“We must work toward a fairer, more inclusive society that guarantees basic necessities – food, health, housing, education, and decent employment – for all, particularly the most vulnerable,” the Catholic Church leaders say.
They call for attentiveness to the lamentations of the people of God in the country, saying, “The cry of pain of every human being must be for us an alarm that calls for spontaneous action.”
They go on to express concern about numerous practices eroding human dignity in Chad, including physical and moral torture, arbitrary imprisonment, exploitative labour conditions, and violence.
“Massacres and killings have become alarmingly normalized, with little accountability. The growing gap between the wealthy minority and the impoverished majority further exacerbates this crisis,” CET members lament.
They also decry political abuses through selfishness, and note that in Chad, intimidation, false promises, and corruption often take precedence over truth, honesty, and justice.
As a way forward, CET members call on the government to ensure the realization of an atmosphere, where human rights, justice, and policies in place elevate human dignity.
“The role of the government is to respect fundamental human rights and freedoms. The action of the government must lead to respect for the dignity of human beings and to elevate man,” Catholic Bishops in Chad say.
Addressing themselves to judicial authorities, CET members say that “the respect of the human person requires access to justice for all.”
To politicians, the Catholic Church leaders say, “You are at the service of the interests of the nation for the respect of human dignity. We remind you that the race for power must not be done to the detriment of values such as truth, honesty, equality, justice, freedom, and peace. Respect the role of the government in political action.”
They call upon security and law enforcement agencies to play their constitutional role of protecting citizens, saying, “It is your duty to protect and defend your country, your fellow citizens, and their rights. Act with loyalty in order to restore the confidence of the population towards you.”
