AMECEA NEWS 31/2006
ERITREA
THE CHURCH FIGHTS MILITARY SERVICE FOR PRIESTS
The Catholic Bishops in Eritrea have continued to write to the Eritrean government
to exempt the priests and seminarians from doing a military service. This service
is compulsory for all men under 40 years in Eritrea. The Bishops argues that
the service in the armed forces is not necessary in the role of the clergy.
However, till the government sorts this out the bishops have called on all priests
and seminarians to continue serving in the military. The government decides
when the service is to be done by its people.
In a country where the Eritrean Orthodox Christians and Moslems are majority,
the Catholics are a minority, the church has played a big role in education
and social support. Eritrea and Ethiopia share the same Catholic Bishops Conference
but the two countries are in constant border conflicts. Until now the United
Nations' peacekeepers have been controlling the border since the year 2000 when
the ceasefire begun.
KENYA
COUNTRY MARKS THE REFUGEES DAY
On June 20, 2006 Most Rev. Boniface Lele of Mombasa Archdiocese and the Bishop Chairman of the Commission for Migrants and Refugees in Kenya Episcopal Conference preceded over the Refugees Day Celebrations in Kenya. This year's theme was 'hope'. It was held in St. Theresa's Parish in Eastleigh in Nairobi.
According to a report by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
in 2005, there was a reduction in the number of refugees worldwide by over 1%
in 2005. However, the report pointed out an increase in number of internally
displaced persons (IDPs). Archbishop Lele invited all the organizations working
with refugees to network with the commission to improve the services and programmes
offered to the refugees. He also invited Christians to be friend refugees and
look at them as their own siblings. He also challenged political leaders and
people of Africa to work for peace so that there will be no more refugees in
the continent.
At the end of the celebration the refugees shared their experiences, which
were painful, encouraging and offered hope. They later entertained those present.
Africa has the largest population of refugees in the world.
MALAWI
BOMB EXPLODES DURING MASS
On July 16, 2006, a bomb exploded in a Catholic Church during Mass in Lilongwe,
Malawi after a man dressed as a choir member set off an explosion on Sunday
which led to a ferocious fire and a stampede that left at least 20 people injured,
three of them seriously.
Assistant parish priest, Fr. Peter Mateso who was celebrating mass when the
bomb exploded told the media that a worshipper, Blessings Stephano, who sat
next to the unknown bomber was admitted to the Kamuzu Central hospital and was
in a coma.
Police spokesman Willie Mwaluka said the blast appeared to have been deliberately
set. "We have dispatched our explosives experts to the scene to investigate
whether indeed this was a bomb or simply petrol carried in a bag," Mwaluka
told Reuters. "The motive [of] the suspect is unknown, because he is still
at-large. He ran away during the stampede," he said.
Hon Bob Khamisa the Minister for Home Affairs condemned the incident and ordered police to thoroughly investigate the motive. "Places of worship are sacred and should be the safest places for society. I want to assure Malawians that the government will tighten security in all public places," Khamisa said in a brief statement. Relations between members of the different religions in Malawi have been largely harmonious. Roman Catholics make up around a fifth of Malawi's 10 million people. At least 70 percent of Malawians are Christians, while about 20 percent are Muslims. The remaining 10 percent are members of traditional sects. (Source CISA)
TANZANIA
EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE ELECT NEW BOARD
The Catholic Bishops of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) has elected a new President. He is Rt. Rev. Jude Thaddeus Ruwa'Ichi of Dodoma. He succeeds Rt. Rev. Severine Niwemugizi of Rulenge Diocese. The elections were held during the 59th Plenary Assembly of the Bishops in June 2006.
The new TEC Vice President is Most Rev. Norbert Mtega of Songea Archdiocese, who is also the Chairperson of Education Department.
The Bishops also confirmed Fr. Anthony Makunde as the Secretary
General. He was appointed after Fr. Pius Rutechura was elected AMECEA Secretary
General in June 2005.
Other Bishops who were elected as the Chairpersons for different
commissions are: Rt. Rev. Method Kilaini, Auxiliary bishop of Dar es Salaam
for Finance and Planning, Rt. Rev. Amadeus Msarakie of Moshi for Pastoral Commission,
Rt. Rev. Jacob Koda of Same for Lay Apostolate, Rt. Rev. Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa
of Iringa for Liturgy and Rt. Rev. Agapite Ndorobo of Mahenge for Caritas. The
others are Rt. Rev. Aloysius Balina of Shinyanga for Health, Rt. Rev. Telesphor
Mkude of Morogoro for Catechesis and Rt. Rev. Alfred Maluma of Njombe for Social
Communications. Bishop Maluma is also the Bishop Chairman for AMECEA Social
Communications.
