U.S. bishop welcomes peace agreement between Sudan, southern rebels

Published: 2005-01-14

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The head of the U.S. bishops' International Policy Committee welcomed a new peace agreement between the Sudanese government and southern rebels and said the church would continue to support "the fragile process of carrying out the agreement." "This historic agreement holds the promise that the Sudanese people can find ways to walk the path of peace and reconciliation," said Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., committee chairman. "We hope this action brings an end to Africa's longest-running war and ushers in a new era of hope," said the bishop's statement, released in Washington Jan. 13. Bishop Ricard, who has traveled to Sudan on behalf of the bishops several times, said the initiative between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement shows that members of the international community can "work together to make a difference." The agreement was signed Jan. 9 in Nairobi, Kenya.

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