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In Central African Republic, government breakdown leaves Church as only viable institution

April 08, 2014

The Catholic Church is the only institution still functioning in the Central African Republic, Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala, Cameroon has said.

“The state no longer exists,” said Archbishop Kleda, the president of the bishops’ conference of Cameroon, in a report on the chaos that he encountered on a visit to the Central African Republic. He said that the continued bloodshed in the troubled African country is not a religious war but rather “a way of predation.” The predation was carried out first by the Muslim Seleka rebls, and now by the Balaka milita, primarily composed of Christians, he said. But the archbishop said of the militia: “I do not think they are devout Christians, since they were amulets to protect themselves from bullets.”

 


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  • Posted by: jacquebquique5708 - Apr. 09, 2014 10:42 AM ET USA

    One cannot be naïve about events in the Cen Afr Rep. This is part of a world wide Islamic movement. To say otherwise is naïve. What would happen to the country if a Christian militia did not arise. A St. Christopher medal is an "amulet". The Church wants to confront a "violent" religion with a "kiss of piece". It did not work in the Middle Ages and it will not work today.