CRS Africa Adviser on Justice and Peace building Mr. John Katunga has urged the Church to
play its due role in the society without excluding its role in Politics.
Addressing
the participants of Justice and Peace workshop held in Nairobi last week Mr.
Katunga said that elections in Africa have become dangerous to security and
stability in many countries and their peaceful and credible management is
therefore of utmost importance. “Elections in Africa have in most cases been
characterized by disputes, conflicts, and ugly incidences of violence and
AMECEA countries have not been spared,” he said.
Katunga
explained that the whole Church, in all her being and acting; when she
proclaims, when she celebrates, when she performs works of charity is engaged
in promoting integral human development and the promotion of good governance
through a free and fair electoral process is one of the guarantees for integral
human development.
“By
promoting integral human development, we ensure that the institutions, systems
and processes are responsive to people fundamentals needs as per the social
contract embodied in the constitution.”
He further
said that responsive, transparent and accountable institutions, systems and
processes create greater legitimacy for the leaders and sense of shared
responsibilities and elections are one of those opportunities where people
influence these institutions by selecting their animators.
Katunga said
that by the use of the pastoral cycle which give the theological reflection in
the choice for action and guided by the Catholic Social Teachings, the Church,
with all her human and physical assets, is better positioned than any other
member of civil society to play the powerful role of the mobilization for
social change.
“The Church
has also the capacity to moralize the public sphere so that, the dignity of the
human person is preserve, lives are saved, the marginalized are counted, and
overall common good is preserved for now and the future generations. Failing to
do it could be tantamount to sinning by omission,” he said.
“As
Catholics, we should be guided more by our moral convictions than by our
attachment to a political party or interest group. When necessary, our
participation should help transform the party to which we belong; we should not
let the party transform us in such a way that we neglect or deny fundamental
moral truths,” Katunga advised adding that “We are called to bring together our
principles and our political choices, our values and our votes, to help build a
better world.”
Responding
to the question on how then can the voice of the Church be enhanced in an
election Process; Mr. Katunga listed the following principles which are crucial
and must be taken into consideration: These include prayer which is at the top
of list; followed by early preparation before the elections. This is followed
by the principle of non-partisanship; the Church should live to its values; not
act as another opposition party.
Another
principle, according to Mr. Katunga is that of engaging extensive civic
education to counter negative perceptions that often characterize electoral
processes. The Church must also involve other faith based organizations and
civic society organizations.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online
News Reporter
