WASHINGTON (July 15, 2005)—In a statement on the recent massacre in
Eastern Congo, Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, expressed sympathy for the
families who have lost loved ones and support for the efforts of the
Catholic Bishops in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to bring peace and
support to the region.
The Bishop also commended the rapid response to the tragedy by the United
Nations Mission in the Congo (MONUC). “It is essential that authorities
identify the perpetrators and restore order,” Bishop Ricard said. “This
latest atrocity underlines the need for the international community and
the government of the DRC to give priority attention to the disarmament
and repatriation of the foreign armed groups that have helped perpetuate
the ongoing violence in eastern DRC and to bring those guilty of this
latest outrage to justice.”
Along with Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, Bishop Ricard has
just returned from a pastoral visit to support Church peace-building
efforts in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. “We sought to
understand better local conditions and to express the solidarity of our
Conference with the Church and the people of this troubled region,” he
said.
Bishop Ricard’s delegation was 45 miles away meeting with religious and
community leaders in the DRC when they learned of the massacre of about 40
innocent civilians—mostly women and children—of the village of Ntulu-Mamba
in South Kivu by armed men.
Bishop Ricard is Chairman of the Committee on International Policy, United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
This is the text of his statement:
Statement on Massacre in Eastern Congo
Most Reverend John H. Ricard, SSJ
Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Chairman, Committee on International Policy
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
July 15, 2005
I have just returned, along with Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of
Rockville Centre, from a pastoral visit to support Church peace-building
efforts in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. We sought to
understand better local conditions and to express the solidarity of our
Conference with the Church and the people of this troubled region.
It was with shock and dismay that we learned of the massacre of about 40
innocent civilians – mostly women and children – of the village of
Ntulu-Mamba, in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by armed
men. Ironically, our delegation was just 45 miles away meeting with
religious and community leaders in the DRC who are committed to a just
peace in Congo.
We commend the rapid response of the United Nations Mission in the Congo
(MONUC). It is essential that authorities identify the perpetrators and
restore order. This latest atrocity underlines the need for the
international community and the government of the DRC to give priority
attention to the disarmament and repatriation of the foreign armed groups
that have helped perpetuate the ongoing violence in eastern DRC and to
bring those guilty of this latest outrage to justice.
Our heartfelt sympathy is with the families who have lost loved ones. We
reiterate our support for our brother bishops in DRC for their continuing
efforts in the difficult, but essential, work of bringing peace and
reconciliation to this troubled region.