Churches, mosques, caves and tents affected by the shutdown were found to have fallen short of the standard requirements set by 2018 laws, according to officials conducting the two-week process that started July 29.

The law requires clerics to have theology degrees, and faith organisations to register with the government and have clear statements indicating their doctrine.

The statements should be deposited with the Rwanda Governance Board, the government agency that registers houses of worship and other civil society organizations. Houses of worship must also pass safety and hygiene codes.

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The closure of Amazing Grace FM is a penalty for broadcasting "disgraceful" comments denigrating women.

The media watchdog says on 29 January Amazing Grace broadcast a sermon by Nicolas Niyibikora.

In his sermon, Niyibikora said women were "dangerous creatures of evil, going against God's plans".

The broadcast sparked outrage.

Complaints were made to the Rwanda Media Commission by the National Women's Association and the Women's Journalist Association.

The Commission oversees journalist's ethics.

"The sermon was denigrating women in the most vile manner," commission chief Edmund Kagire said in a statement on Monday.

"The sermon disparaged women in the most despicable way. The radio station and the preacher must issue a public apology for the damage they have caused."

Kagire demanded the station and preacher "issue a public apology for the damage they have caused."

The radio station is owned by American evangelist Gregg Schoof.

Schoof has received several warnings in the past for inflammatory programmes. He said he condemned any denigration of women.

Rwanda has kept a strong control over its media since the 1994 genocide. Hate speech on radio stations was used to encourage killings.

Source

• Daily Mail
• RawStory
• Africa News
• Image: eNCA

Francis said the Vatican acknowledges the church was in part to blame for the genocide, as were some Catholic priests and nuns.

He said these priests and nuns had "succumbed to hatred and violence, betraying their own evangelical mission" by participating in the genocide.

Francis is hoping to open a new phase in Vatican-Rwanda relations.

The 1994 genocide lasted about 100 days.

In that time, members of Hutu extremist groups, murdered more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Many victims died at the hands of priests, clergymen and nuns, according to some accounts by survivors.

The Rwandan government says many died in the churches where they had sought refuge.

Francis expressed his solidarity with the victims and with those who continue to suffer the consequences of those tragic events.

He "expressed the desire that this humble recognition of the failings of that period, which unfortunately disfigured the face of the church, may contribute to a ‘purification of memory' and may promote, in hope and renewed trust, a future of peace."

Source:

• Vatican Radio
• The Japan News
• Image: World Vision

Their killers were extremist Hutus who were Catholic Church members. They planned, helped with and carried out the genocide.

The Rwanda Conference of Catholic Bishops has just admitted and apologised for its role in the massacres.

"We apologize for all the wrongs the church committed. We apologize on behalf of all Christians for all forms of wrongs we committed.

"We regret that church members violated (their) oath of allegiance to God's commandments," said the statement, which was read out in parishes across the country.

The public statement is the first time the Church has admitted its role in the killings.

Until now it has denied it was involved in organised massacres.

Rather, it said the acts of genocide were undertaken by individuals.

Many victims were killed by priests, nuns and other clergy. Many died when they sought refuge in churches.

St Pope John Paul II was the first to officially condemn the atrocities.

He referred to them as a genocide and said those responsible would be held accountable by God and history.

In 2005 Pope Benedict challenged Rwandan Bishops to face the truth, confront their history and all consequences that may arise.

Then in 2014, Pope Francis told the bishops to "work closely with government and help Rwandans not to be held back by genocide against Tutsi and its effects."

The murderous behaviour of some ordained and professed members of the Church has created a rift between those who took part and those who didn't.

"Forgive us for the crime of hate in the country to the extent of also hating our colleagues because of their ethnicity.

"We didn't show that we are one family but instead killed each other," the statement said.

The statement was timed to coincide with last Sunday's formal end to the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

The Holy Year of Mercy was declared by Pope Francis to encourage greater reconciliation and forgiveness in the Church and in the world.

Source

• KTPress
• CBS News
• Image: notesfromcamelidcountry

My lasting memory of that time is the chaos of the situation.

There was a camp that was beginning to be established and some families were trying to set up home on the pitches that they had been allocated.

The sight of the new arrivals who had not yet been registered in the camp was particularly distressing: small groups of people sitting in whatever shade they could find, waiting to be called forward.

They all, invariably, looked completely traumatised: their faces were blank, expressionless, looking as if they were not even sure if they were still alive.

The few bundles of clothes or household utensils that were around them were now all of their worldly possessions.

"All of them, without exception, had a look of fear on their faces"

At one point I went down to one of the crossing points at the border - a swampy, marshy area covered in dense undergrowth.

From the way that the mud had been churned up, this had been the point that many of the people at the camp had left Rwanda.

There was still a trickle of people coming over: mothers, grandmothers, small children, but very few men of any age. Continue reading.

Sunday was the twentieth anniversary of the start of the Rwandan genocide. Rob Rees was Africa Programme Officer for CAFOD (Caritas England and Wales) at the time.

Source: CAFOD

Image: CAFOD