'For Congo's Sake, I Will Not Be Silent'

by Bishops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

1. Gathered in Kinshasa at the ordinary meeting of the Permanent Committee of the National Bishops' Conference of the Congo (CENCO) from 9 to 14 February 2004, we, Archbishops and Bishops, with the future of the Congolese People at stake, feel authorized to take this opportunity of ecclesial communion to acknowledge the progress made by the transition of our Country and by the hopes it inspires, but also to alert public opinion to the "grey areas". Just as we rejoice in the cessation of the hostilities that have devastated our Country and unfortunately sacrificed countless human lives, we deplore the delays and political calculations that are undermining this transition.

On the road to the reunification of the Country

2. Six months after the beginning of the transition, there are noticeable signs of hope. Despite certain hotbeds of tension that continue to sow terror and death among the civil populations, the peace process is making real headway.

3. Although the reunification of the Country is still unsteady, it is increasingly becoming a reality. Trade has been re-established. Air, road, railway and river traffic are now gradually beginning to link the various corners of the Country formerly cut off because of the war. This facilitates the movement of goods and of people as well as trade. The circulation of a single currency and the broadcasting of radio and television stations and telephone exchanges on a national scale are also encouraging signs of the reunification of the Country which hearten the People.

4. Official political dialogue seems to be marked by the logic of reconciliation. This shows that the political class is becoming more and more aware that the oath of violence cannot lead to the prosperity of our People nor to true democracy. Long lost, peace is increasingly considered to be an indispensable good.

5. Judicial authority is being reorganized in the attempt to regain its autonomy. As for the Transition Government and the Parliament's two chambers, they are ready, in spite of all, to begin working.

6. We are also delighted to note that the Congo is gradually recovering its place on the international scene. The recovery announced or already effective in certain sectors of bilateral cooperation is an expression of gratitude, national and international, for the rebirth of our Nation.

'Grey areas' and disturbing signs

7. Unfortunately, these achievements are accompanied by other disturbing signs that cannot leave us indifferent. Keeping in mind the situation, these signs show that unremitting efforts must be made.

During this post-war period, centrifugal and centripetal forces clash against the background of an illusory political quiet. While its actions have achieved a certain amount of good for our People, the new political order is recording disturbing failures, linked to a series of situations on both the national and international scale. While preparing to analyze them in a future document, we, the members of the Permanent Committee of the National Bishops' Conference of the Congo, conscious of our mission, have the prophetic duty to express our concern about the way the transition is evolving. We cannot keep silent about it (cf. Jer 4:19)!

8. After so many years of war and lengthy political negotiation, the People hoped that the new political order, whose unwieldy and dispersive character we pointed out from the start,¹ would blaze the path to real democracy, capable of leading them to prosperity and development. Six months after the beginning of the transition, the People are feeling disillusioned. They note that their worries differ greatly from the interests of their leaders, who impose burdens upon them that they do not deserve. Their future risks being mortgaged.

Relegated to the lowest position in the struggle for supremacy of the political class, the People are paying for the rivalry among political families who are dividing among themselves the "cake" of power.

Dangerous social imbalance exploits the local population

9. Our People's tragic situation no longer needs to be described in detail. We are grieved to note that instead of working for social promotion, the leaders of our Country are granting themselves social privileges that openly express their general indifference to the well-being of the majority of the population.

10. In addition to multiplying their lucrative, advantageous missions, they lead a lifestyle that is out of keeping with the precariousness of our national finances. Having done nothing counter the corruption that pollutes all the services in our society, they are the only ones to benefit from the quiet post­war period. This imbalance has stirred up tangible social unrest in all the sectors of the population, and the Government does not seem to pay due attention to its gravity.

11. In the social sphere, it is painful to observe that the loudly-heralded reforms are insignificant and have yet be implemented. Instead, they are blatant political promises exploited for electoral purposes.

12. From the outset, the transition has revealed the great incompetence of shortcomings of some of those who came to power on the wave of consensus. In some institutions too much hesitation and uncertainty could risk destabilizing the State.

13. These limitations are prejudicial to the smooth functioning of the Country and reveal an amateur approach to the management power that risks costing the Republic dearly. Very often, the exercise of roles is confused with the political campaign.

Sluggishness and deliberate prolonging of the transition

14. Although the transition began six months ago, we note a visible slowness that is tending to extend it unduly. In­deed, we deplore the failure to present and pass organic laws to authorize and regulate the functioning of the Institutions supporting the transition.² Some people do not hesitate to claim that it is the deliberate intention of political lead­ers to draw out the transition so as to delay the elections.

15. We denounce this attitude and reaffirm our hope that the elections will take place with strict respect for the timing established by the overall and inclusive Agreement. Is it really necessary to recall that our People are weary of switching from transition to transition? Consequently, the multiple maneuvers to hinder the process that has been started are not admissible.

Trivialization of life and criminal negligence

16. Conscious of the sacred and inviolable character of life,³ we feel indignant at the many rail, air, river and road accidents which, as in 1996,⁴ have recently cast a pall over the Congolese Nation. Signs of the times, these accidents should induce us to make an examination of conscience. They reveal the criminal negligence and irresponsibility that have taken root in the conscience of some of our compatriots.

17. We also denounce the levity with which the leaders announced and dealt with these accidents. Human life is of inestimable value. "The Lord said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground"' (Gn 4:10). Human death is not to be considered as something different. It is astonishing that the disappearance of so many people has aroused so little indignation. One might have expected a national day of mourning to be declared.

18. This indifference is indicative of a crisis in the sense of the sacredness and inviolability of human life. Another indication of this is the fact that people tend to list the problem of security as an optional duty of the State, while the population is left to the mercy of highway robbers, as seen on the national highway M 1 to Kinshasa and elsewhere.

