Catholic Archbishop Notes Improved Church-State

UNCLAS KIGALI 000482

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM SOCI RW
SUBJECT: Catholic Archbishop Notes Improved Church-State
Relations



1. Summary: During a May 17 discussion with polchief on
religious freedom in Rwanda, the Catholic Archbishop of
Kigali noted that relations between the GOR and the Catholic
Church have improved, with greater collaboration on social
services and other services, such as security. He noted,
however, that the Church would like the GOR to clarify its
legal status and to update the agreement under which the
Church operates primary and secondary schools to clearly
define their respective roles. End summary.


2. During a discussion on religious freedom May 17,
Catholic Archbishop of Kigali, Thaddee Ntihinyurwa, told
polchief that relations between the GOR and the Catholic
Church were better this year. There were no "malevolent"
comments made by the GOR and no restrictions on construction
of new churches. The GOR collaborated with the Church on
social services, such as health and education, and provided
other services, such as security for the inauguration of a
bishop, upon request.


3. Ntihinyurwa noted, however, some areas in which the
Church would like to see further progress. For example, the
Church would like the GOR to update the Education Convention
Agreement, under which the Church operates primary and
secondary schools, to clearly define the respective roles of
Church and government in parochial schools. The Church
would also like the GOR to clarify its legal status, which
under the current law governing non-profit organizations is
equated with that of small non-profit organizations. He
commented that the Church had participated in revising a
draft law on religious organizations that is currently under
review at the Ministry of Local Government.


4. The Archbishop estimated that the Catholic Church in
Rwanda currently numbers 4 million followers, or 53-56
percent of the population. While the Church recognizes a
neo-Catholic movement called the "Mouvement Sacerdotal
Marial," the Movement is not officially registered with the
GOR. Its teachings and practices are characterized by
fervent worship, including long periods of fasting and
praying. Archbishop Ntihinyurwa said he has cautioned
members of the Movement to limit their preaching to tenets
of the Holy Gospel in order to avoid controversy.


5. Laurent Kalibushi, a former leader of the Movement,
described it as a spiritual movement founded in Italy in
1973 that took root in Rwanda in 1986. Following the death
of the Movement's Rwandan leader during the 1994 Genocide,
Kalibushi re-launched the movement in October 1994 and
served as its leader from 1995 to 1997. He noted that the
Movement has spread to almost every diocese in Rwanda, but
is not popular among the clergy because the "Movement is
spiritually too demanding," requiring extended periods of
fasting and praying.


6. Archbishop Ntihinyurwa indicated that the Catholic
Church encourages prayer group meetings in private homes as
well as night gatherings, and that there are no government
restrictions on their right to do so. (Note: Previously,
in the immediate aftermath of the civil war and 1994
genocide, there were prohibitions on night gatherings of
religious or any other group without prior approval of the
government. End note.)

Arietti