The "Missionary Forum on Congo" is a committee (formed by the majority of Missionary Institutes having their members working in Congo) for the supervision of the situation, exchange of informations and co-ordination of initiatives in favour of the people tormented by the on-going war.
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The actual dramatic crisis which started on August the 2nd 1998 in the Democratic Republic of Congo is causing unutterable sufferings to the populations of this vast African country. That which, at the beginning, seemed as an internal uprising, has become an ethnic and international conflict involving directly or indirectly a number of Central and Southern African countries, plus some Western countries with "various forms of cooperation" and big world commercial groups. The Archbishop of Kisangani, Mons. Monsengwo has denounced a nationalism and xenophobia, which are driving the country towards "an infernal and irreversible cycle of hatred, ethnocentric division, revenge, violence and fratricidal war".
In front of the massacres of civilians (for example that committed in Kivu, in the catholic mission of Kasika, with the killing of 288 persons, including the parish priest, three Sisters and a seminarian), plundering, summary executions, lynching of prisoners, revenge and elimination of the "unfit" and "mad-people"; the missionaries (men and women), fearing the ethnical cataclysm already in the horizon, cannot remain silent. They want to be "the voice of the voiceless" and together with the Archbishops of Kinshasa, Kisangani and Bukavu cry out:"away with the war, hatred and revenge "
The members of the forum, coming from the Missionary Institutes working in Congo are horrified by the sufferings of the people! They strongly make an:
* Appeal to the United Nations, to the Organization of African Unity, and to the European Union, for a more effective intervention, be it political or otherwise, in order to guarantee the "cease fire" in a short time.
* Appeal to International Organizations who work in the emergency sector a suitable and timely humanitarian help. In the capital Kinshasa, the bombardments have left more than a million of homeless people, forcing them to live in extremely precarious conditions. There is need of food and tents. There are also serious problems of provisions and hunger in other Eastern and North Eastern towns, such as Bukavu, Kisangani and Isiro.
* Appeal to the public opinion, and especially to the Mass Media, for a greater involvement in the drama that is torturing and tormenting the Sub-Saharian Africa. The indifference and silence favour those who make use of violence and aggression to meet their own ends.
* Appeal to the local Catholic Churches and other Communities of faiths to sensitize the people on the situation of Congo. Let them be invited to take particular initiatives of solidarity, such as a day of prayer and fasting, assigning the savings in favour of the people affected by the conflict. Let them also promote parlamentary discussions in view of creating an interest on the side of the governments of their respective countries.
Rome, 23 Septembre 1998
Missionary Forum on Congo
(Angeliche di S. Paolo, Barnabiti, C.I.C.M. (Scheut), C.O.E., C.U.M. -Verona, Cappuccini, Carmelitane della Carita', Carmelitane Missionarie, Carmelitane Missionarie Teresiane, Clarettiani, Compagnia di Maria NS, Congregazione dello Spirito Santo, Dehoniani, F.N.M., Fam. S. Cuore di Gesu', Figlie di Maria SS. Dell'Orto, Filles de la Sagesse, Francescane Missionarie di Maria, Francescane, Angeline, Fratelli della Carita', Fratelli Maristi, Gesuiti, Lazzaristi, Maestre di Santa Dorotea, Mercedarias Misioneras de Berriz, Missionari Comboniani, Missionari D'Africa (Padri Bianchi), Missionari della Consolata, Missionari Saveriani, Missionarie Saveriane, OMI, Passionisti, Piccole Figlie, Pie Discepole Divin Maestro, Poverelle dell'Istituto Palazzuolo, Redentoristi, S.M.A., Sacramentini, Sacri Cuori, Salesiani, Soc. S. Paolo (Paolini), Sorelle di S. Gemma, Srs Miss. d'Afrique (SMNDA, Suore Bianche) , Stimmatine, Suore Adoratrici del Sacro Cuore, Suore del Divin Salvatore, Suore dei Sacri Cuori, Suore di S. Giuseppe, Suore Francescane Angeline, Suore Missionarie Comboniane, V.I.S., Verbo Divino).
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"C'est a travers nous, que Dieu aime le monde"
(Mere Therese)
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