The Church in Africa
January/February 2010
Return to Table of Contents
Print Article
Following on the first assembly in 1994 at the request of Pope John Paul II, the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops took place in Rome from October 4-25, 2009. The three-week assembly brought together nearly 400 participants including 33 cardinals, 79 archbishops, and 156 bishops, and focused on the theme, The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice, and Peace. Below are excerpts from the Assembly’s 57 Propositions.
#5: Sacrament of Reconciliation
...Reconciliation overcomes crises, restores dignity to people, and opens the way to development and lasting peace among people at all levels.
The Synod Fathers now launch a heartfelt appeal to all those who are at war in Africa and make their people suffer so much: “Stop the hostilities and be reconciled!”
...They invite the international community to give strong support to the struggle against all the man-oeuvres which destabilize the African continent and persistently cause its conflicts.
#11: Interreligious Dialogue
Peace in Africa and other parts of the world is very much determined by the relations among religions. Therefore, promoting the value of dialogue is important so that believers work together in associations dedicated to peace and justice, in a spirit of mutual trust and support…
Dialogue with other religions, especially Islam and African Traditional Religion, is an integral part of the proclamation of the Gospel and the Church’s pastoral activity on behalf of reconciliation and peace…
This dialogue will be authentic and productive to the extent that each religion begins from the depths of its faith and encounters the other in truth and openness...
#15: Security in Society
...The current mobilization of African countries for the reduction of poverty and the pursuit of lasting peace open great hopes....The Synod appeals to governments to offer security in society and the basic needs of life to the most vulnerable from a just distribution of the fruits of development...
#17: Social Justice and Eradication of Poverty
The Synod Fathers have pleaded for an economy in service to the poor and strongly denounced an unjust economic order which has led to the perpetuation of poverty.
We therefore propose that…
- leaders take adequate measures to remedy poverty and to develop policies to ensure self-sufficiency in food production…
- the further cancellation of debts...
- African governments be more prudent in accessing grants and loans so that they do not push their people into further debt...
- Africa be actively involved as an important stakeholder in decision-making processes on international trade and socio-economic issues which affect her…
#22: Environmental Protection and Reconciliation with Creation
…We observe that many human beings, at all levels, have continued to abuse nature and destroy God’s beautiful world by exploitation of natural resources beyond what is sustainable and useful...
In complicity with those who exercise political and economic leadership in Africa, some businesses, governments and multinational and transnational companies engage in business that pollute the environ-ment, destroy flora and fauna, thus causing unprecedented erosion and desertification of large areas of arable land…This has raised among scientists and stakeholders the awareness of the deleterious effects of climate change, global warming, natural calamities (like earthquakes, sea-quakes and their consequences like tsunami).
...we call upon the particular Churches to:
- promote environmental education and awareness;
- persuade their local and national governments to adopt policies and binding legal regulations for the protection of the environment and promote alternative and renewable sources of energy...
#24: Good Governance
The Synod Fathers call on leaders conscientiously to exercise stewardship and to uphold the common good...and to protect and promote the social, economic, political and religious rights of every citizen, as enshrined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights...
#28: Migrants and Refugees
On the African continent there are about 15 million migrants who are looking for a homeland and a place of peace. The phenomenon of this exodus reveals the face of socio-political injustices and crises in some areas of Africa.
…This precarious situation for so many foreigners ought to win the solidarity of everyone; instead it causes much fear and anxiety. Many consider immigrants a burden, view them with suspicion and indeed consider them a danger and a threat. This often gives rise to expressions of intolerance, xenophobia and racism...
The Synod...calls on African Governments to create a climate of security and freedom, to implement programmes of development and job creation, to dissuade their citizens from leaving home and becoming refugees, and to undertake initiatives encouraging refugees to return with a programme to welcome them.
#29: Natural Resources
...The Synod Fathers gave thanks to God for the abundant riches and natural resources of Africa.
…The Synod appeals to the international community to encourage the formulation of national and international legislation for the just distribution of revenue generated by natural resources for the benefit of local populations...
#30: Land and Water
Since large stretches of fertile land and water resources are unscrupulously exploited by foreign and local investors in many African countries, causing the displacement and dispossession of poor persons and their communities, who are often powerless to oppose this “assault”, this Synod urgently calls upon all governments to ensure that its citizens are protected from the unjust alienation of their land and access to water, which are essential goods of the human person.
#31: Globalization and International Aid
...The best globalization must be a globalization of solidarity.
This globalization sometimes takes the form of international aid from international agencies. Unfortunately, such aid does not always reach the people for whom it is intended and, at times, it comes with conditions which do not reflect the needs of the people.
The Synod Fathers call upon African governments and intermediate agencies to a more responsible and transparent management of this international solidarity for the sake of the common good...
#47: Women in Africa
Women in Africa make a great contribution to the family, society and the Church...However, not only are their dignity and contributions not fully recognized and appreciated, but (they) are often deprived of their rights. In spite of the significant advances made in the education and development of women in some countries in Africa, the development of girls and women is often disproportionate to that of boys and men; girls and women are generally unjustly treated.
The Synod Fathers condemn all acts of violence against women…
#51: HIV/AIDS
AIDS is a pandemic, together with malaria and tuberculosis, which is decimating African populations and severely damaging their economic and social life. It is not to be looked at as either a medical-pharmaceutical problem or solely as an issue of a change in human behaviour. It is truly an issue of integral development and justice, which requires a holistic approach and response by the Church...
Return to Table of Contents
Print Article