Catholic missionaries in Ethiopia are directly impacting the view of
women's dignity, promoting equality of all people and the education of
girls.
Aid to the Church in Need, which supports these
missionaries, reported on the effect of the Church on the Borana Oromo
tribe in southern Ethiopia.
In this culture, girls have
traditionally been married off without the possibility of refusal. If a
young woman became pregnant before marriage, she was sold to an enemy
tribe.
The Church has been slowly changing these customs by teaching about the equal dignity of men and women before God.
The Catholic missionaries have reported a growing interest in education, including that of girls.
Father
Boniface Isenge, a missionary who works with the people, stated, "We
encourage people to send their children to school and come to have a
love of learning."
The aid agency noted that education has helped
the people to improve living conditions, safeguard their rights, and
understand the faith by reading the Bible.
Father Isenge reported: "The people love to listen to us. They
were delighted when we came to them. They are very hospitable and
immediately shared their food and the milk from their cows with us. They
also know that we are here to help them. We share everything with them,
fetch water with them, travel the journeys on foot with them."
Evangelization
He
noted that the when he first arrived to that region he had to learn the
language, and the Borana were "delighted" to hear a foreigner speak in
their tongue.
The priest added that this process has actually
aided his work, as the people listen attentively to correct his use of
the language, thereby attending closely to his message as well.
"This is part of my joy," he said.
Father
Isenge emphasized the need to build a church in the area where he
works, near the village of Hako Bake, where the main marketplace of the
region is located.
Although the Holy Ghost Fathers have built some schools and churches in the region, the nearest is still ten miles away.
A
letter from the missionaries to the aid agency stated, "The
evangelization work that we want to start in Hako Bake will aim to reach
every area of the people's lives."
Thus, Aid to the Church in Need is sending €15,000 ($20,455) to support the building project.
Father Isenge stressed the need to put down "deep roots" for the faith in this region.
He noted that the young people in particular, especially the girls, have been quick to embrace the Christian faith.