MAURITIUS: Promote African Family Values, Church Association Leader Urges Leaders
A Church
Association leader has urged leaders in Africa to safeguard the African family
values, describing the family as “the sanctuary of love, life and the future of
human society.”
Daniele
Sauvage, the President of Africa Family Life Federation (AFLF), made the appeal
at the Association’s ongoing Congress. The Congress, the third of its kind, is taking
place at the Foyer de Charité in Mauritius under the theme: Family as the Common Good; Let us Protect it.
Sauvage, the President of Africa Family Life Federation (AFLF), made the appeal
at the Association’s ongoing Congress. The Congress, the third of its kind, is taking
place at the Foyer de Charité in Mauritius under the theme: Family as the Common Good; Let us Protect it.
In her statement at the Congress, Ms Sauvage
decried attempts to water down the value and true meaning of marriage and
family life. “In the last two decades,
there has been an acceleration of powerful financial support and external
pressures on Africa to negate the fundamental value of life and to deconstruct
the meaning of family and gender. These forces have become more intense since
1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt
and the Maputo Protocol, 2006,” AFLF president said.
decried attempts to water down the value and true meaning of marriage and
family life. “In the last two decades,
there has been an acceleration of powerful financial support and external
pressures on Africa to negate the fundamental value of life and to deconstruct
the meaning of family and gender. These forces have become more intense since
1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt
and the Maputo Protocol, 2006,” AFLF president said.
Ms Sauvage expressed the need for concerted
efforts in Africa to promote and preserve the value and true meaning of
marriage and family life saying, “We reject all kinds of pressure and attacks
on life and the family. We are therefore calling upon all African governments
and leaders at various levels, Christians and non-Christians; to pledge their
commitment towards promoting the value, dignity and true meaning of the African
family as the sanctuary of love, life and the future of human society.”
efforts in Africa to promote and preserve the value and true meaning of
marriage and family life saying, “We reject all kinds of pressure and attacks
on life and the family. We are therefore calling upon all African governments
and leaders at various levels, Christians and non-Christians; to pledge their
commitment towards promoting the value, dignity and true meaning of the African
family as the sanctuary of love, life and the future of human society.”
Among dignitaries taking part in the Congress
include His Eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council
Cor Unum; Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi
of Lubango (Angola), President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of
Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); six bishops as well as representatives of the
two sections of John Paul II Institute for Family in Africa.
include His Eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council
Cor Unum; Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi
of Lubango (Angola), President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of
Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); six bishops as well as representatives of the
two sections of John Paul II Institute for Family in Africa.
AMECEA is represented by the Pastoral Department
Coordinator, Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga.
Coordinator, Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga.
Tracing the appeal for safeguarding true family
values in papal encyclicals, Ms Sauvage said, “We, motivated by the teachings
of John Paul II in FamiliarisConsortio no.
75 and Ecclesia in Africa no. 80,
acknowledge that the family is the foundation of humanity, society and the
Church. We indeed affirm that the family is the future of the world and
the place of experiencing human and divine love. It is in the family
where the reception and giving of life takes place and where human values are
transmitted. The family is also the soul of society.
values in papal encyclicals, Ms Sauvage said, “We, motivated by the teachings
of John Paul II in FamiliarisConsortio no.
75 and Ecclesia in Africa no. 80,
acknowledge that the family is the foundation of humanity, society and the
Church. We indeed affirm that the family is the future of the world and
the place of experiencing human and divine love. It is in the family
where the reception and giving of life takes place and where human values are
transmitted. The family is also the soul of society.
“We appreciate the dynamic initiatives made byvarious family life apostolates in the formation of young people and nurturing
of families on the continent of Africa. Prophetically, while addressing over
300 bishops during the First African Synod in May 1994 on The Church as Family, John Paul II pointed out serious looming
threats to family values and rights of the person. The Pope strongly
appealed to the African people not to allow the destruction of values and
meaning of family on the continent.”
Other topics being addressed by the Congress
include the identity of the human person; the experience of filiations; the
orientation of the Global Policy for Development; protecting family values to
counter the ideologies of post-modernity; the Call to chastity and the youth;
the call and challenges of total gift of self in conjugal life; family life
service within the family apostolate and the sharing of experiences by the
participants.
include the identity of the human person; the experience of filiations; the
orientation of the Global Policy for Development; protecting family values to
counter the ideologies of post-modernity; the Call to chastity and the youth;
the call and challenges of total gift of self in conjugal life; family life
service within the family apostolate and the sharing of experiences by the
participants.
In her concluding remarks, Ms Sauvage said, “In
communion with the Universal Church and inspired by the teachings of John Paul
II, we reaffirm the value of human life, the dignity of the person and the
centrality of the family in society and the Church. This recognition
should place the family at the centre of all development in Africa.”
communion with the Universal Church and inspired by the teachings of John Paul
II, we reaffirm the value of human life, the dignity of the person and the
centrality of the family in society and the Church. This recognition
should place the family at the centre of all development in Africa.”
The week-long Congress will conclude on Monday,
18 November 2013.
18 November 2013.
Source:
Fr. Febian Pikiti MULENGA, AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator
