Recently, a photo of a priest, Edouard convicted of participating in genocide against Tutsi, circulated on social media when he was on altar with Bishop Mwumvaneza Anaclet celebrating a mass.
In recent days, priest Edouard appeared in priest robes at the altar with bishop, Anaclet Mwumvaneza celebrating mass, an act criticized by many people who said that a person convicted of genocide crimes should not go on the altar.
Talking to IGIHE, the bishop of Kabgayi diocese, Monsignor Mbonyintege Smaragde said: “A jailed priest is not allowed to celebrate mass.However, the church delegates chaplains responsible for prisons and the jailed priest is not prohibited from attending mass.”
- The bishop of Kabgayi diocese, Monsignor Mbonyintege Smaragde
Bishop Mbonyintege explained that a jailed priest has basic rights like other inmates including access to food, clothing, getting medical assistance among other rights including attending the mass.
“He can never read the mass but he can attend it like other Christians.The problem arises when he leads the mass. But there is no problem when he attends the mass like other convicts,” he said.
He explained that the jailed priest can get closer to the priest who presides over the mass to repent like others and receive clergy assisted Penitence.
“If genocide convicts are nourished with Euchalistie, allow them clergy-assisted penitence, why can’t a convicted priest receive sacraments like others? It doesn’t mean he is proven innocent. He is an offender we want to direct in the way of repentance,” he said.
Regarding the wearing of priestly robes, Mbonyintege said that Catholic Church doesn’t prohibit a priest from wearing his clothes.
“We never prohibited him to wear the clothes. However, if the prison prefers him not to put on clergy clothes it can be respected. However, the church doesn’t prohibit putting on clergy clothes,” he said.
The prelate explained that the bishop delegates a priest responsible for prisons and jailed priests are not granted rights to lead mass in the prison.
- Priest Edouard on the left is jailed in Rubavu prison for participating in 1994 genocide against Tutsi