Burundi’s Catholic Church rejects government’s ‘terrorist’ label

Students from the Catholic University light candles during a night vigil in solidarity with the Burundian people in Kenya's capital Nairobi, on December 16, 2015. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Noor Khamis

By Fredrick Nzwili | 17 hours ago

(RNS) A serious breakdown between the powerful Roman Catholic Church and the government in Burundi is raising concerns over stability in the East African nation, as senior government officials accuse the church of sponsoring violence.

Since April 2015, the country has been racked by chaos after President Pierre Nkurunziza agreed to run for a third term. Catholic bishops had strongly opposed the move, saying the constitution was clear that a president should serve only two terms.

Last month, Pascal Nyabenda, president of the National Assembly, accused the Catholic Church of playing a “purely political, not spiritual role,” and said the government would not talk to “sponsors of terrorism.”

Antony Mbandi, of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, struck back at the use of the term “terrorists” to refer to government critics.

http://religionnews.com/2016/04/21/burundis-catholic-church-rejects-governments-terrorist-label/