Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MineralMan

(146,255 posts)
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 04:28 PM Dec 2018

Rwanda genocide: Catholic church sorry for role of priests and nuns in killings

Note: This story is from 2016, but I don't remember seeing it here in the Religion Group. So, here it is again, if I missed it:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/21/rwanda-genocide-catholic-church-sorry-for-role-of-priests-and-nuns-in-killings

Rwanda genocide: Catholic church sorry for role of priests and nuns in killings

The Catholic church in Rwanda apologised on Sunday for the church’s role in the 1994 genocide, saying it regretted the actions of those who participated in the massacres.

“We apologize for all the wrongs the church committed. We apologize on behalf of all Christians for all forms of wrongs we committed. We regret that church members violated [their] oath of allegiance to God’s commandments,” said the statement by the Conference of Catholic Bishops, which was read out in parishes across the country.

{snip}

The statement acknowledged that church members planned, aided and carried out the genocide, in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu extremists.
{snip}

Many of the victims died at the hands of priests, clergymen and nuns, according to some accounts by survivors, and the Rwandan government said many died in the churches where they sought refuge.


An apology just doesn't seem to be enough, in my opinion. Not nearly enough. The indigenous peoples of America suffered similar genocide a few centuries ago, as well. What sort of Christianity perpetrates such horrors? What justification did they find in the Bible for such behavior? Pathetic. The Roman Catholic Church has very much to answer for. I await the Pope's words that assure me that such horrors will not occur again, as they have so often in that Church's history. I do not expect to hear such words, however.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Rwanda genocide: Catholic church sorry for role of priests and nuns in killings (Original Post) MineralMan Dec 2018 OP
To learn more about this inhuman, senseless slaughter of people, MineralMan Dec 2018 #1
Sorry about that. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #2
Exactly. It's OK if you apologize. MineralMan Dec 2018 #3
The important apology is the one to your invisible friend, though. Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #4
Especially if they're all dead. MineralMan Dec 2018 #5
Well I think that you get to go to heaven LuvNewcastle Feb 2019 #7
I don't think that's how it works. Mariana Feb 2019 #8
Do you think those edhopper Dec 2018 #6
"Sorry" doesn't un-murder the Tutsis. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #9
Exactly. And "Sorry" doesn't ease the pain of children who have MineralMan Feb 2019 #10
Inadequate for the Tutsis, yes. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #11

Pope George Ringo II

(1,896 posts)
4. The important apology is the one to your invisible friend, though.
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 07:06 PM
Dec 2018

Apologies to the genuinely wronged party are a little more optional.

MineralMan

(146,255 posts)
5. Especially if they're all dead.
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 08:31 PM
Dec 2018

Then it doesn't matter. Their fate is already decided, right?

The ugliness of 800,000 people dying due to genocide is just something that happened. The Pope thinks its a pity, of course, I'm sure.

LuvNewcastle

(16,834 posts)
7. Well I think that you get to go to heaven
Sat Feb 23, 2019, 08:03 PM
Feb 2019

if the church kills you. They're releasing you from your corrupt body so your soul can float up to heaven. I think that's how it goes, or maybe I saw that in a movie.

Mariana

(14,854 posts)
8. I don't think that's how it works.
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 01:11 AM
Feb 2019

I'm pretty sure you have to believe the right things at the time of your death to go to heaven, regardless of whether a priest kills you.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
9. "Sorry" doesn't un-murder the Tutsis.
Thu Feb 28, 2019, 11:38 AM
Feb 2019

But I'm sure many will praise Papa Frank for his courageous display of... something.

MineralMan

(146,255 posts)
10. Exactly. And "Sorry" doesn't ease the pain of children who have
Thu Feb 28, 2019, 11:39 AM
Feb 2019

been sexually abused by priests, either. Apologies are inadequate, especially in the face of a lack of change in actions.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
11. Inadequate for the Tutsis, yes.
Thu Feb 28, 2019, 11:56 AM
Feb 2019

But for white people living in Europe and North America, it's way more than is expected.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»Rwanda genocide: Catholic...