Exiled Sudanese bishop, symbol of resistance, visits his people

Published: 2005-05-06

EL OBEID, Sudan (CNS) -- During a two-week visit to his El Obeid Diocese in Sudan, Bishop Macram Max Gassis was followed closely by heavily armed rebel soldiers. The bishop downplayed the soldiers' importance, but their presence was necessary for his safety. The Sudanese government, observers said, would love to see Bishop Gassis dead. He is a symbol of the resistance, one observer added. Each year the bishop -- who leads his diocese from Nairobi, Kenya, where he lives in exile -- makes several closely guarded trips home to check on development projects and assess the needs of his people. During a visit in late March and early April, Bishop Gassis focused his homilies on local issues, addressing problems complicated by tradition and culture. In one homily, he told young girls they need to stay in school. "You can be doctors and lawyers," he said. "You can be anything you want." The bishop said the number of girls attending school declines proportionately as the girls age. The end result is that few, if any, attend secondary school.

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