AFRICA/DR CONGO - 5 dead, 134 churches surrounded, 6 priests arrested; is the provisional report of the 31 December repression

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - The Apostolic Nunciature in the Democratic Republic of Congo has published a first, yet provisional, report of the violence suffered by the Church following the brutal repression of the march of December 31, 2017, promoted by the Comité Laic de Coordination (CLC, Catholic laity organization) to ask President Josesph Kabila a declaration with which he declares publicly that he will not run for another term as president in compliance with the Constitution and with the New Year's Eve agreements of 31 December 2016.
According to the technical note sent to Agenzia Fides, 134 parishes have been surrounded and isolated by the police; there are two parishes where access to the faithful and the celebration of Sunday Mass have been prevented; five parishes where the Mass was interrupted by the security forces; 18 those who saw their fenced area invaded by soldiers and policemen; another 10 parishes were hit by tear gas launched in their courtyard.
Five people have been killed so far, one of whom in the church of Saint Dominique, two in Sainte Famille parish and two others in that of Saint Alponse. Among the people arrested there are six priests plus a seminarian.
The note specifies that the data come from reliable ecclesiastical sources updated to January 3 and are still provisional. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/1/2018)

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