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**Matt W** · Jul 21, 2005, 05:14 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4702337.stm

Quote:

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Rwanda is expected to testify before a local court trying those suspected of participating in the 1994 genocide.
Archbishop Thaddee Ntihinyurwa has been summoned to help with inquiries about atrocities perpetrated in an area in the south-west of Rwanda.

Local courts, or Gacaca, began in March the process of identifying the victims and perpetrators of massacres.

Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in the genocide in 1994.

Archbishop Ntihinyurwa is due to give evidence in the remote village of Nyamasheke. In 1994, he was the bishop responsible for that area.

Personally, I find the interesting bit of the article here:

Quote:

Members of the Catholic hierarchy in Rwanda had close ties to extremist politicians in the run-up to 1994.

Some priests have been accused of actively assisting the Hutu militias. Many others simply turned a blind eye to what was going on.

The Vatican does accept there were individuals in the Church who committed crimes.

But controversially, it says the Church as an institution cannot be held to blame

Tell us again about how Christians don't 'do' these sorts of things? :rolleyes:

Nono · Jul 21, 2005, 08:18 am

Matt, the Church never finds fault with itself, as an institution, regarding anything. The inquisition, the holocaust, pedophiles ... the list goes on -- it's always just a few bad apples, nothing that could throw into doubt the infallibility of the Vatican.

JP took a few tentative microsteps (nothing risky mind you). But it looks like being worse than ever under Ratzi, special school principal for disciplinary affairs.

**Matt W** · Jul 21, 2005, 08:29 am

Indeed. And in the meanwhile, various Christians seem to think that Islam can't just be 'a few bad apples'....

Nono · Jul 21, 2005, 08:42 am

Well, quite a few. Don't forget that the spirit of vengeance for perceived past wrongs (Remember Al Andalus dammit!) is alive and well in the Msulim world. These guys do have quite a few supporters. While Christianity preaches love of one's fellows (a message interpreted and implemented pretty strangely by some "Christians" for sure) Islam largely doesn't even bother with the pretense. And Sufis and others who do preach gentleness are often persecuted.

**Matt W** · Jul 21, 2005, 08:47 am

Ah well. I await the reaction of our fellow posters with interest. The Muslim thing has already been done to death....

Jul 21, 2005, 08:18 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
Nono Throbbing Member Location: Old Europe Posts: 6,443	Matt, the Church never finds fault with itself, as an institution, regarding anything. The inquisition, the holocaust, pedophiles ... the list goes on -- it's always just a few bad apples, nothing that could throw into doubt the infallibility of the Vatican. JP took a few tentative microsteps (nothing risky mind you). But it looks like being worse than ever under Ratzi, special school principal for disciplinary affairs. "I wish I was as cocksure of anything as Tom Macaulay is of everything." -- Viscount Melbourne

Jul 21, 2005, 08:29 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 5,709	Indeed. And in the meanwhile, various Christians seem to think that Islam can't just be 'a few bad apples'.... I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

Jul 21, 2005, 08:42 am	#4 (permalink) (top)
Nono Throbbing Member Location: Old Europe Posts: 6,443	Well, quite a few. Don't forget that the spirit of vengeance for perceived past wrongs (Remember Al Andalus dammit!) is alive and well in the Msulim world. These guys do have quite a few supporters. While Christianity preaches love of one's fellows (a message interpreted and implemented pretty strangely by some "Christians" for sure) Islam largely doesn't even bother with the pretense. And Sufis and others who do preach gentleness are often persecuted. "I wish I was as cocksure of anything as Tom Macaulay is of everything." -- Viscount Melbourne

Jul 21, 2005, 08:47 am	#5 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 5,709	Ah well. I await the reaction of our fellow posters with interest. The Muslim thing has already been done to death.... I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.