Many of Congo’s Catholics fall prey to superstition, says leading bishop

September 16, 2014

The president of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo said that many of the nation’s Catholics still adhere to pagan superstitions.

The large Central African nation of 77 million is 53% Catholic.

“Our Church expresses its faith with great vitality as it continues to grow, but we the bishops wish to help the faith take ever deeper root,” Bishop Nicolas Diomo of Tshumbe told the Fides news agency. “We note a certain superficiality among our faithful who tend at times to return to magical practices, as if the Christian faith still needs to deepen its roots.”

“This is true even among intellectuals and politicians,” he added. “This is why our activity tends towards in-depth evangelization … We recognize a major problem due to the persistence of pagan beliefs, the tragedy of children accused of witchery and banished by their families.”

 

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Further information:

• “A lively Church but the faith needs to be deepened” says President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (Fides)