2007年VOA标准英语-Controversial Archbishop of Kinshasa Dies at 77

By Joe Bavier
Kinshasa
15 January 2007

The Democratic Republic of Congo Monday buried Cardinal¹ Frederic Etsou,

Cardinal Frederic Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, Archbishop of Kinshasa (File Photo)

the head of the country's Catholic church and only its second cardinal since independence. But his death, and controversial statements he made during historic elections last year, have sparked debate in the country over the church's role in Congo's fledgling democracy. Joe Bavier has more for VOA from Kinshasa.

There was not enough room in Kinshasa's 80,000 seat Martyrs²' Stadium for Sunday's mass for the late Cardinal Frederic Etsou. The crowds spilled out onto stairs, walkways, and down entrance tunnels.

 

A giant video screen was set up in a parking lot across the street for those who could not get in. Millions more Congolese watched the mass live on television.

 

Much of predominantly Catholic Congo has been in mourning since the cardinal's death more than a week ago at a clinic in Belgium.

 

But his passing has also sparked political debate.

 

President Joseph Kabila was sworn into office on December 6, following the country's first democratic elections in more than 40 years.

 

But as results were due to be announced and losing candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba was claiming fraud last November, Cardinal Etsou made a statement calling into question the fairness of the polls.  He criticized western nations, who heavily bankrolled the elections, for meddling³ in Congolese affairs and openly doubted the independence of the electoral commission.

 

It was a move that divided Congolese at the time and continues to do so even after his death.

 

"At least that last statement was not a good thing, and not at the right time," said Alain Muke, an English teacher and translator. "Especially because he came from the same province as one of the candidates. People considered that he was making that statement to backup Bemba. It was not a good thing."

 

The cardinal had previously⁴ caused controversy⁵ before the first round in July, telling Catholics to be prepared to boycott⁶ the vote if irregularities were not cleared up.

 

As Congo waits for a new cardinal to be chosen, some are now debating the roll of the church in the country's new democracy.

 

Lawyer Octavius Nasena says he thinks the Catholic Church should, and must, be active in Congolese politics.

 

"We know now that in France or the United States the two things are separated. But democracy is there. Development is there too. But what about in Congo or in Africa in general? In the United States or in France, I think we do not have the same vision of things," he said.

 

However, it is ironic⁷, Nasena says, that the question is being raised over Cardinal Etsou, who was widely viewed as being less politically active than his predecessor⁸, the late Cardinal Joseph Malula. Cardinal Malula, who headed the church during most of the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko, was temporarily forced into exile due to conflicts with the late dictator.

 

Mamadou Diarra says that kind of opposition⁹ to injustice¹⁰ should be the role of the church.

 

"I'm a Muslim, but I grew up in a Christian¹¹ country. When I think about all the power that the Catholic Church has over this country, for me it's a good thing if they can fight for the people, it's a good thing. If they do things on their own, that's where the problem is," added Diarra.

 

Cardinal Etsou was buried Monday at the Notre Dame¹² Cathedral in Kinshasa. It is now up to Pope Benedict XVI to name his replacement¹³.

1 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

2 martyrs   

n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情）

参考例句：

• the early Christian martyrs 早期基督教殉道者
• They paid their respects to the revolutionary martyrs. 他们向革命烈士致哀。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

4 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

5 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

6 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

7 ironic   

adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”，但他们是在挖苦我。

8 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

11 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

12 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

13 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。