Warrap state calls on religious leaders to be models of peace
October 31, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Local authorities from southern state of Warrap on Sunday called on religious leaders to focus more on bringing peace and progress to society.
Addressing a Twic community gathering in Hai Youth, East of Khartoum, Sultan Madut Riing, called on religious leaders to put more efforts in making peace and reconciliation across the country.
“Religious leaders should not be partisan. They should not be part of any political activities. They should not to be used by political members of their dominations to be used as [a] mouth piece to preach in support of any political party but should remain an agent of change through making peace and reconciliation. They should help to calm tension, unite the people and encourage them to appreciate their common humanity,” said Riing.
Speaking on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, Pastor Laang Juuk, who performed the induction ceremony, asked that Christians should try to inspire society to purity and greatness by upholding the values of integrity, humility, modesty, tolerance and love.
He condemned the creeping indiscipline, greed and selfishness in the Church and called for solutions to these evils before they become cancerous.
The Reverend Juuk counseled religious leaders to be fair, open and transparent in their dealings with the people. He said the greatest challenge facing the Church and the nation today was over politicization of national issues and appealed to all Sudanese of all walks of life, especially politicians, to be tolerant of opposing views.
“Our political [leaders] should learn and accept how to live and exercise tolerance. They should avoid insults and reckless utterances that could incite ethnic tensions and hatred in the society,” appealed Juuk.
The population of South Sudan either follow Christianity or local African belief systems. A small minority are Muslim.
In January the secular South will vote on whether it wishes to become a separate nation or remain united with the north, which is governed by Islamic Sharia law.
The north and south have so-far not been able to agree on the citizenship rights on southern sudanese in the north or northern Sudanese in the south should the south secede after the referendum.
(ST)