1

In 1994, the Rwandan Genocide began.

Nel 1994, il Genocidio nel Ruanda è iniziato.

2

The majority Hutu dictatorship began the systematic killing of the Tutsi minority.

La dittatura della maggioranza Hutu diede inizio al sistematico massacro della minoranza Tutsi.

3

Rwanda is the most Christian country in the whole of Africa.

Il Ruanda è il paese più cristianizzato dell’Africa.

4

A greater proportion of Rwandans are Christian than in any other African country.

La percentuale di cristiani in Ruanda è maggiore che in ogni altro paese africano.  

5

According to the 1991 census, not less than 90% of the population was Christian, out of which 63% were Catholic, 19% Protestant and some 8% Adventist.

Secondo il censimento del 1991, non meno del 90% della popolazione era cristiana, di cui il 63% cattolica, il 19% protestante e il restante 8% avventista.

6

The role of the Christian churches in the genocide has been a source of great controversy.

Il ruolo della chiesa cristiana nel genocidio è stato fonte di grande polemica.

7

A report by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) claims that:

Un rapporto dell’Organizzazione per l’Unità Africana (OAU) afferma che:

8

"Church leaders failed to use their unique moral position among the overwhelmingly Christian population to denounce ethnic hatred and human rights abuse."

“I capi della chiesa non sono stati in grado di sfruttare la loro particolare posizione morale tra la stragrande maggioranza di cristiani per denunciare l’odio razziale e l’abuso dei diritti umani.”

9

Although the ethnic divisions and tensions between Hutu and Tutsi predate the colonial era, the OAU report goes on to state that:

Sebbene le divisioni etniche e le tensioni tra Hutu e Tutsi risalgono all’era coloniale, il rapporto del OAU continua dichiarando che:

10

"In the colonial era, under German and then Belgian rule, Roman Catholic missionaries, inspired by the overtly racist theories of 19th century Europe, concocted a destructive ideology of ethnic cleavage and racial ranking that attributed superior qualities to the country's Tutsi minority, since the missionaries ran the colonial-era schools, these pernicious values were systematically transmitted to several generations of Rwandans."

“Durante l’era coloniale, sotto il dominio tedesco e belga, i missionari cattolici, ispirati da teorie del 19° secolo apertamente razziste, si inventarono una ideologia distruttiva di divisione etnica e discriminazione razziale che attribuiva qualità superiori  alla minoranza Tutsi del paese, dato che i missionari gestivano le scuole coloniali, questi valori perniciosi furono metodicamente trasmessi a diverse generazioni di ruandesi.”

11

A Human Rights Watch Report notes that "Far from condemning the attempt to exterminate the Tutsi, Archbishop Augustin Nshamihigo and Bishop Jonathan Ruhumuliza of the Anglican Church acted as spokemen for the genocidal government at a press conference in Nairobi."

Un rapporto del “Human Right Watch” rileva che “Lungi dal condannare il tentativo di sterminare i Tutsi, l’arcivescovo Augustin Nshamihigo e il vescovo Jonathan Ruhumuliza della chiesa anglicana hanno svolto la funzione di portavoce del governo genocida ad una conferenza stampa a Nairobi.”

12

"Some clergy who might have been able to save lives refused to even try to do so.

“Un certo clero che avrebbe potuto salvare delle vite ha addirittura rinunciato a provarci.

13

On April 15 Abbé Pierre Ngoga, who had fled the Kibeho church after soldiers and local people had begun massacring thousands of Tutsi there, called the Bishop of Gikongoro.

Il 15 di aprile Abbè Pierre Ngoga, che era scappato dalla chiesa di Kibeho dopo che i soldati e la popolazione locale avevano incominciato a massacrare migliaia di tutsi, telefonò al vescovo di Gikongoro.

14

Abbé Ngoga asked him to rescue the Tutsi who had survived and faced renewed attack.

Abbè Ngoga gli chiese di soccorrere i Tutsi che erano sopravvissuti e si trovavano di fronte ad un nuovo attacco.

15

The bishop reportedly refused to help, saying that he had no soldiers to accompany him to Kibeho and that the Tutsi had been attacked because they had arms with them."

Il vescovo, da quanto riferito, ha rifiutato di aiutarli, affermando che non aveva soldati per accompagnarlo a Kibeho e che i Tutsi erano stati attaccati perchè portavano con sè delle armi.”

16

"Some clergy, Rwandan and foreign, turned away Tutsi who sought their protection, whether from fear, from misjudgment of the consequences of their action, or from desire to see them killed.

“Un certo clero, ruandese e straniero, ha mandato via i tutsi che chiedevano la loro protezione, sia per paura, per la valutazione delle conseguenze della loro azione, sia per il desiderio di vederli uccisi.

