MONROVIA APRIL 15, 2016 (CISA) – The Catholic Bishops of Liberia have commended health workers for their invaluable service to their country during the fight against the Ebola epidemic.
“We commend our selfless health workers for their efforts in the provision of care to our ailing brothers and sisters. We acknowledge their tremendous sacrifices during the fight against the recent Ebola virus epidemic in which some of them lost their lives,” the bishops said after attending the first Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Liberia (CABICOL) held from April 5 to 10 April 2016 in Monrovia.
“With the sporadic reoccurrence of the Ebola Virus Disease, we urge you to continue to show the same commitment in saving lives. We also appeal to our people to continue to observe all health protocols with regards to Ebola. We commend the efforts made by all stakeholders in improving our health facilities and we ask that you continue with the same,” the statement from the bishops said.
The bishops further lauded the formation of the National Catholic Health Council (NCHC) in dealing with the 2014 outbreak as well as any other future outbreaks.
“With the formation of the National Catholic Health Council, we are certain of a more coordinated approach to health related matters, complementing the efforts of government in the service of the Liberian people especially in the most abandoned parts of the country.
We encourage you to continue these invaluable services to our brothers and sisters without discrimination.” The bishops further observed that the recent history had an adverse effect on Liberia’s education sector further citing the Second Vatican Council declaration on Christian education, which stipulates that every person has an inalienable right to education and pledged to assist the government in the provision of education.
“Thus we recommit ourselves to complement government’s responsibility to provide quality education in our country.”
The statement went also recognized “the efforts of the men and women helping to mould the minds and spirits of our sons and daughters in our schools. We strongly call on them to be honest, dedicated, upright and dutiful in the discharge of their responsibilities. We especially appeal to our Religious Education teachers to dutifully prepare our children, not only for exams but also and most importantly for life; inculcating in them basic life skills and the values of the Gospel.”
The bishops also reiterated their fundamental mission as a Church to proclaim the Good News ‘in season and out of season’. “We thank sincerely our missionary institutions for collaborating with the local church in our pastoral works,” he said.
The plenary Assembly dubbed ‘The Relevance of the Church in Liberia Today’ placed special consideration on evangelization, health, education, social works, justice, peace and mass media.
