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Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference Plenary Meeting

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Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference Plenary Meeting

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    1. Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference Plenary Meeting “Role and Leadership of the Church in Healing and Reconciliation” Harare, April 13, 2010 BY JOHN KATUNGA CRS EARO RTA/ PEACEBUILDING AND JUSTICE

    2. Why should the Church play a role in Healing and Reconciliation?

    3. Major Religions in Africa

    4. Religion in Africa

    5. STATE OF PEACE IN THE WORLD AND AFRICA .

    6. Human Development Index 2009 Report

    7. Human Development Index 2009 Report The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and standards of living for countries worldwide.

    8. Why should the Church play a role in Healing and Reconciliation? Divine Mandate: (Holy Bible, Encyclicals, Pastoral letters). Continue the mission of Jesus Christ in the world. (The Mission of reconciliation) Protection and promotion of dignity of human person. (Salvation and Wellbeing) Permanent not temporary witness The timelessness of the Word of God Structures and Institutions Lift up People from indignity to a dignified life (e.g. fighting poverty, education, Health, vocational training, etc.)

    9. What role the Church could play in Healing and Reconciliation? Creation of Social spaces Secure and Hospital: Free and Away from dangers to physical integrity. Space for Healing from Trauma Create space for offering and receiving graciousness Assist to taking the risk of restoring broken TRUST. Create space for discovery and building a new relationship. (Resilience (Trauma-wise); Testifying)

    10. To heal and reconcile, the Church is called to continue being: 1. The hub of safety and humanitarian assistance in times of crisis. (SYNOD PROP # 17) Physical safety Emergency relief. Respond to immediate needs Trauma healing work ?PROTECTION OF LIFE and SOLIDARITY 2. Key Intermediary in conflict situations Sometime official/ semi official/Informal ( At local and national levels. ?BUILDING TRUST NECESSARY FOR SUSTAINABLE DIALOGUE

    11. To heal and reconcile, the Church is called to continue being: 3. Engine of democratization, institutional building and popular participation (synod prop. #25) Civic Education programs (e.g. constitutional making, use of Christian media) (synod prop. #15) Mobilization and participation to electoral process Guarantor of transparency in political transition processes (e.g. observation) Respect for Human Rights and Rule of Law. ?Conflict Prevention

    12. To heal and reconcile, the Church is called to continue being: 4. Capacity builder and institutional moralizer. Through Schools and Universities Associations, Foundations, Movements, Developmental activities, etc. Christian Media as Truth Telling mechanism Deep formation of the conscience leading to Value-based professionals, business people and politicians.

    13. To heal and reconcile, the Church is called to continue being: Caritas in Veritate 1. Telling the truth “The Church does not have technical solutions to offer and does not claim “to interfere in any way in the politics of States.” She does, however, have a mission of truth to accomplish, in every time and circumstance, to his vocation. (…) This mission of Truth is something that the Church can never renounce.” (CIV #9)

    14. To heal and reconcile, the Church is called to continue being: Caritas in Veritate “Truth, like love, is neither planned nor willed, but somehow imposes itself upon human beings.” (CIV#34) 2. Forming the conscience (Synod prop. # 25, 37, 51) 3. Constant Training at all levels (SYNOD PROP # 18, 21, 33, 37, 44, 48, 53, 54, 56) Mobilize existing body of knowledge within the Church

    15. Requirements for true Reconciliation and Healing Violent conflicts (sins) create obligations to: 1. Reconcile with God, the Maker (Spiritual) (Ps 7:15-25) Remorseful, regretful, confessing, Repenting. 2. Reconcile with Self (Psychological) (Jn 14:27) Appeased conscience; relieved, liberated.

    16. Requirements for true Reconciliation and Healing Violent conflicts (sins) create obligations to: 3. Reconcile with the Neighbor (Social) (Matthew 5:23-25) Asking and (if possible) receiving for forgiveness, Repairing. 4. Reconcile with Nature (Ecological) (Genesis 2:8) (synod prop #22) Caring for the environment for future generation.

    17. Reconciliation is a grace from God. Its implication reverberates throughout the individuals and touches the society at large. Leaders have huge influence in the promotion of reconciliation. True Reconciliation requires renewal of Institutions/structures and restoration of just relationships.

    18. Some questions for reflection Is reconciliation a slow or fast process? Is reconciliation a social or personal process? When we forgive, do we automatically reconcile? For true reconciliation to happen, should we forget or should we ensure we remember? How much remembrance? Is forgiving accepting the wrong done? What personal commitment do we require for reconciliation to happen in Zimbabwe?

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