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