Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service)- “Children who have lost one or both parents are a major concern for the Catholic Church in Sudan” says Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, archbishop of Khartoum and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sudan. “Civil war produced large numbers of orphans” the Cardinal explains. “Some have lost their father, many have lost father and mother and with no one to care for them these children are in a very difficult and precarious situation. Children living only with their mother are also in difficulty because women are one of the most disadvantaged categories in Sudanese society”.
“This is why we have intensified programmes for children in education and healthcare. In Khartoum alone the Church runs schools for 40,000 children” the Cardinal says.
“During the long years of war the Catholic Church was the only source of hope for millions of people, both for those who remained in the south and those who fled from the villages seeking safety in the north and in the capital. The latter were strongly pressured to convert to Islam: they lacked everything and were attracted by the offer of material help on the condition they converted. But only a few agreed. Most remained faithful to Christ and continue to persevere in the faith” says the Cardinal with regard to the situation in the archdiocese of Khartoum: “At the beginning of the war when refugees arrived en masse it was difficult to meet the needs of so many people in diocese like Khartoum which had only a small community of Catholics at the time. Today all the parishes in Khartoum are composed of refugees. These people altered the social panorama of the capital and other cities in northern Sudan”.
“The arrival of the refugees was a test for the Church but we managed with the help and dedication of many people” says Cardinal Wako. “The first difficult was diffidence among the displaced persons themselves: in transit camps and parishes we saw the same tribal rivalry that has divided the peoples in southern Sudan for centuries. With patient conversation we managed to convince people of different tribes to talk to each other. Common difficulties to overcome fostered dialogue and I think this was a sign of Divine Providence because God can turn evil into good”.
“Another problem is how to protect the family” Cardinal Wako continues. “Among the refugees there appeared practices such as polygamy, adultery and divorce and these are a threat to Christian marriage. This is another consequence of war which destroys people not only physically but also morally. We asked war trauma experts to come to give seminars to our educators, priests,, religious and laity so we can help people suffering the scars of war”.
The peace process suffered a set back this Summer with the accidental death of John Garang, head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army who in keeping with an agreement sign in January this 2005 had just become vice president of Sudan. Cardinal Wako explains the present situation after the death of the historical SPLA leader: “The Catholic Church is a bearer of hope among people who are losing hope fast. The death of Garang caused a confidence crisis among the people of the south. Garang was seen as the only person able to guarantee a consolidation of the peace process and overcoming of tribal divisions. Sad to say we already see administration posts in the south assigned according to tribe rather than merit. Tribal rivalry is an evil we must face as Church. If in the north Christians are seen to be supporters of the SPLA, in the south when people meet a priest or religious the first thing they ask is ‘what is your tribe’? We have been working for decades to overcome this mentality. It is often exhausting and discouraging but we will continue strong in faith, hope and charity”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/12/2005 righe 55 parole 735)
