Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of Congo have expressed serious concern after “tragic events over the past weeks particularly in the Bas-Congo province”. In a statement released at the end of a meeting the Standing Council of the Bishops’ Conference condemned the causes which led to clashes and loss of life and called for a serious investigation to identify and punish those responsible. While offering sincere condolences to the families of those killed and assuring their prayers, the Bishops say measures must be taken to prevent similar events in the future.
Clashes between the police and the religious-political movement Bundu dia Kongo were reported on 31 January and 1 February in various towns of Congo and a number of people were killed. According to the United Nations Organisation the casualties were 134, whereas the Congolese authorities said 87 persons were killed
In their statement the Bishops recall the late Cardinal Frédéric Etsou, Archbishop of Kinshasa, the capital who died on January 6: “A man of faith and conviction who followed closely the development of the Church and our country’s return to institutional legality, the Cardinal left a legacy of self-giving for the sake of the Gospel to the very end”. The Bishops thank the State, the faithful and all men and women of goodwill for the unanimous, public tribute paid to Cardinal Frédéric Etsou”.
The Bishops say they are pleased to see that the “election process is coming to an end and that in view of municipal local elections, all the institutions of the Third Republic are operating. It is time for the nation to be governed and for the people to set to work, thanks to management which respects principles and rules of a democratic nation”.
The Bishops identify priorities for the new governors: guarantee territorial integrity and national sovereignty, consolidate national peace and harmony, create a national army and police force to guarantee security for all citizens, eradicate illiteracy, bring the population out of isolation, respect the dignity of the human person, open the country to Africa and the rest of the world.
“The country can only be rebuilt on the basis of authentic human values” the Bishops affirm deploring “anti-values seen in the course of the electoral process, corruption, greed for money the absence of moral criteria and fidelity to promises”. In this regard the Bishops confirm the local Church’s commitment to educating consciences and integral education of the person in the light of the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church.
With regard to relations with institutions, on the occasion of the centenary of a Church-State Agreement, 1906-2006 the Bishops say it is time for a new agreement to enable the Church to continue and intensify its contribution towards promoting Congo’s integral development.
The Bishops end by lauding efforts in Africa to promote respect for women and ensure women equal opportunities but at the same time they express concern with regard to the so-called “Maputo Protocol” (see Fides 26 January 2006) which, they denounce, “opens the way for the legalisation of abortion”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/2/2007 righe 47 parole 577)
