KAMPALA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Over 400 Catholic bishops from Africa on Sunday started their meeting here marking 50 years since the formation of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, while opening the meeting, urged the religious leaders in Africa to engage and sensitize their followers in economic activity.
"Contrary to the developed Western world countries, Africa has lagged behind because it has lived a situation of under-production and under-consumption. This affects both church and government as the citizens do not contribute enough to the church," Museveni said, according to a State House statement issued here.
The president said although Africa has spiritually grown more than any other continent in the world, reinforcing Africa spiritual position should be in consonance with Africa's people's economic welfare.
He said Africans are stuck in subsistence farming and do not consider the element of money, accountability and profitability.
SECAM president, Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Lubango in Angola, said Africa is a continent that is mostly populated by young people who constitute the present and future of the African countries.
Mbilingi said the time is now for stocktaking and re-launching the journey with hope.
SECAM was established in 1969 when Pope Paul VI visited Uganda.
The organization promotes the participation of the Catholic Church in education, spiritual and church family, among others.
