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Faith and Justice Network (FJN) in Liberia has officially launched the Archbishop Michael K. Francis Intellectual Discourse on Social Justice and Peace in the country. The Archbishop Michael K. Francis Intellectual Discourse on Social Justice and Peace on Thursday, August 8, 2019, was launched by FJN in collaboration with the Liberia Council of Churches and the Association of Evangelicals of Liberia under the theme: “Promoting the Rule of Law, Transparency and Accountability – Prospects and Challenges for Post Conflict Liberia”
The quarterly intellectual discourse creates awareness and consciousness in the minds of citizens regarding the work and teachings of Archbishop Michael K. Francis on social realities in Liberia. The intellectual discourse will encourage citizens to support peace and justice throughout Liberia through conflict prevention, peacebuilding, human rights, and sustainable development.
In his introductory statement, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of FJN, the Most Reverend Bishop Dr. Jonathan B. B. Hart said promoting the rule of law, transparency, and accountability in postwar Liberia is not optional. Bishop Hart said the rule of law, accountability, and transparency produce a government that is legitimate, effective, and supported by citizens. Archbishop Hart of the Episcopal Church of Liberia said “It is not just a matter of deciding to be good people; citizens must believe they will be better off under a reformed system of governance.” “Where the rule of law is strong, people uphold the law not out of fear, but because they have a stake in its effectiveness. Transparency too rests on a partnership,” he said.
The FJN Head of Board wants to officials make information available and there must be people and groups with reasons and opportunities to put the information to use. He said rules and procedures should be open to scrutiny and comprehensible and transparent Government makes it clear what is being done, how and why actions take place, who is involved, and by what standards decisions are made.
The Keynote speaker and Chief Launcher, Atty. Aloysius Toe spoke on the “Role of the Liberian Church in Promoting the Rule of Law, Transparency and Accountability” and said that the church has a cardinal role in promoting justice and human dignity. According to Atty. Toe, the church has a special and dignified place in the struggle against human suffering, manmade injustices, and institutional indignities. He called on the church by saying “This is the occasion on which the church must rise.” Atty. Toe said “The church has a role to speak fearlessly and insistently in terms of justice, rule of law, transparency and accountability. He called on the church to raise its voice against growing corruption in government and take a stance against the virus.
The participants included Rev. Christopher W. Toe, Secretary General of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCL), Rev. James T. Cooper, and Secretary General of the Association of Evangelicals of Liberia (AEL) among other distinguished church leaders. The Catholic Church in Liberia was represented at the program by Msgr. Dr. Gabriel Blamo Jubwl, Priest-In-Charge of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Charles Boyce, Vicar General of Catholic Church in Liberia, and Rev. Fr. McDonald Nah, National Director, Catholic Justice and Peace Commission and Caritas.
Participants at the programs commended the Faith & Justice Network and partners for the Archbishop Michael K. Francis’s Intellectual Discourse on Social Justice and Peace and pledged their unflinching support to keep the legacy of the late Catholic Archbishop through the Intellectual Discourse within the fifteen political sub-divisions of Liberia.
