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Catholic Bishop in Angola Advocates for Parishes Magazines to Enlighten Local Communities

Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Caxito. Credit: Caxito Diocese

By João Vissesse

Caxito, 02 May, 2024 / 4:38 pm (ACI Africa).

Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Caxito is advocating for Parish-based magazines, aimed at enlightening community members on current affairs. 

Addressing journalists attached to St. Mark Parish Magazine on the sidelines of his pastoral visit on Monday, April 29, Bishop Camuto emphasized the need to report the truth.

“We call on the parishes to create teams for the parish magazine and for these magazines to be able to report not only on parish activities, but also on activities linked to the area, linked to the locality, so that we can bring some communities out of the shadows,” he said.

Bishop Camuto called upon reporters to denounce wrongdoing in their respective communities, saying, “If we don't put our finger on the pulse so that we can denounce what's wrong here, things will never get better.”

“And it's our job, it's our mission to help the community by proclaiming the Word, the Gospel, denouncing what isn't right, isn't good and doesn't meet the Gospel that we proclaim,” the Local ordinary of Caxito added. 

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The denouncing of wrongdoing and the announcement of the Gospel requires “men and women of courage; it's not enough to say that I want to be a radio journalist. You have to have the courage to do your job,” the Angolan member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) said.

He cautioned against corruption and manipulation in the practice of journalism. “The government also pays journalists, corrupts journalists to do their job badly or not at all,” he said.

“A journalist is not a person who is closed off in one place, or in his home, or in his radio station, or in his neighbourhood, or in his life, but a person who focuses on various subjects,” the Local Ordinary of Caxito Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in August 2020 further said.

That's why, he went on to say, a journalist has “a large address book, with contacts of various people, who can help you when you need an interview, when you need support.”

Asked if he has been a victim of intimidation in his Episcopal Ministry, Bishop Camuto replied, “It's not the government's job to intimidate people. I have never felt intimidated, and I have never been intimidated. What we say is the truth and it's there for all to see. Everyone listens and everyone can see that what I say is true.”

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He continued, “I have friends from the government. I have friends who are government officials and the government's job is to solve the problems that we get or raise.”

“We work as advisors to the government because we point out where there are difficulties, where there are problems, what the people's limitations are,” Bishop Camuto said.

João Vissesse

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. 

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