The term last for three years.
UGANDA
EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE ELECT NEW BOARD
The Catholic Bishops of Uganda have elected new board members. The elections
were held during the Bishops annual plenary assembly, which started soon after
the celebration of the Uganda Martyrs' Feast Day at Namugongo. The plenary venue
was St. Augustine's Institute - Nsambya.
The new board members and chairmen and vice-chairmen of the various commissions
as follows: His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala is the patron. The new chairman
is Rt. Rev. Matthias Ssekamaanya of Lugazi Diocese. He replaces Most Rev. Paul
K. Bakyenga of Mbarara Archdiocese who is also the Chairman of AMECEA and Chancellor
of the Catholic University in Eastern Africa (CUEA).
The new chairman will also be the Chancellor of the Uganda Martyrs University.
The Vice-chairman is Rt. Rev. Fredrick Drandua of Arua Diocese. Other board
members are: Rt. Rev. Joseph Willingers of Jinja Diocese, Most Rev. John Baptist
Odama of Gulu Archdiocese, Rt. Rev. Egidio Nkaijanabwo of Kasese Diocese, Rt.
Rev. Joseph Anthony Zziwa of Kiyindi-Mityana Diocese and Rt. Rev. Cyprian Kizito
Lwanga of Kasana-Luweero Diocese. The plenary also appointed Msgr. Francis Ndamira
as the Acting Secretary General.
For commissions and departments in the conference, bishops elected the following:
In Finance commission Rt. Rev. Joseph Willingers is the chairman and Rt. Rev.
Callist Rubaramira the vice-chairman. In Pastoral and Liturgical Commission,
Rt. Rev. Christopher Kakooza is the chairman and Rt. Rev. Robert Muhiirwa is
the vice-chairman. In Lay Apostolate Commission (Youth and Adult), Rt. Rev.
Denis Kiwanuka is the chairman and Rt. Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha is the vice-chairman.
In Justice and Peace Commission, Most Rev. John Baptist Odama is the chairman
and the vice-chairman is Rt. Rev. Robert M. Gay. In Catholic Medical Commission,
the chairman is Rt. Rev. Egidio Nkaijanabwo and vice-chairman is Rt. Rev. Henry
Ssentongo. In Education Rt. Rev. Joseph Anthony Zziwa is the chairman and vice-chairman
is Rt. Rev. Charles Wamika. In Caritas Uganda the chairman is Rt. Rev. Cyprian
Kizito Lwanga and the vice-chairman is Rt. Rev. Joseph Franzelli. In Priestly
Formation Commission the chairman is Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa and the vice-chairman
is Rt. Rev. Paul Kalanda. In Social Communications Commissions, the chairman
is Rt. Rev. Joseph Franzelli and the vice-chairman is Most Rev. Paul Bakyenga.
In Ecumenism Commission, the chairman is Rt. Rev. Albert Edward Baharagate and
the vice-chairman is Rt. Rev. Martin Luluga. In Inter-Religious Dialogue the
liaison bishop is Rt. Rev. Deogratias Byabazaire and the vice-chairman is Rt.
Rev. Joseph Oyanga. In Doctrine Commission the chairman is Rt. Rev. Deogratias
Byabazaire and the vice-chairman is Most Rev. James Odongo. In Missionary Animation
Commission (Pontifical Missionary Societies) chairman is Rt. Rev. Adrian Kivumbi
Ddungu and vice-chairman is Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kakubi. In HIV/AIDS Focal
Point & Global Fund Initiatives Management Unit (GIFMU) the chairman is
Rt. Rev. Joseph Mugenyi and the vice-chairman is Rt. Rev. Barnabas Halem'Imana.
In other national institutions the bishops elected as follows: In Uganda Catholic
Social Training Centre chairman is Rt. Rev. Joseph Anthony Zziwa. The Liaison
Bishop of Association of Major Superiors of Religious Institutes in Uganda (AMSRIU)
chairman is Rt. Rev. Robert Gay and the vice-chairman is Rt. Rev. Christopher
Kakooza. For Interservice board the chairman is Rt. Rev. Joseph Willingers.
