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Congress of Catholic Entity in Angola Ends with Call on Women to Make Rational Use of ICTs

Members of the Association for the Promotion of Women in the Angolan Catholic Church (PROMAICA). Credit: Diniz Simão-ANGOP

The Annual Congress of the Association for the Promotion of Women in the Angolan Catholic Church (PROMAICA) has ended with a call on women in the Southern African nation to make rational use of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Speaking during the closing Mass of the January 5-10 congress, Bishop Almeida Kanda of  Ndalatando Diocese said the misuse of ICTs can contribute to altering human identity.

“The indiscriminate use of these technologies increases the risk of unemployment, as human labor is being replaced by machines, having a negative impact on family life,” Bishop Kanda said.

He pointed out that the misuse of social media is contributing to the “distancing of people and the loss of interpersonal relationships.”

Bishop Kanda called on families to “give priority to things that are essential for the well-being of their homes, rather than spending large sums on technological equipment, which is considered secondary.”

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The Angolan Bishop acknowledged the fact that good use of social media can contribute to good communication and bringing people together, even on distant continents.

Bishop Kanda said ICTs can contribute to the flow of information and carry out commercial and financial transactions via the internet, using cell phones.

He cautioned women to beware of misleading advertisements used by criminals on social media for extortion.

The meeting that was held under the theme “PROMAICA - Faithful to its Identity and Mission,” brought together more than 200 women from 13 congregations from the ten municipalities of Kwanza-Norte province.

On her part, the Diocesan coordinator of PROMAICA in Kwanza-Norte called for a more intense fight against injustices in society, as well as the view that women are objects. 

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“Women must protect life and present themselves as a resource for change,” Domingas Guimarães said.

The congress addressed several issues including the challenges facing PROMAICA in the church, challenges in marriage, witchcraft, as well as widowhood in African societies.

Also addressed broadly was the influence of social networks, initiation rituals in modern societies, and the challenges of single-parent families.

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.