Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)
"The
Roman Catholic Bishops meeting in Pretoria condemns the wholesale
looting, burning of shops and businesses in Soweto and call on the
people involved not to allow themselves to be incited to such
destruction.
To
those who encourage and benefit from such looting we say that you are
not only destroying buildings but the moral life of young people and
the very name of our country. It is tragic that people have lost
their lives and we extend our prayers to their families. To our
brothers and sisters whose businesses and livelihoods have been
destroyed we reach out to you in sincere sympathy. What has happened
to you deeply disturbs us and we call on all Catholic and Christian
communities and leaders to offer you all the practical help which
they can muster.
We
call on all parents in a special way to step in and offer guidance to
their children and to all young people involved.
We
call upon all our faithful to offer full support, co-operation and
information necessary to the police and community leaders in their
defence of those who have been victimised.
We
assure the victims of our prayers. We want to say that this behaviour
is not typical or acceptable by the majority of the Southern African
people."
Issued
at Pretoria, St. John Vianney Seminary, 23rd
January 2015
Enquiries:
Archbishop William Slattery OFM
Contact
Number: 083 468 5473
