The killing of a prominent Sudanese priest highlights the “moral failure” that now characterises the nation, a spokesperson for the local bishops conference said. Source: Crux.
Fr John Gbemboyo Joseph Mbikoyezu, the pastoral and social communication coordinator in the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic bishops’ conference, made the comments in the wake of the murder of Fr Yuhana Al-Amin.
The pastor of Holy Cross parish in Kauda, South Kodorfan, Fr Al-Amin was shot and killed in his room on Friday, June 19, according to a statement issued by the local ordinary, Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku of the El-Obeid Diocese.
In a statement, the bishop said he had received the news of the priest’s killing “with profound sorrow,” and described the Catholic faithful of Holy Cross as likewise “deeply saddened” by the tragic loss, along with the broader Catholic community and “all people of good will”.
The bishop said the late priest was known for dedicated pastoral service, commitment to the Gospel and care for the people entrusted to him.
Part of that dedication included plans to evacuate medical supplies that a military faction planned to confiscate.
The statement said that on Thursday, June 18, a faction of the military came to the parish demanding the keys to the storehouse where medical supplies were kept. The armed men gained access and took what they could.
The priest then planned to evacuate what was remaining on Friday, but the armed men returned to ask for more.
Suspecting that the priest might have reported them to the government soldiers, they shot him and one of his guards. The guard who eventually reported the incident survived the shooting and is receiving treatment in hospital.
Fr Gbemboyo said the slaying of his brother priest was not only a cause for profound sadness but also symbolises a deeper and more sinister problem in Sudanese society.
“As a Church in Sudan and South Sudan we feel that there is failure in morality and the killing of a community or religious leader like that of Fr Yuhana is the highest point of this failure,” he said.
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Killing of Sudanese priest symbolic of ‘moral failure’ as civil conflict continues (By Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux)
