MAURITIUS: Promote African Family Values, Church Association Leader Urges Leaders

In her statement at the Congress, Ms Sauvage decried attempts to water down the value and true meaning of marriage and family life.  “In the last two decades, there has been an acceleration of powerful financial support and external pressures on Africa to negate the fundamental value of life and to deconstruct the meaning of family and gender. These forces have become more intense since 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt and the Maputo Protocol, 2006,” AFLF president said.

Ms Sauvage expressed the need for concerted efforts in Africa to promote and preserve the value and true meaning of marriage and family life saying, “We reject all kinds of pressure and attacks on life and the family. We are therefore calling upon all African governments and leaders at various levels, Christians and non-Christians; to pledge their commitment towards promoting the value, dignity and true meaning of the African family as the sanctuary of love, life and the future of human society.”

Among dignitaries taking part in the Congress include His Eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum; Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Lubango (Angola), President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); six bishops as well as representatives of the two sections of John Paul II Institute for Family in Africa.

AMECEA is represented by the Pastoral Department Coordinator, Fr. Febian Pikiti Mulenga.

Tracing the appeal for safeguarding true family values in papal encyclicals, Ms Sauvage said, “We, motivated by the teachings of John Paul II in FamiliarisConsortio no. 75 and Ecclesia in Africa no. 80, acknowledge that the family is the foundation of humanity, society and the Church.  We indeed affirm that the family is the future of the world and the place of experiencing human and divine love.  It is in the family where the reception and giving of life takes place and where human values are transmitted. The family is also the soul of society.

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Clik here to view.“We appreciate the dynamic initiatives made by various family life apostolates in the formation of young people and nurturing of families on the continent of Africa. Prophetically, while addressing over 300 bishops during the First African Synod in May 1994 on The Church as Family, John Paul II pointed out serious looming threats to family values and rights of the person.  The Pope strongly appealed to the African people not to allow the destruction of values and meaning of family on the continent.”

Other topics being addressed by the Congress include the identity of the human person; the experience of filiations; the orientation of the Global Policy for Development; protecting family values to counter the ideologies of post-modernity; the Call to chastity and the youth; the call and challenges of total gift of self in conjugal life; family life service within the family apostolate and the sharing of experiences by the participants.

In her concluding remarks, Ms Sauvage said, “In communion with the Universal Church and inspired by the teachings of John Paul II, we reaffirm the value of human life, the dignity of the person and the centrality of the family in society and the Church.  This recognition should place the family at the centre of all development in Africa.”

The week-long Congress will conclude on Monday, 18 November 2013.