Sudanese Christians have the C of E’s ‘absolute’ support: The Church of England Newspaper, Jan 28, 2011 p 6. January 31, 2011
Posted by geoconger in Church of England, Church of England Newspaper, Episcopal Church of the Sudan.trackback
First published in The Church of England Newspaper.
The Church of England has pledged its full support to the Christians of Sudan, the Second Church Estates Commissioner told Parliament last week.
Speaking in response to a question from the member for Congleton, Fiona Bruce (Cons.), about the degree of support given by the Church Commissioners to the “Christians in Sudan,” Second Church Estates Commissioner Tony Baldry told the House of Commons on Jan 18 the Church of England’s support was through the Episcopal Church of Sudan.
He noted the dioceses of Bradford and Salisbury had companion link relationships with the Sudanese Anglican dioceses and they had “done great work in the region to support the Christian community,” as had Christian Aid.
Ms. Bruce then asked that in light of last week’s independence referendum for Southern Sudan, did the Church Commissioners not agree that the “Christian minorities in the north of Sudan will face continued persecution?”
She asked whether the Church of England would “support and protect Christians and other minorities in the north of Sudan, while also helping, where appropriate, in Southern Sudan?”
“Absolutely,” Mr. Baldry said, noting that “minority groups in northern Sudan have faced persecution, which is one of the many problems facing people in the region.”
The problems facing the South were formidable, he said. “Most southern Sudanese live on less than $1 a day, the country has almost no infrastructure-there are just 38 miles of tarmacked road in an area the size of France-and people are traumatised by years of rape and killings.”
The Church of England, along with Christian Aid, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and other NGOs “will give the people of Southern Sudan all possible support,” Mr. Baldry said, adding that “it behoves all of us to do what we can to support what may soon be the newest member of the United Nations as it sets out on the challenging road of nationhood.”
