Punchy Contribution to the African Synod

Here's some early and punchy input to the African Synod by the Archbishop of Johannesburg, and President of the Episcopal Conference of Southern Africa, Buti Joseph TLHAGALE, O.M.I.

In the Instrumentum Laboris (working document), the question of inculturation is barely touched upon. And yet Ecclesia in Africa categorically stated that inculturation is a sine qua non in the work of evangelization. Without inculturation, there is neither genuine evangelization nor genuine reconciliation. After all, "the gospel is grounded in the human terrain of culture" (I.L. 73).

Moral values embedded in the diverse African cultures, alongside the gospel values, are threatened by the new global ethic which aggressively seeks to persuade African governments and communities to accept new and different meanings of concepts of family, marriage and human sexuality.

(This has been pointed out in Cardinal Turkson's presentation ). The cultures of Africa are under heavy strain from liberalism, secularism and from lobbyists who squat at the United Nations. Africa faces a second wave of colonization both subtle and ruthless at the same time.

The most critical challenge facing the Church in Africa is not the lack of analysis, the lack of an understanding of issues and their interconnectedness. The challenge is the lack of collective (political) willpower to implement resolutions made; to find workable solutions to the challenges our societies face, to rise to the unpleasant challenges of leadership. A pressing question needs to be asked. To whom are our regional and continental associations accountable? What are the purposes of these platforms apart from expressing compassion, solidarity and collegiality? Members pay lip service to regional and continental conferences. Dues are not paid. How then are the resolutions to be implemented when we ourselves sabotage our own organizations, frustrate staff and demoralize elected board members instead of guiding, helping and collectively setting up and reviewing goals. If the resolutions of the Synod are to be implemented our national, regional and continental conferences have to take the responsibility.

Secondly we as a hierarchy, appear to be working alone on these issues that cut across the continent. Lay people, by virtue of their baptism, have a significant role to play. They are expected to witness in the public square, in their families and places of work. Their Christian voice in the face of the many challenges in Africa, is weak, muffled or simply silent. The hierarchy is without credible partners in the work of the transformation of Africa. Lay Catholics need to be given a voice in order to stand up and be counted for their Catholic faith. The hierarchy cannot do it alone.