Catholic Politicians in DR Congo Cautioned against Social Vices, Partisan Interests

The Congolese Cardinal challenged Catholic politicians in DRC to practice responsible freedom and avoid “formulating laws which disregard the principles of natural ethics,” a practice that is usually biased “towards certain cultural orientations.”

“We go so far as to put human life into question with the signing of the Maputo Accords, adopted without any social debate, even by Catholic Christian parliamentarians,” Cardinal Ambongo remarked during his catechesis with Catholic politicians at St. Raphael Parish of Kinshasa Archdiocese.

The Catechesis was held under the theme, “Catholic Faith and Socio-political Commitment.”

Reflecting on the theme, Cardinal Ambongo told the Catholic politicians that “it is an invitation to look for harmony and balance between your faith and your socio-political commitment.”

“The Church and society have always moved forward together. Both, although in different ways, are at the service of the personal and social vocation of the same people,” the Archbishop of Kinshasa explained, adding, “Socio-political commitment constitutes one of the vessels of faith without which it (faith) would be dead.”

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“Faith cannot, under any circumstances, be used to serve any ideology or political system. Rather, it must be at the service of the glory of God,” he continued.

He noted that the Congolese “society is becoming accustomed to a double life of some Christians in politics: here they are Catholics; there they are politicians.”

The Cardinal invited Catholic politicians to be coherent in the discharge of their public duties saying, “Acts or options, even against the Catholic faith, are justified in the name of politics. And yet, what is required is coherence between faith and concrete life, between the Gospel and culture, as recalled by the Second Vatican Council.”

The member of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) further said, “There is incoherence when the Catholic faith does not shine in the political sphere; or when political action is not a logical consequence of the Catholic faith or its witness.”

As a way forward, the Congolese Cardinal encouraged Catholic politicians to “create organizations and associations that promote fundamental principles in respect of the Christian conscience and that are in conformity with Catholic morality and tradition.”

“I strongly urge you to have at your disposal the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium of the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church (available in our bookshops),” Cardinal Ambongo told the Catholic politicians during his catechesis March 26.

He also encouraged them “to organize sessions and exchanges on the main lines of social teaching in order to usefully orientate your societal and political action.”

“Don't just do good works during the election campaign to get votes in exchange for a few, sometimes humiliating, donations. Do charity work regularly, alone or in groups, in the name of your faith (because God asks you to),” the Catholic Church leader added.

He went on to invite Catholic politicians to “promote brotherhood and solidarity among themselves and network with other organizations of Catholic politicians, throughout the world or the universal Church, for the sharing of experience.”

“I urge you to take an active part in the care of your Church and the protection of its heritage,” the 61-year-old Congolese Cardinal said, implored, “May your socio-political commitment become the place where your Catholic faith radiates.”

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Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.