(Vatican Radio) Church premises have been attacked and priests have been run out of
their posts in the South Sudanese diocese of Malakal, situated in an area of the country
hit by the weeks-long crisis.
Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, secretary general of
the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa spoke with Vatican
Radio about the recent events. He said a team of bishops visited South Sudan and
returned with disheartening news last week. The apostolic administrator of the diocese
of Malakal was run out of his residence, which was subsequently looted.
As
well, a number of priests in the diocese were attacked and run out of their posts.
The safety of the bishop-emeritus is also a concern. As of 24 January, their whereabouts
were still unknown. Fr. Lugonzo said they were waiting for some state of calm in the
region to ask international forces to locate the bishop.
As well, churches
that had been serving as places of refuge for victims of the crisis were not safe,
reported Fr. Lugonzo.
“The rebels are now attacking church premises where
some of the victims are running to, and even the church personnel themselves are not
safe,” he said.
In issuing a statement on the current crisis in South Sudan,
the association of East African episcopal conferences called on the South Sudanese
government to offer protection of church premises and personnel.
In their
24 January statement, the bishops called for: the cessation of hostilities; an assurance
that the corridors for humanitarian access remain open; an expansion of the table
of negotiations towards peace; a softening of politicians’ positions in the interest
of saving lives; international support for the humanitarian work of Caritas Internationalis
amid the crisis; and prayers for peace.
They also noted that the Church has
been absent from the peace negotiations to date. The Church was active in the healing
and reconciliation process in the country prior to the crisis, explained Fr. Lugonzo,
and would have a role to play in accompanying the nation towards peace.
Listen
to the full interview with Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo: