Catholic Priests in Senegal Call for Church-State Collaboration to Address Poverty, Youth Unemployment

Catholic priests in Senegal are calling for increased cooperation between the Church and the state to tackle poverty, unemployment, and social instability. In a statement released Wednesday, September 23, the Union of the Senegal Clergy (UCS) said that addressing the solidarity economy requires dialogue between religious and government leaders.

The call followed the 48th General Assembly of the UCS, which 152 priests from seven Senegalese dioceses attended from September 14 to 18 in the Diocese of Tambacounda. The assembly focused on acting together beyond the Church to address rising poverty, the difficulty of finding work for women and young people, weak community structures, and a lack of entrepreneurial activity. The priests also noted concerns regarding the accelerating degradation of the natural environment.

To address these issues, UCS members pledged to promote social cohesion, citizenship, and mutual assistance. The group committed to applying the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church and acting as participants in integral human development.