South Africa: Bishops urge Catholics to resist bribery and corruption

Catholics in South Africa are being urged to resist corruption and live their lives with greater honesty and transparency. The call comes as a Pastoral Letter from the bishops of South Africa is due to be read at all Masses this weekend (12 and13 October). This is part of the Church's contribution to the international ecumenical campaign 'Exposed', endorsed by the South Africa Catholic Bishops' Conference, which is running up to the G20 summit next year.

The Justice and Peace Department of the Bishops' Conference of South Africa has worked with the Jesuit Institute in the country to prepare worksheets and other resources in a number of languages to help individuals and small groups to reflect on the challenge to stand up against corruption. These - together with posters - are being distributed this week to parishes and are also available from the Hope&Joy website of the Jesuit Institute of South Africa.

Corruption in many areas of Southern Africa is considered to be a very serious problem, with almost half of the citizens admitting that they have paid a bribe, mostly to police officers and government officials. 'This means that the challenge to work for the eradication of this illness is addressed to all of us,' say the bishops in their Pastoral Letter. 'Each must do something within their power to tackle corruption.'

The bishops say that corruption is rife far more widely than just public officials and point out four serious effects. They describe it as being 'theft from the poor' which hurts the most vulnerable in society; they also assert that it harms the whole community and is responsible for destroying trust. 'We need to examine our consciences, allow ourselves to be challenged by the Gospel to conversion, and to resist the temptation to participate in corrupt actions,' they write. 'Therefore, let us each pledge to ourselves that we will not pay a bribe or offer one, no matter how serious or important it may seem to be at the time.'

Catholics in South Africa are urged to resist corruption wherever they experience it and to report it to the authorities. The Pastoral Letter concludes with an appeal by the bishops to members of their congregations to personally commit themselves 'to greater transparency and honesty in the home, parish and the work place'.

To read Exposed, see: http://hopeandjoy.org.za/node/354/