Superior of U.S. Missionaries in Nairobi Decries Kenya Violence, Advocates for Poorest Victims

From those closest to the victims of the violence in Kenya comes a unique view on the atrocities beleaguering a nation that, until now, served as a place of calm compared with the constant turmoil in Africa's struggling countries. The Comboni Missionaries not only serve the poorest of the poor but challenge Kenya's government to commit itself to protect those who are powerless.

We challenge Kenya's elected leaders, especially President Kibaki and his challenger Raila Odinga, to protect the weak and disadvantaged. It is most often the poor and defenseless who pay the price for the greed of the powerful.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) January 8, 2008 -- Fr. Louis Gasparini, mccj, Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionaries - North American Province, has issued the following statement regarding the outbreak of violence in Kenya:

As violence and slaughter continue in the wake of Kenya's elections, the Comboni Missionaries of the North American Province stand in solidarity with our missionaries in Nairobi and plea for protection for the poorest victims of the brutal rioting.

Fr. Louis Gasparini, mccj

The Comboni Missionaries have ministered in Nairobi's Kariobangi, Kibera and Korogocho slums since the 1970s. Fifty-eight priests and brothers work in Kenya, many entrenched in the midst of the rioting. Our missionaries minister to the victims as best they can, but violence has, in many places, destroyed the means of assistance vital to our ministry.

A former Comboni Lay Missionary who lives in Nairobi emailed us the following:

"On New Years Eve, I could hear screaming and gunshots from Kibera. I kept thinking, people are dying, people who live in inhuman conditions in the best of times are being slaughtered."

"Experience teaches us that violence begets violence and reaching peace through war is a drastic contradiction. Africa has been in almost constant turmoil for a hundred years. In the midst of this upheaval, Kenya has stood as a place of relative stability.

"But no more. The tribal hostility that plagues much of Africa has engulfed Kenya. Open warfare is declared on the poor - the attack on a church full of defenseless people seeking refuge in Eldoret was a diabolical act.

"The Comboni Missionaries, religious and lay, will remain at the side of the poor, both in Kenya and in many other parts of Africa. We have always chosen to remain with the people often at the cost of our lives. This time is no different. We trust the power of the God of Peace and we rely on His love to cross boundaries of hate and division.

"We challenge Kenya's elected leaders, especially President Kibaki and his challenger Raila Odinga, to protect the weak and disadvantaged. It is most often the poor and defenseless who pay the price for the greed of the powerful."    
    
The Comboni Missionaries are an institute of 4,000 Catholic priests, sisters, brothers and lay people. The institute serves 44 of the world's poorest countries on four continents with special emphasis on Africa.

###

Post Comment:
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/TWFnbi1TdW1tLVNpbmctQ291cC1Mb3ZlLVplcm8=

kenya nairobi kibera korogocho elections victims rioting kariobangi slums violence peace and justice

Bookmark -  Del.icio.us | Digg | Furl It | Spurl | RawSugar | Simpy | Shadows | Blink It | My Web