Symposium des Conférences Episcopales d'Afrique et de Madagascar
Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
SECAM AND THE USCCB ESTABISHING CLOSER INSTITUTIONALISED RELATIONSHIP
May 3-10, 2011
In an effort to further depeen the relationship between the Church in Africa and that of the Church in the United States of America a delegation headed by the President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madgascar
(SECAM), His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, recently paid a pastoral visit
to the US.
During the visit the delegation from SECAM and representatives of the US Conference
of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) held discusssions in Washington DC on a number
of issues pertaining to the development or evangelising mission of the Church
in the US and Africa.
The visit also served as a door opener for future dialogue between USCCB andSECAM
as the two bodies shared ideas and expertise in various fields. The areas
include:
1) Promoting Evangelisation e.g. through the Biblical Apostolate, Seminary
formation, migrant priests and religious.
2) Good Governance- Justice, peace and reconcilation, capacity building particularly
for the laity on the Social Teaching of the Church in Catholic universities
3) Strengthening Communications on the continent through the establishment
of a News Agency for the Church in Africa and the production of documentary
film on the Catholic Church’s development activities on the continental
level.
4) Self- Reliance projects for supporting the work of SECAM, business partnership
opportunities such as in the insurance industry, the development and management
of health service facilities modeled on the experiences of various Church
affiliated institutions in the health business in the US.
The two sides also addressed matters related to the socio-political situation
in some African countries such as:
a) Post-Referendum Sudan and how SECAM and the USCCB could help the Church
there to face the challenges confronting that country.
b) Côte d’Ivoire: The USCCB and SECAM would work together in carrying
out peace-building and reconciliation activities as well as the resettlement
of refugees following the atrocities that have been carried out
as a result of the political crisisin that country.
During the visit the SECAM delegation had separate meetings with officials
of some of the offices and organisations under the USCCB.
In discussions with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Baltimore, emphasise
was placed on the need for CRS to work closely with the bishops in their areas
of operations in Africa. Most Rev. Charles G. Palmer-Buckle, Treasurer of
SECAM and Archbishop of Accra, Ghana made a presentation on: “The Church
in Africa in
2025.”
At a meeting on the USCCB Solidarity Fund for Africa, Most Rev. H. Riccard,
Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Church in Africa and member of the Committee
on International Justice and Peace, who led the USCCB team stressed that the
Fund was set up about five years ago to support pastoral efforts of the Bishops
in Africa. A decision, he said, would be taken in June of this year by the
USCCB on whether to continue with that programme or not. So far the USCCB
has allocated more than seven million US dollars, through this Fund, in support
of 300 pastoral projects in Africa.
On issues relating to some international policies which militate against the
development of Africa, like trade imbalances, climate change, and economic
conditions the USCCB promised to play an advocacy role particularly with the
US Government to address these issues in a more objective manner.
The programme in the US was coordinated by Mr. Patrick Markey, Executive Director
of the USCCB National Collections Office.
Other members of the SECAM delegation (who provided technical assistance to
the two bishops) were:
1) Rev. Fr. François-Xavier Damiba, Secretary General of SECAM.
2) Rev. Fr. Martinho Maulano Second Deputy Secretary General in Charge of
Justice, Peace and Development Department.
3) Rev. Fr. Moise A. Adekambi, Director of the Biblical Apostolate Office.
4) Benedict B. Assorow, Director of Communications.
From:
The Communications Office of SECAM, Accra, Ghana.
