jos, Nigeria, who has been closely involved with the practical realities of inter-religious dialogue in his archdiocese.
There will also be a presentation by the Catholic Relief Services, an international charity that has attempted to develop some practical approaches to handling Christian-Muslim interaction. A Muslim scholar shall also make a presentation. “It is the understanding of the Church that the only way forward in the business of inter-religious dialogue for integral development is true understanding of each other's religious convictions and respecting them,” Fr Avenya said.
“It is also to be understood that religion is not the cause of the endless hostilities we have come to know on the West Coast of Africa or elsewhere. The earlier it is no longer used as a smokescreen [. . . ] by those who continue to intimidate others in its name, the better. This kind of dialogue is designed to achieve this purpose,” added Fr Avenya.
Fr. Avenya said that on other occasions the AECAWA members tried to meet in Sierra Leone but insecurity made its impossible. “The plenary is an opportunity to pray with and for the Church and the people in this beautiful country and to see how determined the people are to leave the sufferings of war behind them”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/10/2007 righe 28 parole 322)
