Consultative Meeting of African Bishops on the Family Opens in Accra
A Consultative Meeting of African Bishops as a continental preparation to the forthcoming Synod on the Family was held in Accra, Ghana from June 8-11, 2015.
The meeting, organised by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), has as its theme: The Family in Africa: What Experiences and What Contributions to the XIV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops?
In addressing the Opening Ceremony, Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Vatican City, appealed to his brother bishops in Africa to endeavor to speak with one voice during the Synod on the Family that will take place in the Vatican from October 4 – 25, 2015.
“ I encourage you to speak with clarity and with one credible voice and with filial love of the Church. Be conscious of the mission of the Church; protect the sacredness of marriage which is now being attacked by all forms of ideologies that intend to destroy the family in Africa. Do not be afraid to stress the teaching of the Church on marriage”, he emphasized.
Cardinal Sarah asked the Bishops not to be silent but speak out against national and international policies that are detrimental to the promotion of positive family values. The bishops, he continued, should identify themselves with the truth and to get their political leaders on the continent not to endorse laws and policies that militate against the sanctity of marriage and family.
In his welcome address, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, pointed out that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. He therefore asked Africans not to be carried away by reportage in sections of the media promoting same sex marriage.
The First Vice-President of SECAM, Bishop Louis Portela Mbuyu who is also the Chairman of the Theological Committee of SECAM, urged the Church in Africa to live as a true Family of God. He also called for the intensification of the evangelization efforts of the Church on the continent. “We have to do more in evangelising families and making families evangelisers.”
In declaring the meeting opened, Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi, President of SECAM said that the Church in Africa should help in the integral development of the continent through the promotion of African and Christians values. “Africa will speak with one voice at the next Synod- with one voice we will present the challenges and successes of family life in Africa” he assured the meeting.
He decried the upsurge of many vices that are plaguing Africa, such as human trafficking, child labour, pornography, and urged political leaders to do all within their power in finding lasting solutions to these issues.
During the meeting Mass was said for the repose of the soul of Mrs. Catherine Tumi, mother of Cardinal Chrisitian Tumi of Cameroon, who died a few two days.
Five Cardinals, and 45 bishops are participating and are expected to come out with a message at the end of the meeting.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Jean-Marie Speich, was represented by Rev. Fr. Gildardo Marin Acevedo, Secretary of the Nunciature during the opening ceremony, yesterday.
The meeting, organised by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), has as its theme: The Family in Africa: What Experiences and What Contributions to the XIV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops?
In addressing the Opening Ceremony, Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Vatican City, appealed to his brother bishops in Africa to endeavor to speak with one voice during the Synod on the Family that will take place in the Vatican from October 4 – 25, 2015.
“ I encourage you to speak with clarity and with one credible voice and with filial love of the Church. Be conscious of the mission of the Church; protect the sacredness of marriage which is now being attacked by all forms of ideologies that intend to destroy the family in Africa. Do not be afraid to stress the teaching of the Church on marriage”, he emphasized.
Cardinal Sarah asked the Bishops not to be silent but speak out against national and international policies that are detrimental to the promotion of positive family values. The bishops, he continued, should identify themselves with the truth and to get their political leaders on the continent not to endorse laws and policies that militate against the sanctity of marriage and family.
In his welcome address, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, pointed out that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. He therefore asked Africans not to be carried away by reportage in sections of the media promoting same sex marriage.
The First Vice-President of SECAM, Bishop Louis Portela Mbuyu who is also the Chairman of the Theological Committee of SECAM, urged the Church in Africa to live as a true Family of God. He also called for the intensification of the evangelization efforts of the Church on the continent. “We have to do more in evangelising families and making families evangelisers.”
In declaring the meeting opened, Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi, President of SECAM said that the Church in Africa should help in the integral development of the continent through the promotion of African and Christians values. “Africa will speak with one voice at the next Synod- with one voice we will present the challenges and successes of family life in Africa” he assured the meeting.
He decried the upsurge of many vices that are plaguing Africa, such as human trafficking, child labour, pornography, and urged political leaders to do all within their power in finding lasting solutions to these issues.
During the meeting Mass was said for the repose of the soul of Mrs. Catherine Tumi, mother of Cardinal Chrisitian Tumi of Cameroon, who died a few two days.
Five Cardinals, and 45 bishops are participating and are expected to come out with a message at the end of the meeting.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Jean-Marie Speich, was represented by Rev. Fr. Gildardo Marin Acevedo, Secretary of the Nunciature during the opening ceremony, yesterday.
