‘Men of God under attack’

Killings, robberies and unlawful detentions targeting the clergy have hit a ceiling high in what appears to be a worrying onslaught on the men charged with feeding the flock.

In May 2021, the US launched a 2020 study painting a grim picture of the strained religious freedom in the country. The report reveals that government security officers and armed criminal elements have at different occasions targeted churches and religious leaders.

Religious institutions provide refuge for war victims such as vulnerable women and children hence; this attracts the attention of the criminal elements that target such places.

The report reads, ‘‘a diverse network of Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim domestic and international organizations provided shelter from the fighting. Observers said that at times religious workers became targets for speaking out about what they believed to be the underlying causes of the conflict.’’

Cases

On April 26, unknown armed men shot Rumbek Catholic Diocese Bishop-elect Fr. Christian Carlassare at his residence, rapturing his two legs.

 Even though Carlassare is yet to heal in Nairobi, a pastor attached to African Inland Church in Torit was shot by unknown gunmen, after which he died while undergoing treatment.

On Sunday May 9, 2021, suspected burglars reportedly stole about US$20,000 from the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Wau Diocese Reverend Matthew Remijio.

The incident happened on Sunday evening when Remijio was away.  The thieves also made way with other valuables such as a computer, a phone, an external hard drive and a radio.

While the attacks and robberies seem to be just based on criminal motivations, Acting Police Spokesperson for National Police Services Col James Karlo reads from a different script.  Karlo told The City Review that the South Sudan Council of Churches should be the primary organ to address the problems, most of the stemming from power struggle over the resources of the church. 

 “People start fighting for the seat because everybody wants it. They discovered that churches have a lot of resources,” said Karlo.

“Churches should be the institutions of spiritual, healing and reconciliation. It is the Council of Churches to solve the problem,” he added.

When contacted by the City Review, the Communication Officer of South Sudan Council of Churches, Lakoya Sakira, said: “We are going to release the press statement of the attack of the clergy next week (this week). I cannot not comment now because are still for meeting (Saturday).’’

Situation at hand

The International Religious Freedom Report conducted by the US revealed that the police detained a local religious leader in April, 2020, for flouting COVID-19 social distancing regulations in Juba.

 In a separate account in July, 2020, a local militia in Jonglei State attacked an Anglican Church compound, killing 31 people, including the church’s dean and 14 women and children.

It implicates the government security personnel as well. For instance, the report revealed that ‘‘three South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) soldiers attacked members of the Revival Movement Church in Loka West, Central Equatoria, on Christmas Eve.’’

In some cases, the soldiers went overboard and even forced the congregants to go against their spiritual norms.

The report reads: ‘‘The Archbishop of Central Equatoria and Bishop of the Diocese of Lainya said the soldiers forced church members to drink alcohol and locked five men in a hut before setting it on fire.’’

‘‘The soldiers reportedly abducted and raped three women, forcing them to carry looted property to SSPDF barracks.

 ‘‘Fifteen persons were injured in the attack, which the Archbishop stated was the second incident in which soldiers forced Christians to drink alcohol.’’

Even though South Sudan enshrines respect for religion and in its transitional constitution, the report reveals that most of the principles exist just on paper.

The report states: ‘‘the transitional constitution provides for separation of religion and state, prohibits religious discrimination, and provides religious groups freedom to worship and assemble, organize themselves, teach, own property, receive financial contributions, communicate and issue publications on religious matters, and establish charitable institutions.’’