The Missionaries of Africa

STARTS:

The recent attacks on those who were not born in South Africa are a cause of real shame and concern.

Basic Human rights are part of our basic human dignity, given by God. God creates us all equal and creates us all for community. God does not have borders. Jesus, the Son of God, broke all social conventions by showing God’s Love to all. No one has the right to remove our God-given dignity and our human rights, as we have shown in the battle against apartheid.

But a new apartheid mentality is killing our country and our dignity.

Let us remind ourselves of a few basic points: the Ten Commandments extend to our treatment of foreigners. This means that the statement “you shall not kill” stands in condemnation of the actions of the South African mob which is currently running amok in Alexandra. There have been over 15 incidents of violence against foreigners in South Africa in the last 5 months.

It also means that the statement “you shall not covert your neighbours goods” stands in condemnation of those thugs who out of envy attack others who have the skills and industry to get jobs.

I am being blunt because bluntness is called for in this situation. Everyone who takes a step in a march in a township to protest “foreigners” is taking a step closer to hell.

I forbid any catholic in this archdiocese from assisting these unruly people or approving of their behaviour. I call on the Catholics and people of good will in Alexandra to be the first to come to the aid of their neighbours who have been so ill treated.

I call on the police to enforce the human rights guaranteed in our constitution for all human beings. This is a guarantee of rights of which our country is justly proud.

I call on the victims of this violence to forgive us for our sins.

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale o.m.i,
Archbishop of Johannesburg
President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

Issued by Fr Chris Townsend, Information Officer of the SACBC, on behalf of Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI, President of the SACBC.

All Media enquiries to Fr Chris Townsend.
Information Officer
Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)
Tel: +27 (0)12 323 6458
Fax: +27 (0) 12 326 6218
Mobile: +27(0)82 783 4729
www.sacbc.org.za
townsend@sacbc.org.za
P.O.Box 199 Pretoria 0001 South Africa
Khanya House - 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria, 0001

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