Religion
Related: About this forumRwanda 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
The Catholic church in Rwanda apologised on Sunday for the churchs 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 Gods 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.
MineralMan
(147,576 posts)read this link, which does include a separate, but unreassuring "apology" by Pope Francis:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/20/pope-francis-asks-for-forgiveness-for-churchs-role-in-rwanda-genocide
Voltaire2
(14,703 posts)What the everloving fork is up with Bergoglios crime family?
MineralMan
(147,576 posts)Feh!
Pope George Ringo II
(1,896 posts)Apologies to the genuinely wronged party are a little more optional.
MineralMan
(147,576 posts)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
(17,022 posts)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
(15,102 posts)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.
edhopper
(34,802 posts)murdering priests and nuns were following their faith?
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)But I'm sure many will praise Papa Frank for his courageous display of... something.
MineralMan
(147,576 posts)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)But for white people living in Europe and North America, it's way more than is expected.