Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
2 December 2008
Tripoli — Over 200 religious leaders from around Africa are meeting here for a 4-day conference on the religion in confronting violence and advancing security in the continent.
The conference is taking place during the 2nd general assembly of the African Council of Religious Leaders-Religions for Peace (ACRL).
Former African heads of state, including Sierra Leone's Ahmed Teejan Kabbah, Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo and Mozambique's Joachim Chissano, were expected at the opening of the event on Tuesday.
The assembly, the ACRL said in a statement, is an opportunity for religious leaders representing all historic faith traditions to share the experiences of their religious communities transforming conflict, building peace and advancing sustainable development.
"Religious leaders are called upon to acknowledge our present realities and act as agents of peace and security," the organization said. "The people of Africa are looking unto religious leaders to provide moral authority and guidance towards a better future, a future in which all generations will experience lasting peace and shared security."
ACRL expressed concern over the weekend clashes in Nigeria and the civil conflicts in several African countries.
The ACRL general assembly was held in June 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria. The Council is led by senior religious leaders from the pan-African religious traditions and institutions including, All Africa Conference of Churches, Symposium of Episcopal Conferences for Africa and Madagascar, World Union of Catholic Women's Organization, senior Muslim representatives, Organization of African Instituted Churches, Hindu Council of Africa, African Women of Faith Network, Indigenous Religions of Africa and Religions for Peace International.
The mission of the ACRL-Religions for Peace is to advance multi-religious dialogue and cooperation in support of peace and sustainable development.
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i agree that each nation should put on importance to respect to all race, beliefs and creeds and place the dignity of man at its highest form regardless of its status in society. Only the political will of those people in power with real good deeds will put an end to the violence happening around us.Other "smaller"people or organizations with good deeds play a key role in influencing those in power, like this interfaith meeting. And if we really are want to be peacemaker we should stop calling people with belief different from ours - bigots/criminals/tugs for they have their… [Read Full Text]
Amazing, the faith leaders heal and positively construct, while the Demagogues and the Dictators are making a mockery out of Democracyd, stirring up and attacking the free market economy achievements, just to remain in power for the rest of their grip on power.
You can not laugh at the poor and the mis-led people any longer. Your games for holding on power are up. Remember, the free market economy and their leader rescued you from collapse, chaos and dis-array and now you don't even ashame on your faces to attack the hands that rescued you from your miserable demagogue,… [Read Full Text]
It is extremely important for each nation to manage and to control effectively its tribal gangs, tugs, bigots and criminals locally and cross-culturally.
To do this effectively and legally under the national and the international laws and guidelines, it is important for these tribal and religious leaders to continuously communicate, exchange, negotiate and dialogue to effectively manage themselves and their tribal gangs, tugs and bigots to maintain peace, stability and rule of law to give a chance for development, exchange, education and creating employment and business opportunities for people to keep them out of trouble and chaos.
Further, leaders should… [Read Full Text]