St. Paul recorder., 1962-12-28

the SO colored African Church
Fathers" bonded themselves into
a Pan-African conference and be-
gan preparing a list Of particular
problems for consideration by the
council, presided over by Pope
John XIII.
What are these problems?
And how do they affect Cath
oliclsm In Africa?
To begin with, 1t must be borne
In mind that the church's problems
in Africa are generally unlike
those in other countries. They
cover a wide spectrum, including
the adaptation Of Catholic worship
(liturgy) and administration to
African culture and traditions, and
other problems of socio-political
nature. In addition, there is the
problem of church finances in some
of the mission dioceses, particular
ly those administered by colored
African bishops.
Significantly, one Of these hard
pressed dioceses, Rutabo, in Tan
ganyika, East Africa, is headed by
the church's only BLACK Prince" !"
His Eminence Laurean Cardinal
Rugambwa Cardinal Rugambwa
recently toured the United States
soliciting funds to build seminary
in his diocese.
Generally, the church, from
reports submitted by apostolic
delegates, is aware of these prob
lens. But the council is depend
ing on the African Church
Fathers" to spell out the par
ticulars, such as their specific
needs and changes required in
administration. The African bis
hops are prepared to do this.
For example, the Pan-African
secretariat, headed by Cardinal
Rugambwa, is expected to ask the
council to approve the following
changes.
1. Relaxation or perhaps aboli-
ton lin some instances) of fasting
by priests, as a requirement for
celebrating Holy Mass, in areas
where a priest must say Mass
three or four times a day because
Of a shortage Of priests and the
number Of worshippers.
2. Permission to change the
weekly Day of Obligation to at
tend Mass from Sunday to other
days in regions where priests must
travel from one village to another.
8. More use Of the native tongue
in the Mass prayers and music.
Although not formally authorized,
the use Of local music Is already
in use in Catholic rites in Africa.
In one such instance, the Greek
Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy On Us)
Is sung in native tongue to the
accompaniment Of tom-toms.
For the most part, the adap-
ton Of native music to church
liturgy has been due to efforts Of
native African bishops to In
crease the interest Of Africans
In mass worship. One colOred
bishop, the Most Rev. Emmanuel
MabatbOana, O.M.I., DID,, a
gifted musician, has written two
poIyphonic masses and has pub
lished a book Of hymns which
are his own compositions. The
results have been rewarding.
But if priest shortage, church
growth and liturgycal adaptation
represent special problems, the
wave Of socio-political changes at.
tending African nationalism, par
ticularly in the newly emerging
states are just as pressing. Several
of the native African bishops find
that, in addition to their ecclesi-
ashcal duties, they must help pre-
pare our people" to perform
greater civic and social RESPONSE
bilities. Fortunately. the bishops
are well qualified for the task, al
though the added duties tax their
resources, physically and financial
ly.
Additionally, and although
priests are forbidden to dabble In
politics, the native African pre-
lates are expected to encourage
not ACCOMMODATIONS In their
struggles for political independ-
ence. Colonialism Is tabooed. In the
states already freed, the church
men are considered leaders who
must help inspire African Patriot
ism. Getting along with the heads
Of states Is a must. The native pre-
lates have done a good job at this,
too.
Quite the opposite was the fate
of the lone colored' bishop assigned
to a Western Hemisphere country,
the Most Rev. Remy Augustin,
s.M.M., DID,, auxiliary bishops Of
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, who was ex-
PEELED from his country for alleged
political activities and thus suffers
a special form Of religious persecu-
tion.
On whole, therefore, the prob
lens Of the colored bishops are