OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - The bishop of Mendi urges everyone to observe together the first International Day against sorcery accusation violence

Saturday, 8 August 2020

Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) - "Those who torture and kill women accused of sorcery are clearly guilty of the crime they are reporting", said Mgr. Donald Lippert, Bishop of Mendi, on recent episodes of violence against women accused of sanguma or sorcery (see Fides, 28/7/2020).
A note sent to Agenzia Fides shows that the alarm against domestic violence and all forms of violence continues to increase in the Country. According to what was declared by Sister Lorena Jenal, a missionary in the diocese of Mendi, three women were tortured and burned on Easter Sunday after being accused of the death of an elderly man who for many years suffered from asthma and kidney failure. Recently, six other women in the province have been charged with sorcery. To these episodes of torture and abuse, which resulted in death, is added that of a young woman last month.
By promoting a campaign against SAV in PNG on social media, Bishop Lippert denounced the serious phenomenon that continues to occur and urged the Church, together with all people of good will, to face it and eradicate it once and for all from society.
Mgr. Lippert concluded his speech by inviting everyone to celebrate the first international day against against sorcery accusation violence to be held on August 10. "Let us all observe it together, pray together and act to stop the violence related to SAV in PNG". (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 8/8/2020)


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