Catholic bishops apologise for role in Rwanda genocide
November 20, 2016
The Catholic Church in Rwanda has apologised for its role in the 1994 genocide, saying it regrets the actions of those who participated in the massacres.
A church statement acknowledged on Sunday its members planned, aided, and executed the genocide, in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu hardliners.
“We apologise for all the wrongs the church committed. We apologise on behalf of all Christians for all forms of wrongs we committed. We regret that church members violated [their] oath of allegiance to God’s commandments,” said the statement by the Conference of Catholic Bishops, which was read out in parishes across the country.
Rwanda: Capturing a vision of hell
Many of the victims died at the hands of priests, clergymen and nuns, according to accounts by survivors, and the Rwandan government said many died in the churches where they had sought refuge.
In the years since the genocide – which was sparked by a contentious plane crash that killed the then-president, a Hutu – the local church had resisted efforts by the government and groups of survivors to acknowledge the church’s complicity in mass murder, saying those church officials who committed crimes acted individually.
The bishops’ statement is seen as a positive development in Rwanda’s efforts at reconciliation.
“Forgive us for the crime of hate in the country to the extent of also hating our colleagues because of their ethnicity. We didn’t show that we are one family, but instead killed each other,” the statement said.
Bishop Phillipe Rukamba, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Rwanda, said the statement was timed to coincide with the formal end on Sunday of the Holy Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis to encourage greater reconciliation and forgiveness in his church and in the world.
WATCH – Rwanda: From hatred to reconciliation
Tom Ndahiro, a Rwandan genocide researcher, said he hoped the church’s statement will encourage unity among Rwandans.
“I am also happy to learn that in their statement, bishops apologise for not having been able to avert the genocide,” he said.
The post Catholic bishops apologise for role in Rwanda genocide appeared first on African Media Agency.
Source:: http://amediaagency.com/catholic-bishops-apologise-for-role-in-rwanda-genocide/
Nkemnji Global Tech
Featured
Do What You Love Doing – ABH’s Chebet and Christelle Say in “Hero to Hero” Chat
Pan African Visions | April 17, 2021 6:29 am
APRIL 14, FORTY YEARS AGO: THE EVENTFUL JOURNEY OF A HUMBLE CHAIN BREAKER.
Pan African Visions | April 17, 2021 1:39 am
World’s Longest Crude oil pipeline: A Significant Investment for Uganda, Tanzania and Neighbours – AEC’s NJ Ayuk
Pan African Visions | April 16, 2021 3:08 pm
Nigeria: I’m Alive, says former Army PR Chief Sani Usman.
Pan African Visions | April 16, 2021 1:16 am
Recent News
-
Do What You Love Doing – ABH’s Chebet and Christelle Say in “Hero to Hero” Chat
April 17, 2021 6:29 am
-
APRIL 14, FORTY YEARS AGO: THE EVENTFUL JOURNEY OF A HUMBLE CHAIN BREAKER.
April 17, 2021 1:39 am
-
Mozambique: 200,000 jobs lost due to terrorists attacks in Cabo Delgado
April 16, 2021 5:47 pm
-
Cameroon:Iya Foundation- Kidney Resource Centre Donates Food Items to Kidney Patients
April 16, 2021 3:52 pm
-
World’s Longest Crude oil pipeline: A Significant Investment for Uganda, Tanzania and Neighbours – AEC’s NJ Ayuk
April 16, 2021 3:08 pm
Leave a Reply