Archbishop warns of “poison of syncretism”
BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC — The political and social crisis that is shaking the Central African Republic as a result of the civil war which broke out in December 2012, is leading some Catholics toward religious syncretism, the fusion of different beliefs and practices.
This was the warning issued on September 28, by Mgr. Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Archbishop of Bangui and President of the Episcopal Conference, in his homily during the Mass for the opening of pastoral Year 2014-15. The text was sent to Fides Agency.
"The crisis that our Country has been facing since December 2012 has created in us a strong need for security, a desire for revenge, a search for power, inviolability. To meet these desires, some Christians have succumbed to the seduction of beliefs and practices which are incompatible with the faith in Jesus Christ", said Mgr. Nzapalainga.
They have resorted to occult sacrifices, carry amulets and continue to go to Mass and receive the sacraments," said the Archbishop, who remarked: "The poison of syncretism is inoculated and is a trend that is reinforced continually".
"It is time to come out of this ambivalence, to clearly and exclusively choose Jesus Christ and to receive redemption. The time has come to welcome God as our Father . A universal Father who makes no distinctions of races, tribes, religions, neighborhoods. He is the Father who sent us Jesus, who revealed his universal heart", said Mgr. Nzapalainga.
"Christians are facing a crisis, the risk of syncretism", is the theme of the pastoral Year inaugurated by the President of the Episcopal Conference in front of 800 delegates from different parts of Central Africa.