In Uganda Martyrs University the Chancellor is Rt. Rev. Matthias Ssekamaanya,
the Chairman of the Governing Councils Rt. Rev. Joseph Anthony Zziwa and the
bishop representatives are Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa and Rt. Rev. Lambert
Bainomugisha.
The term for this leadership will last from June 2006 - June 2010.
GULU GETS AN AUXILIARY BISHOP
On Saturday July 22, 2006, His Holiness Benedict the XVI, appointed Fr. Sabino
Ocan Odoki as auxiliary bishop of Gulu Archdiocese in Uganda.
Bishop-Elect Sabino was born on August 8, 1957 at Layibi, Gulu. He was ordained
a priest on September 10, 1983. He holds a doctorate in sacred theology from
the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in 1992.
He established the Pastoral Centre of St. Mauritz Gulu. Until his appointment
was the rector of the Alokolum National Major Seminary of Philosophy. He has
held this position since 1996.
Gulu Archdiocese has 23 parishes and is one of the four metropolitans of Uganda and is located in northern Uganda where the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) has instablilized for the last 20 years. There are many internally displaced people who are living in the camps.
ZAMBIA
THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
The Catholic Bishops of Zambia have published a pastoral statement on the
forthcoming Zambia tripartite elections in 2006. The statement was signed by
all the Catholic Bishops in Zambia. Quoting the words of Prophet Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare
and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." The bishops reminded
the Zambians that the coming elections is an opportunity to elect leaders with
necessary attributes and vision for a better future.
Though there has been a big struggle to sustain plural politics in the face
of political uncertainties, this year's tripartite elections will be done without
comprehensive electoral reforms addressing both constitutional matters and the
election-related Acts of Parliament. "We are now going into the 2006 tripartite
elections without comprehensive electoral reforms that would have addressed
both constitutional matters and the various election related Acts of Parliament.
We regret that in constitutional reforms people's wishes are not taken seriously.
Sometimes outright rejection of the wishes of the majority of the people frustrates
the nation. This is another demonstration of how partisan interests override
national interests. This is true now as it was in the 1996 Constitutional process.
This continues to be a source of grave concern to us", the bishops said.
They commended the great efforts of the electoral commission in the recent
exercise of voters registration. To them election is meaningless if only few
people participate. They added their support on the call to harmonize the national
registration age with voting age so that the two systems can be linked to work
simultaneously.
Special appeals were made to all registered voters to turn up and vote arguing
that voting is not only a right but a duty to the country. The voters and youth
must not allow themselves to be misused by politicians, but should ensure that
the leaders they vote in are free from corruption and are visionary leaders
if the country is to flourish.
The bishops called on political leaders to preach peace and maintain it with
dignity. The focus on how to bring hope to the unemployed youth, the exploited
workers, the rural and urban poor, those living with HIV/AIDS challenges. The
Christians were called to demonstrate their true discipleship to Christ and
responsible citizenship by actively participating in the elections, through
prayers for peace, understanding and tolerance before, during and after the
elections.
In conclusion the bishops reminded Zambians that one's vote is the power and should be used well to appraise their elected political leaders and evaluate the new applicants.
AMECEA MAPS OUT HIV/AIDS COMMON STRATEGY
Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) Secretaries
General and National Health Coordinators met at the AMECEA Secretariat in Nairobi,
Kenya from May 17-18, 2006 to map out a common framework strategy on the implementation
of the resolutions of the 15th AMECEA Plenary Assembly held in Mukono, Uganda
in 2005.
Reports of the different activities implemented since the plenary were given
during the meeting, which also called for the recommitment of all Catholic Bishops'
Conferences and Secretariats in the region especially in the implementation
of the priorities chosen by each conference during the plenary. They also resolved
that each conference was to organize sensitization workshop for the Bishops
on the commitments on the common framework of action.
AMECEA Secretariat resolved it would liaise with SECAM on advocacy and lobbying,
and with regional international bodies for fundraising, partnerships and linkages
while at the same time promoting capacity building on advocacy for Bishops,
SGs and HIV/AIDS Coordinators in the region. The secretariat also resolved to
spearhead theological reflection on HIV/AIDS, and to initiate the process to
coordinate HIV/AIDS activities leading to the establishment of a HIV/AIDS desk
and organizing annual review meeting to monitor the progress while continually
documenting and sharing the best practices in the region.
