Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Conferenza Episcopale Papua Nuova Guinea e Isole Salomone
Megiar (Agenzia Fides) – In a social context where witchcraft practices and violence unleashed by superstition end up becoming two sides of the same coin, the Catholic community in Papua New Guinea is striving to help all pastoral workers curb the phenomenon of Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV), a phenomenon widespread in various regions of the country.The Archbishop of Madang, Anton Bal, delivered a lecture on this topic during a summer camp to 74 catechists from 22 parishes in his archdiocese. The Archbishop’s analysis – also cited by Roseanne Kulupi of the Media Relations Office of the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea – was based on the reaction of many local people to death and illness. For them, these are caused by witchcraft.The accusation of alleged witchcraft is often leveled against people going through a period of mourning. In other cases, the accusations are made out of revenge, jealousy, or economic gain against vulnerable people, exploiting the emotional vulnerability of families.”In times of mourning, evil takes advantage to insinuate itself. But it is precisely then that the Church is called to be present,” explained Archbishop Bal, who then listed some “measures” that can help prevent the violence resulting from these accusations.First and foremost, the Archbishop stated, a “continuous spiritual presence” is needed: priests and catechists should accompany families throughout the mourning period, offering them prayers and consolation. The second measure is “material support: the Church should also provide concrete support to families to reduce social pressure and prevent corruption or manipulated accusations.” Furthermore, the families of the deceased should be seriously encouraged to “avoid discussions about alleged witchcraft during the mourning period.”At the same time, it is urgently necessary to officially verify and confirm the cause of death: “Medical or police records should be requested to clarify the circumstances and avoid unfounded suspicions.”A further measure should be taken in the case of previously committed acts of violence and consists in “promptly providing protection to the victims and immediately transporting them to safety,” while those responsible for the violence and assaults must be reported. Finally—and this is a crucial factor—everything must be based on a “biblical foundation”: the fight against violence related to witchcraft must be based on a strong spiritual foundation, remembering that only God has power over life and death.Archbishop Anton Bal’s commitment to combating witchcraft dates back to the 1980s, when, as a seminarian in the Highlands, he organized public meetings to promote reconciliation among indigenous tribes. Since then, he has continued to advocate for social education as an antidote to tribal violence, working with local communities and civil authorities. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 12/8/2025)
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