Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Freetown (Agenzia Fides)- Fr Gerardo Caglioni, Xaverian missionary in Sierra Leone for 12 years, ( the author of several books including the History of the Evangelisation of Sierra Leone and writing at present the history of Catholic missions), sent Fides a reflection on the future of the country, two months after the election of the new president (see Fides 17/9/2007):
“After decades of corruption, empty promises and a bloody fratricidal war which left 50,000 people dead and several thousand mutilated, a new era has probably started for the 5 million people living in Sierra Leone. I say probably because all those who have come to power in this country have made the same promises and never kept them.
While there is a shortage of fuel in the country, the new President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, addressing the crowds in his inaugural speech at Freetown sports stadium, promised to fight corruption and reduce poverty. This is perhaps the people's last chance for hope, having seen the broken promises of the leaders in the past 50 years.
Traditionally patient, now the people of Sierra Leone are tired of empty promises, lack of effort, especially for the young people, lack of infrastructures, communications, electricity, roads, transports, services and media, poor quality education due to low wages for teachers, insufficient training and scarcity of didactic material. They are tired of corruption and bad governance in a country blessed by God with natural resources and raw materials.
Responsibility is probably the key to real change in national politics. Responsibility of donor countries which must see their funds are well spent. If the donors had a more efficient information sharing organisation they could keep better trace of how their funds are used. Those responsible at the national and local level for the distribution and use of funds must know they are being watched.
In this process of transition what is the role of the Church in this country?
The Gospel was first announced in Sierra Leone in 1605 during the Portuguese conquest, first by the Jesuits first and later by the Franciscans but it did not take root until the slaves were set free and African resettled in Sierra Leone bringing with them their Christianity and pastors. Different confessions worked to build up their communities (and not always peacefully), and developed a significant presence in the whole of west Africa. From 1820 onwards the Christian Churches assumed an indispensable role in education which became a classic task for the Churches and a special vocation for Christian communities. Today Christians run 65% of all schools in Sierra Leone (about 40% are Catholic and 25% protestant) and they still exert considerable influence on public opinion and inspire various aspects of social life.
The Churches are apolitical, they must be “super partes”, the authentic conscience of the nation. They can help the country develop a greater sense of responsibility, administration with more justice and better exercise of power, monitoring local administration, becoming an example of service for the people of Sierra Leone.
The Catholic Bishops, with a traditional role of promoting education in various fields, will promote the formation of new leaders and encourage an examination on how to do business according to the Gospel principles of justice. Sierra Leone needs help from within more than outside, but if help comes from both sides it will be more readily willing to act”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/11/2007 righe 48 parole 608)
