Archbishop Deng expresses his fears for Sudan

Episcopal News Service was on hand when Archbishop Daniel Deng of the Church of Sudan visited Trinity Church Wall Street as part of a 12-day American tour aimed at raising awareness of the dire situation in that country in advance of a January 9 referendum that will determine whether his country will remain united or split in half, north and south.

"Six years ago Sudan signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the people in … south Sudan and the people in the north," Deng said during his sermon at the parish’s 11:15 a.m. Eucharist service. "And this agreement is coming to an end on the ninth of January 2011. We as the church … we have fears that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the CPA, all the processes that were supposed to be done have not been completed … The fear in the country is that Sudan will go back to war."

and

The referendum is one of the major terms of Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which was signed in January 2005 by the two warring parties -- the Government of Sudan in the predominantly Muslim north and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in the mainly Christian and Animist south -- bringing an end to a 21-year civil war that claimed more than 2 million lives and displaced about 7 million people.

The agreement also called for the equitable distribution of oil revenues, drawing of fair borders, the development of democratic governance throughout the country, and the reconstruction of devastated infrastructure. The north has been criticized for failing to live into the terms of the peace agreement.

In his sermon, the archbishop acknowledged the north's Khartoum-based government's failures and expressed concern for the safety of some 4 million refugees from the south who are currently living in the north.


Posted by Jim Naughton on October 11, 2010 7:09 AM | |
Comments (2)

Bishop Bul Deng seems to be often present in the West and Global South confabs to alert us about the terrible possibilities (actions past, present and future) for Christians/others in Sudan (that even we in rural Central America read about everyday in the international press).

Before the oncoming referendum I would hope the energetic Bishop would have ample time to counsel/minister to his bishops, clergy and laity, in person, and prepare at home in Sudan for the realities of demonizing our neighbors...the terrible realities for the abused, the sexually tormented, the outcome of vertical corruption and the marginalizing of the spiritually distraught/empty is often fueled by willful ignorance fear/hate and the desperation we all know about...ministering to ALL the people of God in Sudan will prayerfully help find a way to peace and emotional/spiritual stability...peace on Earth, and peace of mind, and a place of stability/repect for ALL PEOPLE in Sudan is my daily prayer.

Posted by Leonardoricardosanto.blogspot.com [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 11, 2010 11:44 AM

I would hope that today Abp. Deng will call for peace in the Sudan and expect that he will enjoy our full support in that effort. I'd also hope that he does not call for any gay priests or bishops be "sacked" while he's our guest.

Sorry. Still stinging over his statements in Lambeth 2 years ago, which shocked me as I knew he had gotten lots of support from parishes in the Diocese of Chicago.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2445832/Gay-bishop-Gene-Robinson-must-be-sacked-to-save-church-from-schism.html

Posted by ginny [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 11, 2010 1:32 PM

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