Conflict between leaders endangers the transition

19. Conflicts between the State's highly-placed institutions or political figures are a troubling sign that pointlessly weakens the transition. We note, in fact, that the transition leaders have by no means rid themselves of their aggressive reactions. Despite the language of reconciliation in their public speeches, they stir conflicts that distract the citizens' attention from the most important problems of the Country in this period. They blame one another and, it seems, enjoy spending their energy in quarrels that have nothing whatsoever to do with the aims of the transition.

Antagonism of this kind spawns pretexts to torpedo the transition, or at least to draw it out it by increasing procrastination and blackmail that have nothing whatsoever to do with the common good. "He who loves transgression loves strife" (Prv 17:19).

20. While the reunification of the Country has given rise to a wave of enthusiasm among our People, certain individuals do not yet seem to have realized that it must be effective. Some military leaders oppose it with undue resistance, displaying an aggressive conduct that seriously jeopardizes the process of national reconciliation. Likewise, some senior officials of the Territorial Army in formerly occupied provinces, blatantly disobedient to the hierarchy, confiscate income from the public revenue department for the benefit of their former component, thus anarchically paralyzing the functioning of the State. Elsewhere, the embezzlement of public funds is increasing with complete impunity, in order to enrich the funds of former political members.

21. This ambiguous conduct, contrary to the spirit of national reconciliation, delays the re-establishment of State Authority throughout the Country and shows the lack of loyalty of certain leaders of the new political order.

22. Furthermore, such behavior encourages the continuing embezzlement of our Country's riches, and induces one to suspect the existence of secret agendas.

The Church at the service of the Congo in transition

23. The shortcomings of the transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in no way divert us from our desire to put ourselves at the service of the Congolese Nation. Far from it! While inviting the political class and our People to make an extra effort to save the Nation,⁵ standing firm in faith (cf. I Pt 5:9), we point out two priorities that we believe should be enforced during this period of the transition.

24. In solidarity with the aspirations of the People, we, the Pastors of the Catholic Church, forcefully reaffirm our commitment to contribute to the preparation for the elections which must sanction the end of this transition, the last, we hope, in the history of our Country.

Therefore, faithful to our evangelizing mission (cf. Mt 28:19), we recommend helping the Nation by preparing the People for the elections through a responsible and engaging civic education in our Dioceses, in accordance with a pastoral programme drawn up for this purpose. We maintain that the elections must take place within the time defined by the overall and inclusive Agreement. To that end, all its measures must be followed. Upon this depends the life of the entire Nation.

25. Democracy in the Democratic Re­public of the Congo passes through a respect for rights and reconciliation. In this perspective, during this 50th anniversary of the opening of the preparatory year at the University of Lovanium, we reassert our desire that this institution, placed under State control in 1971, as well as other institutes of higher education, be returned to the Catholic Church. We do not consider the handing back of this institution a special favor, but a matter of right.

After lengthy negotiations with previous Governments, this return must be concluded during the transition to en­able us to serve Congolese youth better, in accordance with an agreement that engages the State to assume its proper share of the responsibilities. Likewise, the Church calls on the same grounds for the return of other properties confiscated, and in particular, the Catholic television channel "Telestar".

Special exhortation to our brother and sister politicians

26. The transition is at stake, a golden opportunity that cannot be thrown away. The consensus that resulted from the inter-Congolese dialogue is an important achievement that proves your ability to outdo yourselves. The post­war period is a trial that must lead the Democratic Republic of the Congo to democracy.

27. To awaken consciences, we remind you that love for the Nation must come before everything else. Do not exhaust the People's patience and avoid all behavior that might compromise the achievements won at the price of the long, drawn-out negotiations. Peace is a value of the Kingdom of Heaven (cf. Mt 5:9). It must be protected and nurtured.

28. Put the People's concerns at the heart of your interests and go down in history by making responsible acts. Be reconciled and show yourselves worthy of the trust the People have placed in you. Consequently, we urge you not to claim privileges in contrast to our Country's precarious plight.

On the one hand, we ask you to fight effectively against the corruption that deprives our State of so many of the means it needs to assume its responsibilities in society.

On the other, it would be useful to engage in a sincere and honest social dialogue to assuage the uneasiness that heightens the People's dissatisfaction, watching to see that each citizen enjoys his rights and discharges his duties.

Conclusion

Brothers and Sisters,

29. The Congo's future is not fated to be a tragedy. In this regard, the transition must give rise to hope. Real political determination is essential to speed it up. We, your Pastors, urge you once again to take our future in hand to lead the Congo to democracy. Let us not slacken, and let us always be watchful (cf. I Pt 5:8-9). Let us hasten the coming of the kingdom of peace and justice, truth and love in our Country. Nothing is impossible for the Lord (cf. Lk 1:37).

30. We implore the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Congo, for the success of the transition in our Country.

Notes

¹Cf. CENCO: "I have seen the affliction of my people" (Ex 3:7). It's much too much! Message of the Permanent Committee of Bishops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Catholic faithful and people of good will, Editions du Secretariat General, 2003, n. 8.

²These are: the Independent Electoral Commission, National Observer of Human Rights, the High Authority of the Media, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Ethics and the Fight against Corruption.

³Cf. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, Encyclical Letter on the value and inviolability of human life, 1995, n. 2.

⁴Cf. Bishops' Conference of Zaire (CEZ). Respectons la vie et la personne humaine, Message from the Bishops of Zaire to Catholics and people of good will, Editions du Secretariat General de la CEZ, 1996, n. 2.

⁵Cf. CEZ, Sauvons la nation. Declaration and Message of the Bishops' Conference of Zaire to the Sovereign National Conference and on other occasions, to support the democratization process as well as justice, peace and national unity. Editions du Secretariat General de la CEZ, 1997.

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