The U.S. bishops have reiterated their support for a federal
regulation that would block American investments from supporting
militias in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The rule is consistent with Catholic teaching on protection of human
life and dignity,” wrote Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, to
Bishop Nicolas Djomo Lola of Tshumbe, president of the bishops in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bishop Pates, who serves as the chair of the Committee on International
Justice and Peace for the U.S. bishops’ conference, noted that the
regulation “takes into account the lived experience of the Church in
your country,” as well as that of Catholic Relief Services and other
agencies in the area.
He added that the regulation “also meets our concern of providing
appropriate coverage of issuers and products, and ensuring information
submitted to the SEC is accurate, verifiable and easily available to
investors and consumers.”
The rule, which is part of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, requires that the Securities
and Exchange Commission create restrictions preventing U.S. funds from
supporting armed militias.
The regulation is currently being challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit.
The U.S. bishops’ conference voiced its support of the rule when it was first announced, which Bishop Pates noted in his letter.
He also praised the “tireless efforts” of Bishop Djomo, “along with
those of your brother bishops and the entire Church community,” who have
“long exemplified courageous leadership in the face of violent
conflict.”
“We send our ongoing prayers as innocent people in your country suffer
and die at the hands of militias who control illegal mines, divide up
your country and eliminate the rule of law,” Bishop Pates wrote.
Bishop Djomo has voiced his support for the limiting of American funding
to Congolese militias. During a May 2012 testimony before a U.S.
Congressional committee, the African bishop voiced his support of laws
promoting transparency, particularly for mining companies, to ensure
that violent groups are not funded.
“The Church in the Congo trusts that the business community can and will
join us to protect the life and human dignity of the Congolese people
by conducting legal, transparent and accountable international
commerce,” he said.
“We are confident that they do not want to be part of the misery that has plagued Eastern Congo for years.”