Despite being targets of violence, Congolese priests and aid workers continue to confront crisis
Several priests and aid workers have been kidnapped, and earlier this month a priest was murdered. Conflict in several regions has left millions in need.
Roman Catholic leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo vowed to continue their work in parishes, schools, and clinics after the murder of a priest in April.
Etienne Nsengiyumva, 38, was killed April 8 after he celebrated mass at his small church in the Goma Diocese. Church sources said the murder was an act of revenge by militia groups in the region who want to silence priests and pastors for criticizing their abuses and plunder of local resources. Part of Nsengiyumva’s mission was to reconcile conflicting communities in the area, where many ethnically based militias operate, said Arsene Masumbuko, a Catholic priest who works for Caritas, a Catholic aid agency.
“Priests are living in fear, but they cannot leave the villages where they are with the people,” Masumbuko said. “They are running schools, hospitals, and peace programs. They are the only hope.”
