| N’Djamena ( Fides Service)- “God loves this land of Chad and shows his love through the rich natural resources given to the country: rivers and abundant fish, land and a great variety of fruits, pastures and animals, luxurious forests, oil and other products of the underground”. This statement is part of a Christmas Message addressed by the Catholic Bishops of Chad to the People of God. “God loves the people of Chad” the Bishops affirm but they also say that the country’s resources are not put at the service of the people. “Is it that difficult to organise things so that every citizen has the necessary to live a decent life, to take proper care of himself, send his children to school and realise himself?” the Bishops ask, voicing alarm for the social situation: “it is a long time since our country has been admired by its neighbours because its sons and daughters are unable to live together. Inter-community conflict often badly resolved fosters rancour and latent desire for revenge. Many citizens have died, victims of their co-citizens. Now we see that our many resources have become a cause of division, conflict and war among the sons and daughters of Chad because some want to take all and give nothing to others”.
In this situation the Bishops reaffirm their commitment for peace and dialogue: “Social questions, harmony in particular, are a priority for our commitment to human promotion. We reaffirm our will to build an atmosphere of dialogue to foster peace and prosperity in our country”.
“All is not lost. We are a people of hope and we see signs of a new dawn appearing” the Bishops say. “Many citizens in silence risk their lives trying to show that despite human barriers it is possible to live in harmony: marriage, activity in association, trade unions or political parties, friendly visits on the occasion of religious feast days or the birth of a child, or a funeral”.
The Bishops encourage diocesan commissions for Justice and Peace and human rights associations whose concrete activity “fosters understanding among human, religious and cultural communities.” Catholic radios are important because they can “provide young people with space for expression and pedagogy to help them understand the culture of others”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/12/2004 righe 44 parole 422)
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