In a recent address to the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church, First Lady Jeannette Kagame told officials of the Catholic Church and all attendees that the road to reconciliation is not easy, but the church must fully embrace its own responsibilities and accept its historical culpability — and shameful active participation — (these words are mine) in the genocide against Tutsi.
She told the church officials gathered that they have a responsibility to educate its members beyond the traditional teachings of religion, adding that this could facilitate a more meaningful and honest reconciliation.
Her words were as bold as they are true, timely, and needed to be heard.
She said, “It is within our responsibilities to continue teaching and helping relatives of those who participated in the genocide to shun the same narrative.”
True, the church has made attempts, albeit slow and late, to accept its role in the events of 1994. Considering the overwhelming evidence of priests taking an active role in indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of their flock more needs to be done. And if the church is to remain relevant, the time is now.
The Vatican’s slow and hesitating acceptance of the church’s responsibility in the genocide against Tutsi in the last 25 years is a sad indictment. This Pope’s weak, sluggish acknowledgement of priests taking part in the genocide, and his continued protection of priests and nuns with bloody hands behind the Vatican walls, and all across catholic parishes in Europe and elsewhere is, I am sorry to say, being an accessory to a crime.
Words are cheap, when not accompanied by actions.
The similarity between the church’s role in the genocide against Tutsi is eerily similar to the Vatican’s collusion with the The Third Reich during the Holocaust. This is a historical fact that cannot be denied nor swept under the rug. It says, sadly that not much has changed between 1945 and 1994.
There should be no priest, or nun, accused of participating in the genocide against Tutsi in 1994 allowed to perform mass or be actively engaged in the affairs of the church. Defrocking is an option.
It is not that the Vatican is not aware that there are indicted priests and nuns active in the church. It is ashamed of their role, and by defrocking these alleged criminals is tantamount to pleading guilty as charged.
But let’s give credit where it is due: Mrs Kagame did recognize some heroes within the church who did not join the killing machine. She said; “We cannot, however, ignore the fact that the Church had heroes. Those who lost their lives because they stuck to the values of being Rwandan, a pact of humanity, and knowing to choose what’s right.”
Not being a believer because I do not like fairly tales as told by organized religion since time immemorial , I am baffled by the fact that to this day churches are full on Sundays all across Rwanda. Why do people still flock to the same places where their loved ones fell to listen to the brethren of the accused spewing out questionable and often hideous messages?
“Die Religion … ist das Opium des Volkes”, so said German philosopher and economist, Karl Marx. RELIGION IS THE OPIUM OF THE PEOPLE.
To each his own, because we all need refugee to come to terms with things we neither understand, or can’t change. Today, while at Happy Hour I will ponder and reflect. There is much that keeps me awake at night : it is now only 3:10 a.m. here in Austin, Texas.
