“Leadership positions should not be an opportunity for enrichment”: Catholic Bishop Decries Corruption in Angola

Caxito, 10 August, 2024 / 8:40 PM

Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Caxito has decried “rampant” corruption in the Southern African nation and called on those in positions of leadership to work for the common good.

In his August 3 homily at St. Monica Kikolo Parish of his Episcopal See, Bishop Camuto said corruption is one of the “main evils that afflict Angolan society.”

“There is rampant corruption in Angola. Our customs, our minds, and our intelligence are all corrupt,” the Angola Catholic Bishop lamented, adding, “This is not the new man that the church wants; this is not the new man announced by Jesus; this is not the new man that God planned. This is our project, created by our ambition and greed.”

Bishop Camuto further lamented that corruption has led to social insensitivity in Angolan society.

Unfortunately, he said, “we have become people who are insensitive to the suffering and pain of others, who only know how to look at our navel, at our relatives and friends, at the members of our party.”

The Angolan member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp./Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) said increased corruption has led to “lack of job opportunities”, forcing young people to leave the country.

“The lack of opportunities for young people has allowed many of them to seek a life in many countries where many go through humiliating times,” Bishop Camuto said, and added, “Young people finish university but they don't have a job; they don't have anywhere to go.”

The Catholic Bishop said many young people travel abroad “because our country doesn't give them job opportunities.”

He went on to urge Angolans to free themselves from “greed, ambition, and the thirst to possess more wealth” and called upon the government to put in place “anti-corruption policies to combat this evil.”

“We have to think about how we're doing it, what fight against corruption we're doing, because it's not working,” Bishop Camuto. He added, “We should get rid of this greed, which only harms us.”