SOUTH SUDAN: Cardinal Urges Government to Lift Taxes Burdening Church Mission to the Poor
Ginaba Lino
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, has appealed to the government of South Sudan to lift newly imposed taxes on Church properties and personnel, warning that the move could cripple the Church’s ability to serve the poor and carry out its humanitarian mission.
Speaking during the opening of the Bishops’ Plenary Assembly in Malakal Diocese, Cardinal Ameyu who also serves as President of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said the Church remains open to dialogue with authorities to seek a fair resolution.
“The recent imposition of taxes on Church properties and personnel threatens our capacity to serve the poor,” Cardinal Ameyu said and pointed out, “The bishops will engage in dialogue with the government, invoking the principle that the Church’s mission must not be hindered by unfair taxation.”
He described the policy as an “unjust fiscal burden” that risks undermining charitable services in education, health, and social care sectors where the Church plays a vital role across the country.
Cardinal Ameyu reminded fellow Bishops that their leadership should be rooted in humility and service rather than privilege.
“Each Bishop bears a responsibility not to be served, but to serve,” he said, urging transparency in the use of Church resources and stronger collaboration among bishops, commissions, and the general secretariat.
The Cardinal reaffirmed the Church’s continued commitment to regional collaboration through bodies such as the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). These organizations, he said, strengthen cooperation among local Churches, promote peace, and foster pastoral solidarity across the continent.
Addressing broader social concerns, Cardinal Ameyu highlighted the multiple challenges facing the people of South Sudan and the Church’s mission, including ongoing conflicts in Sudan, natural disasters in several dioceses, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Unless we work together in coordination, we cannot overcome these tragedies,” he urged. “Let us be open to our priests, religious brothers and sisters, and all those who come to South Sudan to offer help, for a good Samaritan comes in the need of his brother and sister.”
In his concluding appeal, Cardinal Ameyu called on the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to prioritize peace and reconciliation, saying,
“No one was created for war. All of us were created for peace.”
The five-day plenary assembly brings together Bishops from across South Sudan to deliberate on pastoral priorities, Church formation, and the institution’s response to emerging social and economic challenges facing communities throughout the region.
