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U.S.
Catholic bishops support church on national crisis
Catholic Information Service for Africa
April 24, 2007
http://www.cisanewsafrica.org/story.asp?ID=2172
The powerful
pastoral
letter issued by the Catholic
Bishops of Zimbabwe at Easter, calling for an end to the nation's
crisis, has received more support, this time from US bishops.
The call already
has support from Pope Benedict XVI, the bishops of Britain, the
Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM)
and the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops Conference.
Following is
the full text of a letter by Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando,
chairman of the US bishops' Committee on International Policy, addressed
to Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare and president
of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference:
"At this time
of great suffering and uncertainty for the people of Zimbabwe, I
write to express the solidarity of the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops with the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference.
Your Conference's recent Pastoral Letter, "God Hears the Cry of
the Oppressed," is a powerful testimony to the prophetic leadership
of the bishops of Zimbabwe and to the tragic situation of the people
in your country.
"We were particularly
moved by the description of suffering and the humanitarian situation
of the people of Zimbabwe. The present situation has eroded the
provision of shelter, health, and education as well as the foundations
of what was once a diverse and vibrant economy.
"Your Pastoral
Letter describes the deep crisis facing your peoplea crisis that
is at once a crisis of governance, a crisis of moral leadership
and a spiritual and moral crisis. The courageous and strong cry
for justice and non-violence at the conclusion of your Pastoral
Letter deserves to be heeded by all involved:
'We conclude
our Pastoral Letter by affirming with a clear and unambiguous Yes,
our support of morally legitimate political authority. At the same
time, we say an equally clear and unambiguous No to power through
violence, oppression and intimidation. We call on those who are
responsible for the current crisis in our Country to repent and
listen to the cry of their citizens. To the people of Zimbabwe we
appeal for peace and restraint when expressing their justified grievances
and demonstrating for their human rights.'
"We offer our
profound respect to you and our brother bishops in Zimbabwe for
your brave and faithful pastoral ministry in these difficult days,
and we acknowledge and accept the bishops' invitation to join with
you in prayer for Zimbabwe. In the challenging times that lie ahead
for your nation and your people, I want to express and reaffirm
our solidarity with you in action and prayer.
"We are sharing
your Pastoral Letter with officials of our government and are calling
on our nation and the international community to build effective
support for a process of genuine negotiation and reconciliation
to bring an end to the political and economic crisis which undermines
the dignity of all, especially the poor, in your suffering land.
"May God bless
you in your ministry as teachers and pastors as you faithfully proclaim
the Gospel and seek to guide your nation into a future free of oppression."
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