AFRICA/GABON - Church organizes procession against ritual crimes

Libreville (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church is organizing in all the dioceses of Gabon on 11 May a procession to sensitize the population and authorities on the so called criminal rituals. This is what the Bishops of Gabon decided at the end of the extraordinary session of their Assembly which was held from May 2 to 3.
The ritual crimes have caused concern and social unrest in the Country. We are talking about ritual practices committed by witchcraft followers, which consists of drawing blood and some organs (such as eyes, ears, brain ..) from the sacrificial victims, who are often young people and children, to be used in "magic" rituals in the belief of being able to obtain economic benefits.
According to the latest report from the Association de Lutte Contre les Crimes Rituels (ALCR), which is referred to only 4 provinces (out of 9) 34 cases of ritual crimes in 2010, 62 in 2011 were reported. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 07/05/2013)