Catholic World News News Feature

Rwanda Priests Sentenced To Death In Genocide Trial April 20, 1998

KIGALI, Rwanda (CWNews.com) - Two Catholic priests were sentenced to death last week for taking part in the murder of 2,000 people during the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, according to state-run Radio Rwanda on Saturday.

Father Jean Francois Kayiranga and Edouard Nkurikiye were convicted last Thursday of luring ethnic Tutsis into their church, only to have militant Hutus bulldoze the building with the people inside. Other priests, nuns, and church workers have been accused of collaborating with the Hutu-led government in carrying out the massacres. The killings stopped when Tutsi rebels ousted the government.

Pope John Paul II has said that all Catholics who participated in the genocide should face the consequences of their actions, but added that the Church Herself should not be held responsible for those who violated the Church's teachings.

Since 1994, Rwanda has convicted more than 300 people on genocide charges. About 100 have been sentenced to death and more than 100 have received life sentences. None of the executions have been carried out.