SA Bishops discuss Lesotho, racism, beatification and Year of Mercy

Bishops of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) have recently met for their bi-annual plenary assembly. The Bishops met at the Mariannhill Retreat Centre at a complex dubbed the "valley of the monks" located in Kwazulu natal.

During the bi-annual plenary, which started on 11 August, Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town was re-elected for a second term as President of the Conference while Bishops Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha and Bishop Valentine of Gaborone (Botswana) were elected vice-presidents. Sr. Hermenegild Makoro was also re-appointed for a second term as Secretary General.

The Bishops’ plenary took time to listen to the tumultuous political events in Lesotho.  A delegation of three Lesotho bishops, namely, Archbishop Gerard Lerotholi, OMI of the capital city, Maseru; Bishop Augustinus Bane, OMI of Leribe and Bishop John Joale Tlhomola, SCP of Mohale’s Hoek outlined the political situation of Lesotho to the Southern African Bishops. The plenary learnt with shock of death threats directed at the Archbishop of Maseru who is also president of the Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Gerard Lerotholi. In the end, the Bishops of the SACBC resolved to issue a statement and pay a solidarity visit to Lesotho in the near future. (The pastoral solidarity statement has since been issued and signed by Archbishop Stephen Brislin).

Other challenges the plenary deliberated upon included the ongoing problem of racism in South Africa and the difficulties of racial integration. A sociological presentation made by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation for Non Racialism revealed to the Bishops the stark realities of perennial racial tendencies among South Africans.

The “rainbow” nation is increasingly becoming illusory, the Bishops heard.  Professor Nick Rowe of St Augustine’s College gave a theological analysis and a “reconciliation model” towards proper and lasting racial integration.

Later, the Bishops’ plenary was formally presented with the preparations for the Beatification of South Africa’s first martyr, Benedict Daswa. Daswa will be beatified on 13 September in South Africa.  In response, the Bishops acknowledged the pending beatification as the fruit of almost two centuries of evangelisation.  They also saw this as a great opportunity for Catechesis and a chance for a much more robust stand against witchcraft beliefs and reaffirmation of the noble vocation and mission of the family especially with regard to the role of husbands and fathers.

The Southern African Bishops also urged their representatives to the October Synod on the Family to take a stand that would reflect a Church of “mercy” and of virtue, one that stands in the middle –“not too harsh but not too relative either.” Southern Africa’s representatives to the Vatican Synod on the Family are the president, Archbishop Brislin and Bishop Zolile Mpambani SCJ who is the SACBC Bishop-in-charge for the family ministry.

Lastly, the Bishops resolved that the “Year of Mercy,” declared by Pope Francis and beginning on the 8th December, will be characterised by each bishop writing a pastoral letter on the topic. It is hoped that these writings will eventually develop into a concrete theology of mercy for the Southern African region.  A team of priests, both religious and diocesans, will form teams to preach missions on the theme of mercy.

(Father S’milo Mngadi,  Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference)

e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va