Letter of Support to Archbishop Christopher of Zimbabwe, May 7, 2008

May 7, 2008

Most Reverend Archbishop Ndlovu Robert Christopher
President of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Catholic Secretariat
Causeway, 29 Selous Avenue, P.O. Box 8135
Harare, Zimbabwe

Your Grace,

At this time of political and economic turmoil and suffering for the people of Zimbabwe, I write to express the solidarity of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The recent letter signed by your Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches is a powerful testimony to your courageous leadership in the face of a deteriorating human rights situation. 

We have followed the events over the past month and share your deep concerns over the incidents of torture, humiliation and abduction. We are troubled by the oppressive conditions under which the people of Zimbabwe have been living for a number of years. We are also concerned that the political situation in Zimbabwe could lead to even greater violations of fundamental human rights.

We support your call to the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations to help the people of Zimbabwe to reverse the deteriorating political and economic situation in the country. Your call reminds us of the Holy Father’s recent address to the United Nations in which he emphasized the need to protect the human rights of all people. We affirm your insistence on the need to end the violence and to disband groups that promote violence. We support your request to release the full results of the March 29 presidential election.

We express our profound respect for your efforts and those of all men and women of good will who are the voices of peace and compassion in your beloved country. We accept your invitation to join our prayers to yours. May the Prince of Peace bless your people and heal their wounds and may God bless you in your ministry as teachers and shepherds as you faithfully proclaim the Gospel and seek to guide your nation into a future of peace through reconciliation.

Fraternally yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski
Bishop of Orlando
Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace

Cc: Most Reverend Edward Joseph Adams, Papal Nuncio

Letter-of-Support-to-Archbishop-Christopher-of-Zimbabwe-2008-05-01.pdf