The Complex Relationship Between The Church And The Government In Rwanda
The Rwandan Government has implemented several regulatory mechanisms to oversee religious institutions, particularly Churches, in response to concerns about the proliferation of unregulated places of worship.
As of August 2024, the Rwandan Government has shut down over 5600 Churches due to non compliance with established regulations. The regulations stem from a law enacted in 2018, which aimed to address the rapid growth of Churches and ensure that they operate within “safe and structured” environments.
The regulation of the Church in Rwanda began in earnest in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. Rwanda implemented several regulatory mechanisms to ensure that Churches operate in a manner that supports national unity, peace and development. The government said that these measures were introduced to ensure that religious institutions contributed positively to society.
The Church in Rwanda, particularly the Catholic Church, played a complex and controversial role during the genocide. Some priests, nuns, and other church officials actively participated in or facilitated the killings. There are documented cases where people sought refuge in Churches, only to be betrayed and handed over to militias by the clergy. Churches, traditionally seen as places of refuge, became sites of massacres. It’s important to note that many priests and nuns were also victims of the genocide, with over 200 of them killed.
In the years following the genocide, some Church leaders, including the Vatican, have acknowledged the Church’s failures and complicity. Pope Francis, in 2017, asked for forgiveness for the Church’s role in the genocide during a meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. This acknowledgement was a significant step towards reconciliation and healing in the nation.
The Catholic Church’s role has since evolved from one of complicity and silence to a more proactive stance in healing and reconciliation among communities. One of the significant efforts initiated are the Christian Gacaca Courts, which aimed to facilitate dialogue between perpetrators and survivors. These community based Courts offered a forum for discussing the traumatic events of the past in order to promote reconciliation and forgiveness among Rwandans.
The Church has also been involved in various educational and societal programs aimed at rebuilding communities and fostering unity. These initiatives include providing psychological support for survivors and encouraging community development projects that bring together individuals from different ethnic backgrounds.
That history explains the complex relationship the Church currently has with the Rwandan Government. The 2018 law has some of the following requirements:
- All religious leaders must possess a University Degree in Theology.
- All Churches must be legally registered and they must submit clear doctrinal statements to the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).
- Places of worship must comply with safety and hygiene codes, including adequate infrastructure, soundproofing, and proper sanitation facilities.
The Rwanda Governance Board is responsible for enforcing these regulations. Churches that fail to meet the requirements are closed and can only reopen once they comply with the standards set by the RGB.
While some Church leaders support the regulations for promoting order and safety, others criticize them as overly stringent and unfair. This is particularly in reference to the requirement for theological training, which many local pastors lack. This has led to challenges for smaller congregations, especially those that are community based and led by individuals without formal theological education.
