AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Auxiliary Bishop of Juba: "There is no need to tell lies: people suffer. There is no peace without justice"

Tuesday, 4 October 2016 bishops   justice   peace  

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - "There is no need to tell lies. They do not help us. This country is sinking. We need to get up and stand strong and say God help us to carve a new way, rather than denying the suffering of the people", said His Exc. Mgr. Santo Laku, Auxiliary Bishop of Juba, capital of South Sudan during a homily just days after South Sudan first Vice President, Taban Deng, addressed the general assembly of the United Nations at which he opposed deployment of the regional protection forces, claiming the Country was peaceful after clashes between government troops and those of former Vice President Riek Machar (see Fides 13/07/2016).
"We cannot deny the suffering of these people" insisted Mgr. Laku. " How many young men and women are in prison today uncharged? People are locked in containers uncharged. This Country can only be built on justice. When somebody commits anything, he should be brought in front of the law, according to the constitution, although our constitution is also sick".
Mgr. Laku pointed his finger at the hypocrisy of "those who perpetrate injustice", those who confuse their time by hypocritical religious acts such as by attending religious functions so that the public looks at them as holy, the rampant corruption that undermines the moral values of society, the growing gap between rich and poor. "You cannot sing the song of peace without addressing the injustices caused on the people. How can you burn my tukul and you ask me to be peaceful and you do not allow me to go and cut the grass to build another tukul?", he concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 04/10/2016)


Share: