Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
25 September 2007
The family is at the centre of Catholic pastoral work in Benin, said Bishop Antoine Ganyé, president of the Catholic bishops' conference of Benin and bishop of Dassa-Zoumé.
He was speaking to Fides news agency in Rome during the recent five-yearly visit of the bishops of Benin to the Vatican.
"The future of our church in Benin is to give priority to the family since the family is the basic nucleus of society and of the church," he said.
To achieve this, the Catholic Church in Benin focuses mainly on the Holy or Missionary Childhood, which refers to the various associations and movements of apostolate for children, where a child undergoes Catholic formation suitable for his age.
"We give importance to Holy or Missionary Childhood because what is sown in the hearts of children remains despite the difficulties encountered as they grow up. Even if the young person wanders away, later he will return to what he received as a child," Bishop Ganyé said.
Through this movement, the bishops, with the help of school teachers, organize camps and a pilgrimage for the children during school holidays. The same arrangement is also provided for adolescents as they prepare for adulthood.
Adults, on the other hand, are taught with emphasis on marriage. "With regard to adults we stress the importance of marriage and its indissoluble nature. This aspect is not easily understood by our people and they find it a struggle to live fidelity in marriage. We explain that the indissolubility of marriage is not an imposition of the church, instead it is a law of nature, a law made by God," said Bishop Ganyé.
The Catholic Church of Benin also engages in inter-religious dialogue with Muslims and traditional African religions.
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