WASHINGTON (June 24, 2005) - In a statement of solidarity with the bishops
of Zimbabwe, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International
Policy expressed concern over the wholesale destruction of homes and
businesses of ordinary people by government authorities in the recent
so-called “Operation Restore Order.”
“We call upon the Zimbabwean authorities, since they failed to take
precautions for the well-being of those they have dispossessed, to provide
urgently needed shelter, food and full restitution of property and other
losses,” said Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ. “We urge the government of
Zimbabwe to facilitate the efforts of those organizations (including those
sponsored by the Church) to provide humanitarian and development
assistance to the poor and defenseless.”
In the statement, Bishop Ricard noted with approval the reported decision
of the United Nations to send a special envoy to investigate the situation
arising from “Operation Restore Order.”
“We offer our profound respect to our brother bishops in Zimbabwe for
their brave and forthright pastoral ministry in these difficult days and
assure them of our prayers and support,” Bishop Ricard said.
The full text of the Statement on the Situation in Zimbabwe follows.
Statement on the Situation in Zimbabwe
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ
Chairman, Committee on International Policy
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
June 24, 2005
We have read with concern and dismay the reports by our brother bishops in
Zimbabwe of the wholesale destruction of homes and businesses of ordinary
people by government authorities in the recent, so-called “Operation
Restore Order.” The fact that all of the homes and businesses may not have
been legally permitted cannot justify the cruel violence visited by the
authorities on peaceful and innocent people, especially the destruction of
homes during a time of inclement weather and food shortages.
The bishops of Zimbabwe in their eloquent pastoral letter of this month,
“The Cry of the Poor,” remind us of Jesus’ concern for the weak and
vulnerable and his admonition that “Whatsoever you do to the least of my
brothers, that you do unto me” (Matt. 25:40).
We stand in solidarity with the bishops of Zimbabwe in their emphasis of
the dignity of the human person that was so crassly violated by the
violent conduct of “Operation Restore Order.” The violence that resulted
in the denial of food and shelter is a perversion of governmental
authority, “since the common good is the reason that political authority
exists.” The common good requires fostering conditions that help families
and individuals “to achieve the full development for living a truly human
life” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church no. 168). The
teaching of the Church further states that “whenever public
authority—which has its foundation in human nature and belongs to the
order pre-ordained by God—fails to seek the common good, it abandons its
proper purpose and so delegitimizes itself” (Compendium no. 398).
We call upon the Zimbabwean authorities, since they failed to take
precautions for the well-being of those they have dispossessed, to provide
urgently needed shelter, food and full restitution of property and other
losses. We urge the government of Zimbabwe to facilitate the efforts of
those organizations (including those sponsored by the Church) to provide
humanitarian and development assistance to the poor and defenseless.
We also call upon the international community to pressure the government
of Zimbabwe to cease such brutal treatment of its own people and to
provide alternative housing, food and employment for those it has
victimized. We note with approval the reported decision of the United
Nations to send a special envoy to investigate the situation arising from
“Operation Restore Order.”
As the bishops of Zimbabwe have reminded us, “We cannot lead a double way
of life, one for Sunday services in Church and another for our public
tasks, be they political, economic, social or other kind. We are always
called to be guided by our conscience and to live our Christian faith as
an integrated part of our lives.”
We offer our profound respect to our brother bishops in Zimbabwe for their
brave and forthright pastoral ministry in these difficult days and assure
them of our prayers and support.