Among the important recommendations made was that AMECEA Secretariat sets up
of a Monitoring Team to provide technical support and to facilitate the implementation
of the Common Framework of Action in the region.
AMECEA - IMBISA COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATORS MEET
Bishop Janurio Machaze Nhangumbe challenged National Social Communications
Coordinators in Eastern and Southern Africa not to forget that Christ is the
"proto-type of communication", norm and model of communication assumed
by the Church as well as the content the Church has duty to communicate when
he, as Chairman of Social Communications of Mozambique Episcopal Conference,
officially opened a one week Joint AMECEA - IMBISA Communications Coordinators'
Meeting and Workshop held in the Mozambican Capital of Maputo from July 10-16,
2006.
"I hope that this encounter may give us more light and strength so that
in our different countries and dioceses we be capable to be true announcers
of the truth of Jesus with courage and commitment in such a way that all men
and women may hear the Gospel of love which is the Self - Communication of God
in Jesus Christ," Bishop Nhangumbe also expressed.
Participants drawn from countries of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences
of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern
Africa (IMBISA) called for closer collaboration among Church media practitioners
in Africa during their two days meeting which preceded the workshop.
The two regional communications secretaries of AMECEA and IMBISA, Father Moses
Hamungole and Sister Veronica Dingi, noted that cooperation between the two
African regions offers national coordinators of communications a forum to share
information and experiences.
The five-day workshop was facilitated by two resource persons from Christian
Organisation Research and Advisory Trust of Africa (CORAT Africa), Mr. Francis
Karanja and Mrs. Victoria Mutiso, taught the participants planning skills, writing
project proposals, budgeting and resource mobilization and management among
other skills.
Among the guests were the new executive secretary of communications at the
Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Mr. Benedict
Assorow, Fr. Bernardo Suate and Mr. Alvito De Souza of the global Catholic media
organization SIGNIS, and Miss Petra Stammen of Catholic Media Council (CAMECO).
Each of these were given time to address the participants about the activities
of their organizations.
This is the second time the national communications executive secretaries of the two regions are meeting. The next joint meeting and workshop will be held in Zambia in 2008.
AMECEA BOARD TO MEET
Members of AMECEA Executive Board will be in Nairobi, Kenya for a combined
workshop and meeting, September 2 - 6, 2006. All patrons, Ex-officio members,
heads of AMECEA institutions and Secretariat's departments and desks have been
invited to attend this workshop and meeting. The last AMECEA Executive Board
Meeting was held in March 2006.
AFRICA
HIV/AIDS WORKSHOP HELD
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) held
a workshop on HIV/AIDS in Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Nairobi,
Kenya from June 21-24, 2006. It was officially opened with Holy Mass presided
by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Most Rev. Alain Paul Lebeaupin and assisted
by the SECAM President, Most Rev. John Onaiyekan of Abuja Archdiocese in Nigeria,
the Vice-President Most Rev. Francisco Silota of Chimioi of Diocese in Mozambique,
and Most Rev. Raphael Ndingi Mwana 'a Nzeki of Nairobi Archdiocese.
The workshop was aimed at evaluating the action plan on HIV/AIDS adopted by
the bishops of Africa during the 13th plenary assembly of SECAM in Dakar, Senegal
in October 2003. It also workshop aimed at making SECAM HIV/AIDS plan of action
operational. Among those who attended were the first vice-president of SECAM
in charge of HIV/AIDS, nine bishops in charge of health, coordinators and SECAM
HIV/AIDS advisory members. Others were some international partners, agencies,
and representatives of religious congregations dealing with HIV/AIDS in Africa,
Caritas Internationalis Caritas Africa and St. Egidio Community.
An expert, Fr. Robert Vitalio who addressed the plenary said that though the Catholic Church in Africa has been in the forefront of the war against the pandemic since it broke out over twenty-five years now, much of the church teaching on the disease in the over 80 bishops' pastoral letters and statements has not reached the parishes. He also said that many Catholics living with HIV/AIDS in Africa do not get adequate pastoral care because there is still much hesitation in the church to offer pastoral care to those living and dying with this disease.
