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Thursday, 12th January 2005
SUDAN: Bishop concerned about advance of Islam into Nuba Mountains
Königstein/Ts. According to Mgr Macram Max Gassis, Bishop of El Obeid, Central Sudan,** “Arab countries have set aside 30 million USD for the Islamisation of the Nuba Mountains.”** During a recent visit to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the prelate explained: “Now, 1 year after the Jan. 2005 peace agreement, Muslim fundamentalists are concentrating their efforts in the area of social services, especially schools and hospitals. Therefore, I am very grateful for the support from Sisters, such as Comboni, Precious Blood and Missionaries of Charity, who are serving in my diocese.”
Stressing the need for “many more priests,” Bishop Gassis said: “At the moment, I only have 8 priests. So, priority must be given to the training of the laity in order to withstand the advances of the Islamists and a rapidly changing society.” Pointing to another major challenge, he added: “For years, the Nuba Mountains, were cut off from the outside world but now Sudanese are returning, who have lived as refugees in Kenya and already there is a notable increase in the number of people, who are HIV positive. I am just starting a training programme for nurses, with a particular emphasis on ethics and AIDS awareness and would like ACN’s help with this.”
For over ten years, Bishop Gassis has been exiled from his diocese, but due to the peace agreement he is free to return to El Obeid.
Thursday, 12th January 2005
SUDAN: Bishop concerned about advance of Islam into Nuba Mountains
Königstein/Ts. According to Mgr Macram Max Gassis, Bishop of El Obeid, Central Sudan,** “Arab countries have set aside 30 million USD for the Islamisation of the Nuba Mountains.”** During a recent visit to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the prelate explained: “Now, 1 year after the Jan. 2005 peace agreement, Muslim fundamentalists are concentrating their efforts in the area of social services, especially schools and hospitals. Therefore, I am very grateful for the support from Sisters, such as Comboni, Precious Blood and Missionaries of Charity, who are serving in my diocese.”
Stressing the need for “many more priests,” Bishop Gassis said: “At the moment, I only have 8 priests. So, priority must be given to the training of the laity in order to withstand the advances of the Islamists and a rapidly changing society.” Pointing to another major challenge, he added: “For years, the Nuba Mountains, were cut off from the outside world but now Sudanese are returning, who have lived as refugees in Kenya and already there is a notable increase in the number of people, who are HIV positive. I am just starting a training programme for nurses, with a particular emphasis on ethics and AIDS awareness and would like ACN’s help with this.”
For over ten years, Bishop Gassis has been exiled from his diocese, but due to the peace agreement he is free to return to El Obeid.