Page 2, 13th March 1964

13th March 1964

Page 2

Page 2, 13th March 1964 — JOINT BIBLE IN STORMY CONGO
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Locations: Peking, LEOPOLDVILLE, Moscow

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JOINT BIBLE IN STORMY CONGO

LEOPOLDVILLE WHILE missionaries in the Congo's Kwilu province continue to be attacked and injured, Catholic and Protestant scripture scholars in South Kasai are working on a joint translation of the Bible into Luba, the language of over 1,500,000 Baluba people in the south of the Congo.
Co-chairmen of the project are Fr. Godefroid Mukenge of the Luluabourg archdiocese and the Rev. M. Williamson. Catholics include four priests and a layman. The Protestants include two women among eight representatives.
At their first meeting they have been sorting out an agreed system of spelling, as Luba orthography is not firmly established. The agreed spellings are to be used not only for the Bible, but also for all future publications and for teaching in mission schools.
The Congo project follows the start of a similar joint effort to produce a Swahili Bible for East Africa.
Meanwhile, in troubled Kwilu province, two nuns have been wounded in a terrorist attack near Kikwit. The rebels sited schoolchildren as shields against defending soldiers.
Peking pattern
Bishop Rene Toussaint, 0.M.I., of Idiofas has lost 26 out of 30 missions to rebel hands under the orders of former cabinet minister Pierre Mulele.. Many thousands of pounds worth of buildings and equipment have been ruined or destroyed. The bishop's own home was set on fire.
Catholic hospitals at Ipamu, Mukedi and 'elide had to he abandoned. Now 55,000 school pupils have no schools to go to.
The bishop, however, is determined to return to his territory. Speaking in Leopoldville, he has reported repeated statements by terrorists that, when the whites are driven out, "people from Peking and Moscow will come and bring us food and all the things we need".
Intimidation
Mgr. Toussaint had warm praise for the American Protestant missionaries at Mukedi, who risked great danger to come and rescue nuns after the tragedy at K ilembe.
Many of the local people in the Itliofa diocese are refusing to cooperate with the terrorists. said the bishop; all missionaries who have been driven out of their areas are staying in the Congo and are straining at the leash to go back to their missions.




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