in Africa
Pope demands halt to sexual, financial scandals
Bishops must have greater oversight of priests and religious, Benedict says
’Rechten armsten verdedigen’
Paus waarschuwt tegen particularisme en ethnocentrisme
Geplaatst door Theo Borgermans op donderdag 19 maart 2009
YAOUNDE (RKnieuws.net) - In een toespraak tot de Kameroense bisschoppen in een kerk in Yaounde heeft paus Benedictus woensdag de Afrikanen gewaarschuwd tegen alle particularisme of buitensporig ethocentrisme. Hij riep de bisschoppen ook op de rechten van de armsten te verdedigen en liefdadigheid bij de gelovigen aan te moedigen. Op die manier kunnen de gelovigen ervaren dat de Kerk werkelijk familie van God is, wat elke ethnocentrisme en buitensporig particularisme uitsluit en bijdraagt tot verzoening en samenwerking tussen alle etnieën, aldus de rooms-katholieke kerkleider... rest artikel
Yaoundè, CameroonOn a day in which his focus turned largely to the inner life of the church, Pope Benedict XVI indirectly, yet unmistakably, demanded a halt to financial and sexual scandals that have recently tarnished the image of Catholicism in Africa, a continent that is otherwise perhaps the most compelling “good news” story for the church in the world in light of dramatic 20th century growth.
Speaking to the bishops of Cameroon, the pope called for greater oversight of priests and religious.
“I urge you to be especially vigilant regarding the faithfulness of priests and consecrated persons to the commitments made at their ordination or entry into religious life,” Benedict told the bishops in a meeting in Christ the King Church in Tsinga, outside the national capital of Yaoundè.
“The authenticity of their witness requires that there be no dichotomy between what they teach and the way they live each day,” the pope said.
While welcoming the bumper crop of candidates for the priesthood in Cameroon, the pope urged bishops to exercise “serious discernment” to ensure that future priests are “mature and balanced men.”
Benedict met the bishops in a parish church rather than the main Yaoundè cathedral, because the cathedral is still undergoing renovations that were supposed to be completed well before the papal visit. Mass-goers and the local government had been asked to contribute funds so that the cathedral’s new bells would be in place to ring out when Benedict arrived. In fact, however, the bells never arrived, the work is not completed, and the former rector of the cathedral was recently replaced amid speculation about missing funds.
The cathedral is not an isolated case. In September 2007, the bishop of the Buea diocese suspended a popular priest, Fr. James Ekwede, amid charges of embezzling church funds. Bishop Immanuel Bushu read the letter of suspension during Mass in his cathedral, ordering Ekwede to vacate his rectory and seek refuge “anywhere he likes.”
Similarly last January, Bishop George Nkuo of the Kumbo diocese had to step in after a spat erupted in a local parish, which had led to the pastor placing the entire parish community under interdict, refusing to say Mass or celebrate the other sacraments. In the background were accusations of embezzlement, and the peace deal negotiated by Nkuo involved an agreement that some $500,000 in parish money would be independently audited.
In a nation where corruption and mismanagement of resources is widely regarded as pervasive, it’s perhaps not terribly surprising that there are echoes of it also within the church. Nevertheless, the cases have given the church a black eye.
The church has also been hit by a number of sexual scandals, most involving reports of priests involved in either causal or long-term relationships with women, and, in some cases, having fathered children.
Cameroonian human rights activist Emanuel Neba Fuh published a blistering commentary on these cases in a national newspaper in early March, asking: “What lessons can an already morally impoverished society learn from a bishop or priest who fathers children haphazardly in his community? Or who sponsors a girlfriend’s trip abroad so she can bear him kids, and when he takes his vacation or study leave, he is welcomed abroad by his wife and children? … Or from priests who have become predators to vulnerable children, or who indulge in homosexual acts?”
In an evening vespers service, Benedict XVI returned to the theme. Speaking directly to priests and religious, he insisted that “the way you live ought to show clearly what inspires you, and your actions must not conceal your deepest identity.”
In other comments to the bishops, Benedict praised the contributions of priests and religious, as well as lay catechists and movements, for pursuing “authentic inculturation of the faith,” meaning a distinctively African expression of Catholic identity. He also called upon the bishops to prioritize the liturgy and the family.
Facing the challenge of what Benedict called “sects and esoteric movements,” “the growing influence of superstitious forms of religion,” as well as “secularism,” he urged the bishops to concentrate on formation of children and young adults.
The pope asked Catholic movements, including women’s associations, to be active in promoting “the dignity of women and their particular vocation in the ecclesial community and in society.” ......rest artikel John Allen NRC
Automatische Excommunicatie?
NAIROBI, 9 March 2009 (PlusNews) - People who have suffered sexual violence in countries facing humanitarian crises need much more accessible, comprehensive and confidential care than is currently available, says a new report by the international medical charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
"We find that the specific emergency care needed for victims of rape is either very rare or completely absent in the countries where we operate," said Thilde Knudsen, MSF's sexual and reproductive health advisor.
