THE SECOND ASSEMBLY FOR AFRICA OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
FINAL LIST OF PROPOSITIONS
Pope Benedict XVI, and the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops authorised publication of the unofficial version of the 57 Propositions voted on by the 219 Synod Fathers present at the Twentieth, and last General Congregation, on Saturday morning, 24 October 2009. They included the following:
PROPOSITION 51 – HIV / AIDS
AIDS is a pandemic. together with malaria and tuberculosis, which is decimating African populations and severely damaging their economic and social life. It is not to be looked at as either a medical-pharmaceutical problem or solely as an issue of a change in human behaviour. It is truly an issue of integral development and justice, which requires a holistic approach and response by the Church.
Those who are sick with AIDS in Africa are victims of injustice, because they often do not receive the same quality of treatment as in other places. The Church asks that funds destined for those with AIDS be actually used for this purpose, and recommends that African patients receive the same quality of treatment as in Europe.
The Church vehemently condemns all deliberate attempts on the part of individuals or groups to spread the virus, either as a weapon of war or by their personal lifestyle.
The Synod offers encouragement to all Church institutions and movements who work in the field of health and especially of AIDS and asks international agencies to acknowledge them and support them in respecting their specificity. The Church urgently recommends that current research into treatments be expanded so as to eradicate this severe affliction.
Moreover, this Synod proposes:
The avoidance of whatever helps the spread of the disease, such as poverty, the breakdown of family life, marital unfaithfulness, promiscuity and a life-style which is devoid of human values and Gospel virtues.
A pastoral care which offers those living with HIV and AIDS access to medication, food, counselling for a change in behaviour and a life without stigma.
A pastoral care which offers orphaned children, widows and widowers a genuine hope of a life without stigma and discrimination.
A pastoral support which helps couples living with an affected spouse to inform and form their consciences, so that they might choose what is right, with full responsibility for the greater good of each other, their union and their family.
That SECAM develop an HIV / AIDS pastoral manual for all those involved in the Church’s AIDS ministry (priests, religious, doctors, nurses, counsellors, catechists, teachers) applying the Church’s moral and social doctrine in the different situations, where the People of God in Africa are facing the various challenges of the pandemic.
PROPOSITION 23 – ARMS’ TRADE
Because of the prevalence of armaments and land mines on the Continent and its Islands, the Church in Africa. gathered in Synod. associates itself with the Holy See and gladly welcomes UN initiatives, African Union and regional intergovernmental organizations like ECOWAS – Small-Arms Embargo, to stop illegal arms-trafficking and to make transparent all legal trading in arms. The Synod recommends that the Pontifical Council “Justice and Peace” update its document on the arms’ trade.
The Synod Fathers encourage national governments to support the on-going study and preparation of an Arms’ Trade Treaty (ATT) within the UN, with binding universal standards for the global commerce of conventional weapons. which would respect human rights and humanitarian international law.
The Synod Fathers. making their own the call of the prophet Isaiah, for love of God and neighbour. “they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4), propose that the design and production of all kinds of arms be drastically reduced for the sake of education and agricultural development which respects the environment.
Moreover, the Synod Fathers absolutely condemn the production of nuclear arms, biological arms, anti-personnel and every sort of weapons of mass destruction. They demand that these be banned from the face of the earth.
The Episcopal Conferences in arms-producing countries are encouraged to advocate that their governments pass legislation restraining the production and distribution of arms to the detriment of African peoples and nations.
PROPOSITION 47 – WOMEN IN AFRICA
Women in Africa make a great contribution to the family, society and the Church with their many talents and resources. However. not only are their dignity and contributions not fully recognized and appreciated, but are often deprived of their rights. In spite of the significant advances made in the education and development of women in some countries in Africa, the development of girls and women is often disproportionate to that of boys and men; girls and women are generally unjustly treated.
The Synod Fathers condemn all acts of violence against women. e.g. the battering of wives, the disinheritance of daughters, the oppression of widows in the name of tradition, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, trafficking in women and several other abuses such as sex slavery and sex tourism. All other inhumane and unjust acts against women are equally condemned.
The Synod Fathers propose:
The integral human formation of girls and women (intellectual, professional, moral, spiritual, theological, etc.
The creation of “shelters” for abused girls and women to find refuge and receive counselling.
The close collaboration among Episcopal Conferences to stop the trafficking of women.
The greater integration of women into Church structures and decision-making processes.
The setting tip of commissions on the Diocesan and national levels to address women’s issues, to help them better carry out their mission in the Church and society.
The setting up of a study commission on women in the Church within the Pontifical Council for the Family.
PROPOSITION 52 – MALARIA
Malaria remains the worst killer on the African continent and its Islands, contributing enormously to the aggravation of poverty. We appreciate all the initiatives directed towards combating this sickness. However, we acknowledge that more needs to be done if any remarkable results are to be expected. Therefore the Synod proposes the following:
That malaria be taken up in all the Church’s health endeavours.
That concerted initiatives be taken, aimed at educating people on issues of malaria and preventing occurrences of the sickness.
That governments be urged to develop more consistent and sustained policies and programmes aimed at the eradication of malaria.
That manufacturers of medicines make them affordable, so as to save more lives; and – sustain efforts to develop a vaccine against malaria.
PROPOSITION 53 – DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
The diffusion and selling of drugs is a waste of Africa’s human capital. Similarly, misuse of alcohol leads to many serious problems; break-up of families, health deterioration, misspending of scarce resources, conflicts and accelerated spread of HIV AIDS.
The Church sees this as a threat to persons, especially youth, and a cause for crisis in education institutions, in families as well as on public morality.
Therefore:
The Church ought to become engaged in the fight against the production, selling, trafficking and consumption of drugs in Africa.
The Church should encourage government and private institutions in their fight against drug and alcohol abuse in our countries.
The Church. in forming youth, should encourage the moderate and conscientious use of alcohol. if not complete abstention.
Pastoral agents should offer pastoral care for alcoholics and drug users and their families by promoting recovery programmes, reconciliation with their families.
Priests and religious should be keen to show good example by moderate use of alcohol.
Training priests, religious and laity in counselling.
Offer pastoral care to drug abusers and offer them assistance to deliver themselves from substance abuse.
PROPOSITION 56 –MEDIA
By nature, the human person is always (created to be) a “being-in-communication”, with a vocation to communion. Thus, communication is a priority for human development and evangelization.
Furthermore. in a globalized world, the improved use and greater availability of the various means of social communication (visual, audio, web and print) are indispensable for the promotion of peace, justice and reconciliation in Africa.
This Synod, therefore, calls for:
An increased presence of the Church in the media.
The networking of audio-visual centres, publishing houses and media centres.
The professional training and ethical formation of journalists to promote a culture of dialogue which avoids division, sensationalism, disinformation and the offensive trivialization of human suffering, all of which could harm the harmony and peace of societies and communities.
Use of the modern media for the spread of the Gospel and the fruits of the present Synod, for the education of African peoples in truth, reconciliation, the promotion of justice and peace.
The development of a satellite network, under the coordination of CEPACS (the media organ of SECAM) to serve the Church-Family of God in Africa.
St up diocesan, national or regional commissions of communication with competent personnel to help exercise the Church’s prophetic ministry in society.
In summary, we should ensure educational and formative media which are ready to convey morally healthy cultural and Gospel virtues.