17

In other cases, the clergy protected most who sought refuge with them, but nonetheless sacrificed others."

In altri casi, il clero ha protetto la maggioranza di coloro che chiedevano rifugio presso di loro, ma nonostante ciò ne sacrificò altri.”

18

"A small number of clergy and other religious persons have been accused of having incited genocide, delivered victims to the killers or even of having killed themselves.

“Un esiguo numero di ecclesiastici ed altri uomini di chiesa sono stati accusati di aver favorito il genocidio, di aver consegnato le vittime agli assassini o anche di averli assassinate loro stessi.

19

Pastor Elizaphan Ntakirutimana has been indicted before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in connection with the massacre at Mugonero and Abbé Wenceslas Munyeshyaka of the Sainte Famille Church in Kigali has been charged in France with torture.

Il pastore Elizaphan Ntakirutimana è stato incriminato davanti al tribunale criminale internazionale in relazione al massacro di Mugonero e Abbè Wenceslas Munyeshyaka della Chiesa Sainte Famille a Kigali è stato accusato in Francia di torture.

20

Two Rwandan priests have been found guilty of genocide and condemned to death by a Rwandan court."

Due preti ruandesi sono stati dichiarati colpevoli di genocidio e condannati a morte dalla corte ruandese.”

21

The Christian church has started the first step on the long road towards atonement for its crimes by accepting that its actions were wrong;

La chiesa cristiana ha intrapreso i primi passi sulla lunga strada verso l’espiazione dei propri crimini accettando i propri errori;

22

"The archbishop of Canterbury has apologized on behalf of the Anglican church and the pope has called for clergy who are guilty to have the courage to face the consequences of their crimes."

“L’arcivescovo di Canterbury si è scusato per conto della chiesa anglicana ed il papa ha chiesto a coloro che sono colpevoli di avere il coraggio di affrontare le conseguenze delle loro azioni malvage.”

23

The full Human Rights Watch report can be viewed here:

L’intero rapporto del “Human Rights Watch” può essere visionato qui:

In 1994, the Rwandan Genocide began.

The majority Hutu dictatorship began the systematic killing of the Tutsi minority.

Rwanda is the most Christian country in the whole of Africa.

A greater proportion of Rwandans are Christian than in any other African country.

According to the 1991 census, not less than 90% of the population was Christian, out of which 63% were Catholic, 19% Protestant and some 8% Adventist.

The role of the Christian churches in the genocide has been a source of great controversy.

A report by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) claims that:

"Church leaders failed to use their unique moral position among the overwhelmingly Christian population to denounce ethnic hatred and human rights abuse."

Although the ethnic divisions and tensions between Hutu and Tutsi predate the colonial era, the OAU report goes on to state that:

"In the colonial era, under German and then Belgian rule, Roman Catholic missionaries, inspired by the overtly racist theories of 19th century Europe, concocted a destructive ideology of ethnic cleavage and racial ranking that attributed superior qualities to the country's Tutsi minority, since the missionaries ran the colonial-era schools, these pernicious values were systematically transmitted to several generations of Rwandans."

A Human Rights Watch Report notes that "Far from condemning the attempt to exterminate the Tutsi, Archbishop Augustin Nshamihigo and Bishop Jonathan Ruhumuliza of the Anglican Church acted as spokemen for the genocidal government at a press conference in Nairobi."

"Some clergy who might have been able to save lives refused to even try to do so.

On April 15 Abbé Pierre Ngoga, who had fled the Kibeho church after soldiers and local people had begun massacring thousands of Tutsi there, called the Bishop of Gikongoro.

Abbé Ngoga asked him to rescue the Tutsi who had survived and faced renewed attack.

The bishop reportedly refused to help, saying that he had no soldiers to accompany him to Kibeho and that the Tutsi had been attacked because they had arms with them."

"Some clergy, Rwandan and foreign, turned away Tutsi who sought their protection, whether from fear, from misjudgment of the consequences of their action, or from desire to see them killed.

In other cases, the clergy protected most who sought refuge with them, but nonetheless sacrificed others."

"A small number of clergy and other religious persons have been accused of having incited genocide, delivered victims to the killers or even of having killed themselves.

Pastor Elizaphan Ntakirutimana has been indicted before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in connection with the massacre at Mugonero and Abbé Wenceslas Munyeshyaka of the Sainte Famille Church in Kigali has been charged in France with torture.

Two Rwandan priests have been found guilty of genocide and condemned to death by a Rwandan court."

The Christian church has started the first step on the long road towards atonement for its crimes by accepting that its actions were wrong;

"The archbishop of Canterbury has apologized on behalf of the Anglican church and the pope has called for clergy who are guilty to have the courage to face the consequences of their crimes."

The full Human Rights Watch report can be viewed here: