AFRICA-EUROPE FAITH AND JUSTICE NETWORK
RESEAU FOI ET JUSTICE AFRIQUE-EUROPE

174, rue Joseph II
B-1000 Bruxelles - Belgique
Tel. 32-2 234 6810 Fax 32-2 231 1413
aefjn@aefjn.org http://www.aefjn.org

UGANDA ANTENNA

FAITH AND JUSTICE NEWSLETTER
Issue no 18 - March 2004

 

"Peace is like the planting of a giant tree that must set deep roots in the soil of our lives and which we must diligently cultivate to produce much fruit. It is the beginning of a season of favour that must never be allowed to end".
(Pastoral letter of the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference 04/01/22)

Resolutions and Conclusions emerging from the Workshop
at Namugongo (19-22/01/2004):

The "Open Space" Method allowed the real issues and concerns of the Group to emerge in such a way that the process was as free of conscious or unconscious manipulation as possible.
It therefore came as a surprise to many that the initial concerns of the Participants lay in the desire for:

1. quality living and justice within our Religious Communities. Only when our own house is in order can we reach out in support of the wider social context.
2. some of the resolutions suggested by the Participants impact on the agenda of both JPIC and ARU. Both Groups are invited to respond to these resolutions.

Six distinct and major Issues/Concerns were distilled from all those that emerged throughout the Workshop. It became clear that balance was reflected in that 3 of the Issues/Concerns were directed towards internal renewal of the life in the Communities while 3 were directed towards an outreach to the wider social context.

The Six Issues/Concerns
1. Formation: that JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) be an integral part of initial and ongoing religious formation.
2. Leadership: that there ought to be a renewal of leadership styles at all levels: moving from authoritarian to collaborative approach to leadership.
3. Communication: that Communities move to open discussion, dialogue, participation and transparency.
4. Solidarity: that Religious Communities ought to move closer to the disadvantaged in order to share resources and empower them.
5. Networking: that Congregations ought to strive towards joint activities so as to better use resources and mutually strengthen their outreach.
6. Education: towards securing rights, influence government policy and be more creative in their mission.

"To become" one of the least and "to receive" the little ones: these are two aspects of a single teaching which the Lord repeats to his disciples in our time. Only the one who makes himself one of the "least" is able to receive with love the "least" of our brothers and sisters.
(Pope John Paul II in his Lenten Message 2004)

ACTIVISTS IN ACTION


1) Lived experience of people: what is happening, fears, worries, anger, hopes, etc…
2) Analysis: social, economic, political, cultural, religious,…root causes of a situation, and consequences.
3) Reflection in the light of
- Scriptures,
- Social Teaching of the Church (STC)
- Our culture and Tradition
4) Take SMART action (Sustainable, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-framed): organizing and planning for action (individual, community).
5) Evaluation (SWOT):
Strengths, Weaknesses/challenges, (depending on ourselves)
Opportunities, Threats (outside factors)

CARITAS WEEK (March 28th-April 4th)


At the occasion of Lent, NACAU (National Caritas Association of Uganda) is organising a week of action in favour of children, to answer the call of Pope John Paul II. They invite the well-wishers to contribute money or goods in favour of the little ones. Please offer your contribution to Nsambya Uganda Catholic Secretariat. Traditionally Palm Sunday (April 4th) is Caritas Day in Uganda.
This year NACAU target

1) Nsambya Babies Home (March 28th);
2) Primary schools in Katwe (Kisenyi Parish) (March 31st);
3) Luzira Prison Women's wing (April 4th).

JPIC-ARU COMMISSION. Reminder
1) Second module of TOT (Training Of Trainers) for advocacy will be held at Namugongo Spiritual Training Centre on May 24-27 (arrival 23rd, departure 28th). The focus will be on STC (the Social Teaching of the Church). All who attended the first module in January are expected.
2) Meeting of JPIC-ARU Commission on May 28th, at ARU Secretariat, at 9.30 a.m..


AEFJN-FORUM FOR ACTION.

We have been mostly concerned with training for advocacy. We hope that later on we shall be able to join the effort of various international lobbying groups to influence the trade policies of the Great Powers and the Trans National Corporations which still defend liberalisation of trade, although this policy increases poverty in Africa, the opposite of the United Nations "Millennium Development Goals". The campaigns going on these days in various NGO's and CSO's at international level concern the following: an Arms Trade Treaty, Debt release for Highly Indebted Countries, Accessibility to essential Medicines (especially ARV for HIV/AIDS patients), Just price for a producer-centred Agricultural Policy, Water for All (a right, not a commodity), World Social Forum (as at Mumbai in January 2004), Regional Economic Partnership Agreement in Africa. Unless our Politicians are accountable to their constituency, many will continue profiting from the ignorance of people, and Peace will remain elusive.