Some churches, parishes, religious and church schools in northern Sudan are closing due to a large movement of people to the south after the independence referendum, according to some church leaders.
In the referendum, held in mid-January, voters in southern Sudan overwhelmingly approved independence for their region, the site of two long civil wars. The area is expected to become independent in July.
Roman Catholic Bishop Daniel Adwok, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Khartoum Archdiocese, said the closures were occurring after people who had settled in a northern area during the conflict travelled voluntarily and en masse to the south, with more movement expected.
Although many of the Christians are said to have returned to the south voluntarily, some observers said they had departed because they could not be assured of their safety. Church leaders are concerned that if the Muslim government in the north adopts strict Sharia law, as it has promised, the church will suffer. – –ENI
