AFRICA/SUDAN - We must help the Church and the people of southern Sudan at this crucial moment in their history: appeal from Major Superiors

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides)-. At the request of the local Bishops and to see for themselves the situation of the people and the church and assess needs in view of concrete assistance and in the month of March a delegation of the Union of Superiors General and the International Union of Superiors General (USG /UISG) went to southern Sudan and the Nuba Mountains. The delegation produced an ample report on the mission which we comment below.
Besides formal invitations by the bishops other motives were behind the mission. The peace agreement signed in January 2005 which ended 21 years of civil war between the Khartoum government and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement marked a turning point for these people who are called in 2011 to decide with referendum on whether to remain in a united Sudan (with a form of autonomy for the southern regions) or choose full independence. “After 21 years of civil war in which the Church and the people suffered persecution the Church is still vulnerable” says the Report. “The local Bishops, aware of the importance of this moment in history call for solidarity and support of international religious institutions”.
The challenges facing the local Church are essentially five: reconciliation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, repatriation and re-education. But it is also a time for opportunities. “This is a time of transition and transformation...the Church has the opportunity to change from being a Church on the defensive to an evangelising Church with a passion for Christ and a passion for people”.
The Superiors say that Church must offer civilians a chance to form an opinion on the referendum in 2011 so they can vote in conscience and freedom.
At the religious level they say “during the war the faith spread rapidly mainly thanks to catechists. Now that there is peace, it is necessary to nurture this faith which is still fragile”. More religious personnel in needed. “Religious institutes can play an important part in helping to develop systems of education, healthcare and social services in the new Sudan” the Report says.
Southern Sudan is still an extremely poor area which needs international aid. According to international agencies 80% of the people in Southern Sudan had to leave their homes at least once in the last 15 years; 92% lives below the poverty line; the literacy rate is less than 15% and 88% of the women are illiterate; one out of 10 children dies before reaching the age of 5.
In this situation the Superiors call for hope: “The history of Christianity in Sudan has always been marked both by suffering and fidelity. Despite the difficulties the people are optimistic for the future”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/6/2006 righe 44 parole 540)