In many countries, the feast of the Epiphany is also a celebration of children. I am thinking especially of all children, who are the treasure and blessing of the world, and above all of those who are denied a serene childhood. I wish to call attention, in particular, to the situation of hundreds of children and adolescents who, in these past months, which included Christmas, have been kidnapped by armed gangs that have attacked small towns in the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which have resulted in numerous victims and wounded.
I call out to the authors of these inhuman brutalities to return these young people to their families and to a future of security and development, which is their right, together with these beloved populations. I wish to express at the same time my spiritual closeness to the local Churches, whose members and works have been hurt, while I exhort the pastors and faithful to remain strong and firm in hope.
Episodes of violence against children, which unfortunately also occurs in other parts of the world, are even more deplorable give that in 2009 the 20th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child will be celebrated: a commitment that the international community is called to renew so that it can defend and promote childhood throughout the world.
For an article about violence against children see this one… http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/19352/
Hamas is stealing aid, using schools, ambulances, hospitals, churches and mosques for their purposes and civilians, women and children as shields…
But, then, there’s also 50 MILLION infants killed in the US and the spreading plague of legalized euthanasia. The US is no less barbaric, are we?
Lent and Beyond has posted an article about another organization, the LRA, that is kidnapping and victimizing children in Uganda.
http://anglicanprayer.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/the-lords-resistance-army-3/