Catholic Bishop in Angola Challenges Pastoral Agents to Make Parishes Spaces for Legal Awareness

Bishop Belmiro Cuica Chissengueti of the Diocese of Cabinda has called on pastoral agents to use parishes to promote legal awareness among Catholics and local communities. During a meeting with pastoral agents at Holy Spirit Parish on September 30, the bishop urged the Church to help people understand their rights, duties, and the legal options available for daily challenges.

Bishop Chissengueti, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit with a background in civil law and human rights, stated that the Pastoral Ministry for Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation should help citizens become more familiar with the law. He suggested that parish groups and movements should become spaces where people receive basic information about laws affecting their lives.

The bishop proposed that parishes disseminate information on one or two laws every month, covering topics such as the constitution, taxation, property, and other social regulations. He clarified that the goal is not to train pastoral agents as lawyers, but to foster a culture of legal knowledge within the community.