ETHICS OF GLOBALIZATION DEBATED
The African Catholic Theologians met for an international conference on July
8-12, 2006 in Padua, Italy to debate on the ethics of globalization. In the
face of globalization, Catholic moral theology and ethical concerns affirm the
need to protect and promote human life and dignity, theologians said. "Whatever
is for life is good. Whatever is anti-life is bad and evil. This is the principle
to follow in detecting the positive elements of globalization from the negative
ones," said Fr. John Mary Waliggo, who is a member of the Uganda Human
Rights Commission and was one of the speakers at the in this debate. Fr. Waliggo
emphasized the impact of sin and injustice on both individual behavior and social
life, the Catholic News Service reported. He wondered why marketing and distribution
of condoms had become the only internationally supported response to the AIDS
epidemic in Africa. "Why can't abstinence, behavior change, family and
married life and counseling also be emphasized?" he asked. He said globalization
of economies was having an impact on Africa similar to that of the slave trade
and colonialism, when the continent, its resources and people were treated simply
as materials to be exploited for the benefit of the industrialized countries.
A Tanzanian priest Fr. Laurenti Magesa called on African universities and seminaries
to encourage a specifically African approach to moral theology and ethics, building
on traditional values such as the extended family, respect for the environment
and the good of the community. A uniquely African approach could prove valuable
in addressing the poverty, corruption and civil tensions left behind by centuries
of slavery, colonialism and economic exploitation.
Others who spoke are Redemptorist Fr. Vimal Tirimanna of Sri Lanka who told the conference, "Instead of concentrating on exclusively 'profit-making economics,' as happens now, a serious focusing on 'person-building economics' is called for if globalization is to give benefit to all in a given society." For an economic system to be moral and ethical, he said, the fundamental human rights to life, food, shelter, medical care and education not only must be respected, but they must be guaranteed.
VATICAN
NEW SECRETARY OF STATE
In June 2006, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI named His Eminence Tarcisio Cardinal
Bertone of Genoa as the new Vatican Secretary of State. Cardinal Bertone is
replacing His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Sodano who will retire in mid-September
after serving in that office for 15 years.
Cardinal Bertone joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1950. He was ordained
a priest in 1960. He worked as the rector of Salesian University in Rome between
1989 and 1991 when he was appointed the Archbishop of Vercelli in Italy by the
late Pope John Paul II in 1991. In 1995, he was named the secretary of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith here he served under then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,
now Pope Benedict VI. In 2002, he was made Archbishop of Genoa and after one
year he became a cardinal. He is 71 years old.
In his new post he will be Pope's closest collaborator in running Church: coordinating entire Roman Curia, overseeing Vatican press office and newspaper, coordinating preparation and publication of papal documents, supervising the work of Vatican nuncios relations with Catholic communities and governments in individual countries.
VATICAN PRESS OFFICE GETS NEW DIRECTOR
The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed a new Director of the Vatican
Press office. He is Fr. Federico Lombardi a Jesuit priest. He replaces Joaquin
Navarro Valls who is remembered especially for announcing the death of the Late
Pope John Paul II in April 2005.
After his appointment, he wrote the letter to the journalist accredited by the Vatican press office. The letter read "Dear Friends, "While I prepare to assume this new task in the Holy See's Press Office, I am most grateful, of course, to the Holy Father and to my superiors for the trust they have placed in me, but I think also in particular - with affection - of you and all information colleagues I am called to serve. "Like you, I have been working for a long time so that the Holy Father's activity and the reality of the Church are known and understood objectively and adequately. "Navarro Valls has carried out his service in this area with exceptional competence, intelligence and dedication. We are all profoundly grateful to him and continue to count on his friendship. "I cannot pretend to imitate him, but you can count on my commitment, with my limitations but with all available strengths in serving the Holy Father and your good work. "I know that I can count on the collaboration that all the personnel of the press office will give with generosity to me and to you, beginning with the deputy director, our friend Father Ciro Benedettini. "I ask you also for your benevolence, knowing that in this way this common task in our undertaking will be more fruitful. "I entrust these sentiments to the Lord on the liturgical feast of Saint Benedict, in which, perhaps, not by chance, I receive the charge of this new service." (Source: ZENIT)
Prepared by AMECEA Social
Communications Department
P.O. Box 21191, 00505, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel. (254-20) 3871229, 3878008/10 Fax. (254-20) 3871590
Email: amecea@amecea.org or amecea@gatewayonline.co.ke