Local poverty 'is at the root' of violent attacks on priests
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WHILE it may be simplistic to say that people are still dying for their faith, some are putting their lives on the line.
The violent death of Fr Jeremiah Roche in Kenya brings to six the number of Irish missionaries murdered overseas since the turn of the century, with three killed in Kenya alone since 1997.
"It might be pushing it too far to say they are dying for their faith," a spokesperson for the Irish Missionary Union said.
"They are in situations that are difficult, but the reasons they are dying is mostly to do with poverty among the local people.
Rewarding
"These people are looking to survive in a very difficult situation and they know the missionaries have access to resources, and many times they are attacked because of poverty."
There are just under 2,000 Irish missionaries currently working in 83 countries. But the number is decreasing at a rate of about 200 per year because of the age profile of those involved.
"It is very rewarding, and it is difficult at times," the spokesperson added. "Not all the missionaries would be in a life-threatening situation, of course. But some of them would and they are the ones that you hear about."
In recent months, the kidnappings of Fr Michael Sinnott in the Philippines and Sharon Commins in the Sudan have highlighted the dangers involved in these endeavours. "It's a sporadic occurrence that missionaries lose their lives," the spokesperson confirmed.
About 50 Irish missionaries are thought to have died in the past 100 years.
Fr Tom Kiggins, a close friend of Fr Roche, said yesterday that where the Irishman was living on the outskirts of Kericho was "not particularly dangerous".
But the risks and turmoil in the east African country are well known to everyone, particularly missionaries.
Early last year, Irish missionaries were among those who attended the funeral of a Kenyan priest who was stoned to a death by a gang.
"The man was pulled out of his car and stoned to death. It brought it closer to home," Kiltegan priest Fr Nicholas Motherway said at the time.
In February 2007, an Irish-trained priest was shot dead during a car-jacking in Nairobi.
Five years ago, a priest from Clare was murdered 15 miles from Nairobi. Like Fr Roche, Fr John Hannon was killed during a robbery at his home.
Up to 10 men attacked the parish house, and when the 65-year-old attempted to escape he was hit over the head and killed instantly.
And in 1997 an Irish Franciscan brother, Larry Timmons, was killed in controversial circumstances in the Kenyan province of Nakuru. Brother Timmons, originally from Westmeath, was shot by a local policeman only days after he had alleged the policeman and three other local officials were engaged in corruption.
Ambush
But Irish missionaries are working in several countries that can be as dangerous as Kenya.
Tipperary-born Archbishop Michael Courtney was Papal Nuncio in Burundi when he was murdered in a car ambush in the African country in December 2003.
Fr Declan O'Toole, from Headford, Co Galway, was shot dead with two colleagues in Uganda in 2001 after they stopped their jeep at a military checkpoint.
And Fr Rufus Halley, a Columban priest from Waterford, was shot dead by a gang in the Philippines the same year.
But all thoughts yesterday were with Fr Roche's family, and his 60 Kiltegan Fathers colleagues in Kenya.
"Jerry was asked to start a new parish and had the church finished," Fr Kiggins said. "He had it on his Christmas card which I got yesterday."
- Jason O'Brien
Irish Independent
