Since the establishment of the Federal Government last year, Somalia and
particularly the nation’s capital of Mogadishu, has made historic steps forward
in terms of peace, stability and economic development. While no one denies that
Somalia still has a long way to go, and that the present hard earned peace is
still very fragile, it must be said that the current situation is more hopeful
than any period since the start of the civil war in 1991.
Given this situation, and that there is an official and somewhat stable
government authority to deal with, the Catholic Church seeks to officially
reestablish her presence in Somalia, and particularly in Mogadishu. To this
end, H.E. Msg. Giorgio Bertin OFM, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese
of Mogadishu, has approached the Somali government, explaining the Church’s
desires.
In a letter to the Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs, Msg. Bertin
expresses in point form a number of requests for the Church in Somalia. The
letter mentions how the Church has been present in Somalia for the past 22
years of turmoil, mainly through humanitarian projects worked often in
conjunction with local Somali partners; as well as through public interventions
of the Pope on the situation in Somalia.
Among the requests the letter makes, the desire for a ‘physical and
permanent presence’ comes to the fore. This presence will be expressed in the
reopening of a place of worship for Christians, particularly among the
expatriate community, as well as an office for CARITAS Somalia, the Church’s
humanitarian branch.
Among other things, the letter makes reference to Church property and
buildings that have been destroyed and, in many cases, have been inhabited by
displaced persons. The letter also mentions the possibility of a visit by the
Papal Nuncio which could lead to obtaining full diplomatic ties between the
Holy See and the Federal Republic of Somalia.
As such, there remains much to pray for. The acceptance of these points by
the Somali government would be a huge step forward for the Catholic Church in
Somalia, who for the present is severely hampered in her mission of peace and
justice among the afflicted peoples of Somalia.
Our Lady of Africa, pray for Somalia and for the
Church in this land. Amen.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 54: And (then unbelievers) plotted and planned and Allah too planned; and the best of ‘maakereen’ (planners) is Allah
ReplyDeleteJer 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Our Lord will bless the Church in Somalia and He will look after the Church's interests
DeleteSadly,The Quran gives it's followers the excuse to be at their most vicious,murderous,inhuman extreme in regard to non-Muslims and children.They use it as an excuse to be not only inhuman,but lacking in the least respect for virtue and human decency. It is sad that the most 'devout' Muslims are the 'extremists', like ISIS, Boko Haram and Al Qaeda. The Sunni and Shi'a cannot even live side by side with each other, much less with anyone else,if they have authority.
ReplyDeleteWell it is true that many extremist Islamic groups have little regard for human rights, it cannot be said to apply to all Muslims. The extremists, fortunately, are not representatives of Islam as a whole. But it is a shame that more mainstream and moderate Muslims do not speak out more against their more fanatical brethren.
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