A former South African ambassador to the United States has issued a challenge to spiritual leaders here to make religion part of the solution, not part of the problem, in Africa.
The former diplomat, Harry Schwartz, made his appeal at a recent gathering of the African Christian-Jewish consultation, facilitated by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.
Cyril Harris, the chief rabbi of South Africa, speaking at another session of the conference, said the “upbuilding of the world” depends upon the values of family, community and tradition.
Schwartz also spoke of the importance of values.
“It is unacceptable that persons who are dedicated to faiths committed to sound moral values merely utter words and do nothing more proactive than that,” he said.
“When, for example, on this continent of ours there is genocide, Christians and Jews must stand up as one to see that it is put an end to.”
Religious leaders are not doing enough to end violence and starvation in Africa, Schwartz said. The message of tolerance is not being spread across the continent, he said.
Political leaders must be made to understand that they could remain in office only if their behavior is “in accordance with democratic concepts, in accordance with the concepts of peace, tolerance and reconciliation,” Schwartz said.
He cited the South African Council of Churches as an organization prepared to challenge the government for failing to conduct itself according to those principles. More organizations and religious leaders had to follow that example, Schwartz said.
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