The work of the Second Special synod for Africa entered its second week on Monday.
On Monday afternoon the Synod Fathers discussed the challenges they encounter in financing Church activities. Most of them noted with concern that due to lack of financial resources the local Churches in Africa depend on Catholic donor institutions in developed countries to fund their projects. Unfortunately, some of the donors depend on the charity of other organisations for the money they use to fund church activities, and when these organisations experience financial difficulties, like it has often happened, the local churches in Africa are hit hard. Besides, the funds received usually are not enough to cover the priority areas. The Synod Fathers called on the donor institutions to revisit their policies and begin to invest in local Church projects that will generate income that will help the local churches to stand on their own. The President of the Commission for the Universal Church of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Ludwig Schick, who represented the German catholic donor agencies, assured the bishops that his commission was interested in development partnership with the Church in Africa and promised to present their proposal to the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference. He called on the Bishops who have many priests to send some to Germany because the German church experiences a shortage of vocations to the priesthood. Archbishop Schick said some African dioceses have already sent priests to work in Germany and thanked the bishops for the exchange of gifts. The session was addressed also by the Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Mr. Jack Diouf, who called upon the Synod Fathers to do more to promote food security in Africa, saying food security is indispensable for many human activities including industrial development and education.
John Baptist Tumusiime