Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - “It is already one year since the devastation, which was sparked off by post election violence, happened. Our brothers and sisters in internally displaced camps are still groaning under the suffering caused by tribalism, ravages, conflict and violence. The culprits of these crimes are still walking free, trying to forget the sin and crimes they planned and committed,” writes Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi and Apostolic Administrator of Muranga, in his Lenten Message 2009.
In January-February of 2008, the violence sparked by the presidential elections had provoked hundreds of deaths and the flight of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, some of whom continue living in the refugee camps.
Kenya is still deeply effected by the wounds left behind; which is why Cardinal Njue affirms: “This Lenten season of year 2009 is suggesting to each one of us these basic questions: Am I looking at my fellow Kenyan as my brother and sister? Am I ready to seek apology and forgiveness where I went wrong? Am I advancing in my faithfulness to Christ in my desire for holiness; in a generous apostolate of reconciliation in my daily life; in my ordinary work and among my colleagues? Each one of us, silently, should answer these questions and we will realise that we need a fundamental change in our way of living and approaching situations. Kenyans have adopted the strange culture of arguing in self-defence even when their conscience is insisting that they are in the wrong. The vice of hiding evil under the pretext of my political enemies is not the right direction to take.”
Among the evils the country is facing are corruption and hunger, result of the cereal grain speculation (see Fides 13/1/2009). Cardinal Njue points out that “he actions of some people among us like the mishandling of national resources including maize and fuel...are signs that darkness heavily surrounds us.”
“Faced with the disturbing scenario of hunger, crime, accidents, violence, and corruption, just to mention a few, Catholics in Kenya should not remain indifferent. That is why I urge you to plead to God for forgiveness of our sins. We know well that the sins of Christians have contributed to mar the unblemished face of the Local Church; but trusting in the merciful love of God, who keeps no account of evil when there is repentance, we can confidently set forth on our journey of healing once more. God’s love is clearly revealed where sinful and ungrateful person is readmitted to full communion with Jesus.”
Conversion should in turn bring about a culture of peace, at the service of all Kenyans: “I call upon you all to build a culture of forgiveness and peace within your hearts, as individuals, families and communities, and then we shall be able to build peace in our nation. This is the big call I want to make to you all in order to build a culture of peace, security and tolerance among us.”
“There must be a commitment to peace, education and catechesis aimed at demilitarising the minds of the people, replacing a language of violence with a language of forgiveness and peace, eliminating acts of violence and replacing them with acts of peace, thus building a permanent culture of peace among us all. As a responsible community we should develop a sincere will to fight corruption and avoid any short cuts to acquiring wealth,” the message concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 27/2/2009)
