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| AMECEA Executive Board Members during their meeting in Nairobi |
In my
recent post "Peace on Trial", referring to the terrorists attack
that took place on 21st September 2013 at the Westgate Mall of Nairobi, I
indicated that this is not purely a reserve of one country but is seen to be
quickly cutting across the region. This fact has been demonstrated by the
AMECEA leadership that held a meeting in Nairobi on 8th & 9th October 2013.
The Executive Board did not lose a chance not only reassure the Church and the
people of Kenya the region's accompaniment during this time of loss but also to
address the whole issue of insecurity.
The
AMECEA Board noted with concern that insecurity observable across the frontiers
epitomized in boarder attacks and terrorists activities is a worrying trend.
This is doing a great harm not just to the families who are directly affected
but also to the entire community. The price is too much to pay where lives and
property are repeatedly lost. In this environment, development is obscured and
hence our efforts to reduce poverty and improve the lives of our people are
drastically frustrated. More so, this is a total disrespect to human dignity
that must be protected and upheld at all time as is well enshrined in the
Social Doctrine of the Church.
The
leaders of the Church in the region committed themselves to prayer for peace
while mobilizing the relevant Departments of the Church like Justice and Peace
at all levels, to design ways of addressing this insecurity which is a great
menace to peace in the region. This thinking is coming at a time when the
AMECEA Bishops are preparing to hold their 18th Plenary Assembly in July 2014
in Malawi. Indications are that the issue at hand
will get
some space in this very important forum.
It is
indeed very encouraging to feel the support of the region and the warmth of the
bigger family of God in the face of these challenges. This solidarity of/with
the Church leaves the Church of AMECEA stronger than before and it is something
to be hailed and encouraged. Having said that, it is also important to remind
everybody of the role each one of us is to play in all this and one such role
is to pray.
Archangels,
Gabriel, Michael and Raphael! Protect us!
Fr. Jude
WAWERU
AMECEA
Justice and Peace Coordinator
