{"id":11310,"date":"2015-08-13T12:02:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T12:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/in-burundis-crisis-the-church-stands-with-the-people-71151\/"},"modified":"2015-08-13T12:02:00","modified_gmt":"2015-08-13T12:02:00","slug":"in-burundis-crisis-the-church-stands-with-the-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/08\/in-burundis-crisis-the-church-stands-with-the-people\/","title":{"rendered":"In Burundi’s crisis, the Church stands with the people"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Bujumbura, Burundi, Aug 13, 2015 \/ 06:02 am (Aid to the Church in Need<\/a>).- A Burundian priest has spoken out about the worrying crisis in his country, particularly following the Aug. 2 murder of\u00a0 General Adolph Nshimirimana, a close ally of president Pierre Nkurunziza, who is seeking a third term in office.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe have no idea how this grave crime will affect the already difficult situation in our country. But undoubtedly this killing will have serious consequences,\u201d said Father Lambert Niciteretse, the secretary general of the bishops\u2019 conference of Burundi, in an interview with international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\tGeneral Nshimirimana, the former head of the secret services, was in charge of security for the president as well as chief of the presidential guard. His assassination will no doubt add to the country\u2019s instability.<\/p>\n

\tUnrest began last spring, when Nkurunziza announced that he would run for a third presidential term, in violation of the two five-year presidential terms limit imposed by the country\u2019s constitution and the 2000 Arusha Peace Accords that brought peace between Burundi\u2019s rival Hutus and Tutsis<\/p>\n

\tThe country\u2019s Catholic Church immediately condemned the illegal nature of the president\u2019s candidacy and in May, ahead of the legislative elections, it withdrew its representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission. \u201cThe Catholic Church cannot allow herself to be part of an electoral process that is visibly not consensual and contains legal defects,\u201d Burundi\u2019s bishops wrote at the time in a formal statement.<\/p>\n

\tThe bishops have maintained their position, despite the threat of possible retaliation on the part of the government.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe Church continues to pursue her mission,\u201d Father Niciteretse said, by \u201cexpounding the principles of her social doctrine even when this does not meet with the favor of the politicians. The truth must be proclaimed and irregularities must be denounced.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tMeanwhile, the exodus of Burundian civilians continues unabated. People are fleeing on account of the instability and the government\u2019s use of violence in repressing protests.<\/p>\n

\tTens of thousands have fled to Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and though a few families have returned in order to enable their children to take state exams, sources close to the local Church have reported that the number of refugees could reach as many as 200,000 by Christmas.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIn addition to the great pain we are feeling because of the political crisis, we are grieving for our brothers and sisters who have been forced to flee,\u201d Father Niciteretse said.<\/p>\n

\tThe priest explained that citizens are living in fear and uncertainty, not least on account of the grave lack of information; he transmitters of most of the private radio and television stations have been destroyed.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cApart from the radio and TV stations linked to the ruling party, the only stations still working are those transmitting from abroad. It is also a serious limitation for the Church herself, since she can convey its important message of peace only through Radio Maria Burundi,\u201d Father Niciteretse said.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cBut despite the difficulties, we will continue to support the people, to denounce violence and invite all parties to peace and the respect of human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bujumbura, Burundi, Aug 13, 2015 \/ 06:02 am (Aid to the Church in Need).- A Burundian priest has spoken out about the worrying crisis in his country, particularly following the Aug. 2 murder of  General Adolph Nshimirimana, a close ally of preside…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-middle-east-africa"],"yoast_head":"\nIn Burundi's crisis, the Church stands with the people<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bujumbura, Burundi, Aug 13, 2015 \/ 06:02 am (Aid to the Church in Need).- A Burundian priest has spoken out about the worrying crisis in his country, particularly following the Aug. 2 murder of  General Adolph Nshimirimana, a close ally of preside...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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