Part of what drives Bishop John Rucyhanana is a conviction that organized religion failed Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. Dozens of priests throughout Rwanda collaborated with the killers, and tens of thousands were murdered in churches they thought would be a refuge. He notes that over 80 percent of Rwandans are Christian, a faith that commands its adherents to love their neighbors. “How could we have a genocide?” he asks.

Bishop John is one of 10 Anglican bishops in Rwanda, but easily the best known, thanks to a charismatic, ebullient approach to his ministry that has attracted attention from many prominent American Christians and politicians. We had breakfast with him at his guesthouse in Musanze, the northern Rwandan town formerly known as Ruhangeri, to discuss the status of reconciliation and the church’s role in helping rebuild society.

Bishop John was born here 62 years ago, but left Rwanda as a young man in 1962, part of a wave of Tutsi familes that sought to escape violent attacks orchestrated by Hutu radicals. He lived in Congo and Uganda, and even spent time in the United States, receiving a masters degree at the Trinity Episcopal School near Pittsburgh.

Rucyahana returned to Rwanda in 1994, in the aftermath of the genocide, and took up his current post at the end of 1996. His diocese is intensely involved in community outreach, education and reconciliation: It also operates an orphanage (known as “Sonrise"), 65 primary schools, seven high schools, a hospital and a variety of other health facilities.

“We have betrayed the people, we have betrayed their trust in the church,” Bishop John told us. Now, by showing that actions speak louder than words, he aims to earn back that trust.

Michael Abramowitz

Posted By: Michael Graham | April 14, 2009 | Comments (0)