"The damage cannot be completely undone; some level of psychological impact is likely to remain for life."
In the report, Shattered Lives, released on 5 March, ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March, MSF highlights its experience with sexual violence in Burundi, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and South Africa. As part of the comprehensive care required for sexual violence victims MSF lists counselling, post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV-infection, treatment for other sexually transmitted infections, such as Hepatitis-B, tetanus injections for those physically injured, and emergency contraception.
"With the right package of timely medical care, coupled with trauma counselling and social and legal support, the damage can be limited and the victim helped to survive," Knudsen stressed. MSF also said aggressive awareness-raising campaigns were
necessary to break social taboos and encourage survivors of sexual violence - including male survivors, who often went unrecognised and untreated - to report.
"Our teams hear painful stories of horrible abuse every day," said Meinie Nicolai, operational director of MSF in Belgium.
"There can be no excuse for sexual violence, no matter how prevalent these violations may be in some of the places where we work."
Medische hulp van levensbelang voor verkrachtingsslachtoffers
MSF 05-03-2009
In de aanloop naar Internationale Vrouwendag, 8 maart, brengt Artsen zonder Grenzen een rapport uit over slachtoffers van seksueel geweld. In het rapport onderstreept Artsen zonder Grenzen het belang van onmiddellijke medische hulp aan verkrachtingsslachtoffers. Zij moeten een compleet pakket medische zorg krijgen, waarbij hun identiteit beschermd wordt. Het rapport 'Shattered Lives' is gebaseerd op de ervaringen van Artsen zonder Grenzen in meerdere landen, waaronder Liberia, Burundi, Democratische Republiek Congo, Zuid-Afrika en Colombia.
'In 2007 hebben onze teams wereldwijd meer dan 12.000 slachtoffers van seksueel geweld behandeld,' zegt Meinie Nicolai, operationeel directeur Artsen zonder Grenzen in Brussel. 'Ofwel elke dag 35 mensen, in onze projecten alleen al. Dit is maar een topje van de ijsberg. Slachtoffers vertellen ons verhalen vol vernedering, pijn en gruwelijke taferelen.
Vaak zijn de daders dezelfde mensen die hen zouden moeten beschermen: vaders, ooms, buurmannen of soldaten.
En de slachtoffers lopen nog meer gevaar: ernstige gezondheidsproblemen als gevolg van de verkrachting.'
Onmiddellijke medische hulp is cruciaal voor verkrachtingsslachtoffers. Vrouwen lopen het risico besmet te worden met hiv en hepatitis en om ongewenst zwanger te raken. Tijdige medische zorg kan hen hiervoor beschermen:
een PEP-behandeling binnen 72 uur (3 dagen) voorkomt besmetting met hiv
antibiotica voorkomen soa's
inentingen voorkomen besmetting met hepatitis B en tetanus (bij fysieke verwondingen)
een anticonceptiepil binnen 5 dagen voorkomt een ongewenste zwangerschap.
'Specifieke spoedzorg voor verkrachtingsslachtoffers is erg zeldzaam of compleet afwezig in de landen waar wij werken,' zegt Thilde Knudsen, medisch adviseur van Artsen zonder Grenzen en gespecialiseerd in vrouwengezondheidszorg.
'Niets kan wegwissen wat er gebeurd is: de psychologische littekens gaan nooit meer weg. Maar met het juiste pakket aan tijdige medische zorg, in combinatie met trauma-, sociale en juridische hulp, kun je de schade beperken en het slachtoffer helpen haar leven weer op te pakken.' 
Eén van de problemen, schrijft Artsen zonder Grenzen in het rapport, is dat mensen niet – op tijd – om medische hulp durven te vragen. Daarom moet medische zorg voor slachtoffers van seksueel geweld zoveel mogelijk in de normale zorg worden geïntegreerd zodat slachtoffers zo anoniem mogelijk kunnen blijven. Daarnaast moet ter plaatse een proactieve, grootse voorlichtingscampagne worden gevoerd om taboes te doorbreken en iedereen te laten weten dat slachtoffers medische hulp kunnen krijgen.
'Het rapport komt voort uit een dringende behoefte onze ervaringen te delen met gezondheidswerkers en hulporganisaties over de hele wereld, opdat er meer hulp komt voor slachtoffers van seksueel geweld,' verklaart Meinie Nicolai. 'Het rapport komt ook voort uit enorme woede. Elke dag vertellen mensen de meest hartverscheurende verhalen over gruwelijke mishandeling aan onze teams.
Het is onze plicht ons hierover uit te spreken.
Er is geen excuus voor seksuele mishandeling, hoe vaak het ook voorkomt in de gebieden waar wij werken.'
Lees het rapport
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