Kameeta: Churches have become too silent

The African Churches have all in all become too quiet in the matter of human rights, Dr Zephania Kameeta said at a discussion on the German "Kirchentag". Kameeta is Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) and former UEM moderator. In the struggle for freedom and independence the churches always have played a major role, Kameeta said. "Now we need new young prophets to raise their voices." Conflicts with governments are nothing churches have to fear, Kameeta said. "You don't stop standing up for justice, peace and the integrity of creation just because others are against it. And if you always tell the people what they want to hear, your will not be respected but despised." Angelika Veddeler, head of UEM's Programme on International Diaconia, also supported a political commitment of churches. She added: "We should cooperate with other groups in the civil society. We cannot and do not have to do all of this on our own."