Archbishop Thadee Ntihinyurwa’s remarks on foreign airwaves that he does not believe in the Rwandan judiciary should - in normal circumstances - have left an aftertaste. Uttering with a straight face, that four army officers arrested in connection with the killing of Catholic clergy in Kabgayi in 1994 would be favoured “by their peers” is unbelievable from someone of his stature in society. Mgr. Ntihinyurwa knows very well that the Church, through its clergy, did not leave behind a clean slate during the 1994 Genocide. It is very likely that some in its leadership will not agree with their Number One, and for good cause. The head of the Catholic Church in Rwanda should have known better than to drag into disrepute the very system that, just a few years ago, set free his colleague, Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro diocese who had been accused of similar crimes as the four army officers. In fact the soldiers face a lesser charge than what Misago had been accused of, but he was acquitted after justice had run its course. What divine inspiration pushes the Archbishop to believe that the law will not be followed in this case? If anything, the judicial system today is much more refined than it was in 2000. Yes, the Church, like any other close-knit society, likes to look after its own; but that is no reason why some should be “more equal than others”. The Church teaches us FAITH, so it would only be fitting if the boss up there would set an example. A bit of faith Monsignor! Ends
