AFRICA/IVORY COAST - The extraordinary Congress of the Ivorian clergy addresses the economic question of priests

Yamoussoukro (Agenzia Fides) - The priesthood lived yesterday is not the same today. Times have changed a lot and the demands are increasing. The serious economic crises experienced by African countries make the financial and material situation of local priests precarious. Not being dependent workers, they live on the charity of the faithful, who in turn become poorer and poorer.
Father Donald Zagore, priest of the Society for African Missions (SMA), spoke on the extraordinary Congress of the Ivorian clergy which began on July 7 and will end on Sunday 11 in Yamoussoukro. "The debate underway in the political capital of the country - the theologian specifies to Fides - was set up to address the problem of the economic and material conditions of Ivorian priests. It is a huge problem that does not only concern the Church in Ivory Coast, but also of all of Africa".
The priest tells of a chain of poverty that is gaining more and more strength in the face of which we must react strongly.
"Today the church in Ivory Coast is working on a national equalization program to allow all priests in the country to have a salary that would avoid the great differences between those who live in an evident state of precariousness and those in unbridled luxury, as well as promote and foster a spirit of solidarity among the various dioceses". "This is a commendable initiative to welcome and encourage. However, it will be necessary to go further to lay the foundations for a profound reflection on priestly theology in the economic and political context of Africa today", concludes Zagore. (DZ/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 9/7/2021)

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