By: Bayor Chantal Ngoltoingar, JPIC Staff
On September 14 & 15 Africa Faith & Justice Network
(AFJN) marked 35 years of advocacy working with US lawmakers to promote just
policies in US-Africa relations. The theme for the celebration was “Africa in
Global Perspective.” The anniversary events included a policy briefing on
Friday, September 14 on Capitol Hill and a
program on the Promotion of Religious Freedom on Saturday,
September 15, held at Catholic University of America.
I attended the event on Saturday and it opened with welcome remarks
from AFJN’s executive director Fr. Aniedi Okure. Fr. Aniedi then introduced the
event’s moderator, Professor Robert A. Destro, Director, Institute for Policy
Research (IPR), at Catholic University. Prof. Destro is the founder and
director of the interdisciplinary program in Law & Religion of the Catholic
University of America. He was nominated this year by President Donald Trump to
serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. His appointment is awaiting confirmation.
In the first part of the program Archbishop Michael
Fitzgerald, MAfr, a member of the Missionaries of Africa congregation and
expert on Muslim-Christian relations delivered the keynote address and spoke
about the work of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa over the last 150
years. The Archbishop outlined the challenges, results and impact of their
mission across Africa and the World.
In the second half of the program Sr. Eucharia Madueke, SNDdeN, Coordinator, Women’s Empowerment at AFJN presented on their activities in Africa, followed by Mr. Bahati Jacques, Policy Analyst who spoke on AFJN’s past and current advocacy efforts in the United States.
Lunch was provided and the meeting concluded with the
popping of two bottles of champagne, celebrating Society of the Missionaries of
Africa and Africa Faith & Justice Network.
