DR Congo Catholic Bishops “Strongly Condemn” Attacks on Church | Catholic National Register

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“While condemning these despicable acts, we ask our faithful Christians and defenders of democracy not to react violently”, urged the bishops.

The Catholic bishops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo condemned the recent attacks on the Church and its leaders.

In an August 2 declaration, members of the standing committee of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (known by its French acronym CENCO) said the targeted attacks violated the principle of freedom of worship.

They brought to light cases of desecration in the center-south diocese of Mbujimayi, the assault of Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo’s residence in the capital, Kinshasa, and derogatory remarks against the cardinal by an official.

“CENCO strongly condemns these inadmissible acts of violence which constitute a serious attack on freedom of religion and expression, but also a violation of democracy,” they declared.

The attacks targeting Church leaders and facilities were “a big step backwards on the path to the rule of law that the Congolese people aspire to,” they added in the statement. reported by ACI Africa, CNA’s African information partner.

Members of the CENCO standing committee declared having received a letter from Bishop Emmanuel-Bernard Kasanda of Mbujimayi, saying that “since April 2021, abominable acts of desecration in places of worship: parishes, Marian caves, altars, shrines… acts going so far as to desecrate our tabernacles where the Blessed Sacrament rests.

The bishops were also “appalled” by the derogatory remarks made on July 31 by Augustin Kabuya, the secretary general of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the ruling party, who accused Ambongo and the P Donatien Nshole, Secretary General of CENCO, to politicize the Church.

The bishops also declared themselves disturbed by the attack on the cardinal’s residence, which took place a day after the words of the head of the UDPS.

A group of young Congolese allegedly stormed the Lindonge center in Limete, a town in Kinshasa, before entering Ambongo’s residence, chanting songs against the cardinal and throwing stones at his residence.

Following the incident of August 1, Fr. Georges Njila, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, declared: “We strongly condemn this irresponsible attitude and its consequences.

Commentators believe the incidents are linked to a dispute over the reorganization of the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2023 presidential elections. The Catholic Church has called for the “Depoliticization” from the body.

The CENCO standing committee defended Ambongo, accused of delaying the electoral process in the country, saying that he “did not take a position which is not that of CENCO in the framework of its prophetic mission”.

Catholic bishops also asked why the Church was under attack when bishops preached national cohesion, asking, “Why attack it when it defends the independence of the Independent Electoral Commission?

The leadership of the Church, they said, “is only accomplishing its prophetic mission in the search for the well-being of the Congolese people.”

“While condemning these despicable acts, we ask our faithful Christians and defenders of democracy not to react violently,” they urged. “Violence is the weapon of those who lack arguments in a democratic and citizen debate.

They added that violence “kills democracy and replaces it with dictatorship”.

They called on the perpetrators to stop their violent actions and called on the government to take urgent action against those found guilty of violence.

They promised to continue to support the Congolese people in “the consolidation of democracy and the improvement of their living conditions”.

“For the love of the Congolese people, CENCO will not remain silent,” the statement said.

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