Irrationality among Factors behind Angola’s Failures, Catholic Bishop Laments

He went on to implore, “May today, when you return home, feel the difference between someone who prayed and someone who didn’t. If prayer doesn’t transform us, it becomes a real waste of time.”

In the country’s Catholic Diocese of Viana, the host of June 1 Jubilee of Families for Angolan Episcopal See alongside the Catholic Archddiocese of Luanda and Caxito Diocese, Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto weighed in on violent conflicts in Angola. 

There are reported cases of political intolerance among supporters of Angola’s ruling party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), and the largest opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

On May 30, a delegation of UNITA officials was reportedly ambushed in the municipality of Galanga, Huambo province, by members of the ruling party, who “used violence to try to prevent the free and peaceful exercise of political activity,” Ver Angola reported.

UNITA’s Executive Secretariat of the Permanent Committee of the Political Commission attributed the action to “individuals identified as members of the MPLA” and demanded that the perpetrators be held accountable.

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In his June 1 homily, Bishop Camuto described the attacks in Galanga as “shameful” and faulted the silence of authorities. 

“We are approaching the celebration of 50 years of independence with hatred, resentment, a lack of reconciliation, and peace. It should not be so. Christians must help our brothers to reconcile,” he said during the June 1 Eucharistic celebration held at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral of Viana Diocese.

The Local Ordinary of Caxito Diocese challenged Christians to live by their calling, saying, “We Christians are instruments of peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness. The Lord calls us to announce repentance and forgiveness of sins.”

“Christian families should not participate in acts of intolerance, lack of reconciliation, hatred, or resentment,” Bishop Camuto further said, and appealed, “Do not engage in actions that harm unity and peace. We all need conversion.”

“Our actions, our way of life, do not reflect the Christ we claim to carry in our lives. They do not show that we have risen with Christ. That is why our country, our Angola, remains as it is,” the Local Ordinary of Caxito Diocese said.

Meanwhile, Bishop Pio Hipunyati of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Ondjiva faulted the sudden appearance of new political parties just months before elections, calling it “unserious.”

Bishop Hipunyati acknowledged the importance of multiparty democracy for national healing but urged sincere efforts toward reconciliation among political actors.

“It’s good that political parties are emerging — and it's even better if they do so early. I don’t trust parties that spring up in election season. True parties that aim to serve the nation and have a real vision don’t appear six months before elections. A serious candidate doesn’t enter the race six months before — such a project can’t be credible,” he said.

Bishop Hipunyati recognized the emergence of new political actors as a positive sign of national reconciliation, but warned, “We still see speeches that aren’t helpful. Dialogue is missing — especially among politicians.”

The 60-year-old Catholic Bishop lamented the lack of fraternity among political parties, saying, “Often it seems like there is no fraternity among them. This becomes evident when individuals from different parties can’t coexist, not even to share the same public event or holiday celebration.”

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“Rarely do we see our politicians together. True reconciliation still demands a long road ahead. This demonstrates that we still need to journey forward. It’s rare to see politicians in the same room doing a joint interview, sharing views on a national issue. Society needs to respond to this,” he said.

Bishop Hipunyati added, “History left deep scars, especially among traditional parties, but new parties can help build understanding and ease old hostilities.”

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