African Nations @60, “Church the institution that functions better than any other”: Cleric

In 1960, some 17 African countries gained their independence from former European rule – 14 from France, two from Great Britain and one from Belgium, ACN International indicated  in a report shared with ACI Africa Friday, July 31.

Cameroon became independent on the first day of 1960, followed by Togo (April 27), Madagascar (June 26), DRC (June 30), and Somalia (July 1).

August 2020 marks the 60^th independence anniversary of eight other African countries. The countries include Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Gabon, and Senegal.

The West African nation of Mali gained independence from France on 20 June 1960. The same year (1960), Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, gained independence from Britain on 1 October. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania gained independence from France on 28 November 1960.

“The Catholic Church is carrying out its pastoral and social work in the face of a situation of internal fragility and external hostility, which constantly threaten to undermine or ruin its work,” Fr. Apollinaire told ACN referencing external obstacles in the way of evangelization in Africa.

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The Church suffers “an internal fragility on account of the laity, who have little sense of commitment to their secular vocation, while all the social commitment of the Church rests on the bishops and the episcopal conferences, and this weakens her,” Fr. Apollinaire who is Dean and Professor at the official University of Mbuji-Mayi in DRC told ACN.

“The Church is also facing a situation of fierce religious competition on the part of the evangelical sects,” Fr. Apollinaire further said and added in reference to this competition, “We are decreasing demographically, because we have not succeeded in renewing our approach to the Christian apostolate.”

“By means of her social work, the Church threatens many private interests and for this reason undermining her influence is the objective of many of them, especially the politicians,” the Cleric who has authored around 30 books and articles on theology, social commentary and literature told ACN.

In the July 28 interview, the Congolese Cleric observes that several institutions have threatened to weaken the Church in Africa.

As a result, Fr. Apollinaire says, the Church is “hated and even persecuted by some states which, rather than facilitating her work, instead try to silence her voice, using violent and intimidatory methods to suppress every expression of criticism.”

Another strategy used to weaken the Church, the 53-year-old Cleric says, “is by creating division among Christians.”

“The Church is also facing a situation of fierce religious competition on the part of the evangelical sects,” the Congolese Cleric says, hinting to the practice of fomenting corruption through sects that spearhead the multiplication of new Christian churches, “many of which are pure money-making schemes.”

Focusing attention to African countries that have been independent for the last 60 years, Fr. Apollinaire who doubles as the President of the Ditunga Project in DRC told ACN, “The current state of Black Africa is not the fruit of a positive dynamic but rather of a dynamic of violence caused by the Western conquest of Africa – the treatment of Negro slaves, colonialism, the false independences, the Cold War, the dictatorships and the apparent democracies.”

“There are wars caused by greed and covetousness, by the economic interests of certain indigenous groups and international powers,” Fr. Apollinaire says and adds, “the struggle for the control and exploitation of the continent's immense human and natural resources is costing many human lives in Africa.”

He further says, “These powers still get more benefit from the continent’s resources than the African nations themselves due to the unjust rules of a cruel market system.”

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“What little is left in the country is not managed for the good of all citizens, but according to the wants and whims of those who flaunt the power of the state and its elected representatives,” the Congolese further says.

As a way forward, the Congolese Cleric says, “Only a Church that is faithful to Christ and to the Gospel, through contemplation, humility, service, exemplary behavior and commitment on the part of all its members can be equal to its spiritual mission within society.”

“It is the one thing that Christ asks of the Church, so that she may be the temple and instrument of his love and his grace,” Fr. Apollinaire says.

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.