𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐠𝐨 (𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚)
In one of the many social media circles that the world has come to appreciate as platforms for social interaction and knowledge sharing, I happen to bump into a video about the much publicized July 2022 apology extended by #PopeFrancis, to the indigenous people of #Canada. The apology deals with 'the role of the Catholic Church in the oppression, mistreatment and cultural genocide of indigenous people of Canada'. Much as the apology was aimed particularly at the indigenous people of Canada and how the colonial 'assimilation policy' of the 19th century ensured that the Indigenous children of Canada were kidnapped from their families by government authorities and sent to Residential Schools which were great distances away from their homes, in turn robbing them off their dignity through sexual violations, cultural rights and their right to life, one could not help but wonder "how many of such specific apologies have been issued to Africa by the Vatican"?.
Indeed the Vatican through Pope John Paul II has in the passed denounced 'the Doctrine of Discovery which was used to justify colonialism' but in light of the Canadian apology one cannot help but think of the atrocities of Africa in general and the remnants which are still evident to this day. It is generally agreed that the Church (Catholic, Protestant and others, but specifically the Catholic Church due to its close proximity to the colonial government of the day) played a significant role in the 1994 #RwandaGenocide where the Hutus and Tutsis murdered each other, it is for this reason that one cannot help but wonder if a similar apology would not be justified.
One is equally tempted to venture into the intricacies of Christian leadership on the stance that Pope Francis took in this case, even though there had been many other apologies issued by his predecessors. But the apology in the contemporary goes to the nub of the issue, that is "the historical relations between the church and the powers that be". History dictates that the socio-economic and political model of the Europeans at the time of exploration and crusades, was a three pronged strategy "Negotiate and persuade, Christianize and manipulate, and if all fails Violate", but of cause it became natural that all three be used simultaneously. The Church was clearly an integral element in the process of committing a crime and it became equally comfortable in its role, therefore the question in the contemporary is whether the Church is still in bed with the oppressor, is the Pope's apology an indication that it ought to play a different role from that which it played in history by speaking out against itself and the government?
These questions become very important in the African context because the ever growing secular Africa is engaged in an ongoing conversation about the relevance of Christianity today, in light of the role that the Church played in meting out of atrocities by the colonial regime, a conversation which is indeed justified and relevant, given that Christianity in Africa is still relatively dominant. Not only is Africa becoming secular by day, but it is also becoming more concerned and alive to the reality that 'it needs to preserve and/or resuscitate its historical and contemporary cultural assets', given that the colonial regime had almost destroyed this all important aspect of an African life. But modern Africa can also not ignore the reality that it continues to self destruct on matters relating to its heritage, she continues to allow the modern world to swallow her language, her culture and her indigenous religious practices, owing to her civilized adaptations.
It is my considered view that Pope Francis sought to demonstrate the independence of the modern church from external influences, tainted as it is, it still has a major role to play in the modern socio-political and economic space, starting by addressing the painful emotional scars that the colonial rapist embedded on to the rest of the world, particularly Africa.
From this the modern Church ought to know that its role in society is to bring peace to the people of God and not to appease the powers that be, to speak truth to power, to fight for the right to human dignity and pray for the repentance of the violator. It is equally my conviction that God's mission lies in the actions of the Church, a church that does not speak out against wrong doing is an accomplice to crime, be it against a government or in society. A church that does not acknowledge its past mistakes is an arrogant church, a God inspired Church is one that humbles itself before the world, genuinely so and say "I am sorry, what can I do to make things right"?
Disclaimer:
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 Kgosiemang Phejane's 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥, 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
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