Luanda – President João Lourenço on Tuesday analyzed socio-economic, religious and political issues during an audience that he granted to seven representatives of churches in Angola.
This is the second time in less than 15 days that the Head of State has received religious leaders in a joint audience, and this time the heads of the United Methodist Churches of the East Angola Annual Conference, Gaspar João Domingos, the Evangelical Alliance of Angola, Alexandre Saul, and the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola, Luciano Chaneque, were present.
The meeting included leaders of the main bodies of the Evangelical Synodal Church of Angola, Dinis Marcolino Eurico, the Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola, Alberto Daniel, JOSAFAT, Gerson Pimentel, and the Free Baptist Church in Angola, Nsumbu Luyindula.
According to the spokesman of the meeting, Reverend Alexandre Saul, the president analyzed issues that afflict Angolan society, with reference to the fight against poverty and unemployment.
The spokesperson said that among the issues presented to the president was the increase in taxes on the import of biblical books, which, in the opinion of these religious bodies, is negatively reflected in the final price, making them less accessible to citizens.
Also in the religious sphere, according to Alexandre Saul, the situation of theology courses was addressed, due to the fact that often, after graduating, the staff do not receive due recognition in society.
In this regard, the religious leader explained that President João Lourenço also took “good note”, pointing out that, in these two hearings, the Angolan statesman gave priority to the issues that affect religious entities.
The religious leader added that the Head of State has issued guidelines for the creation of specific groups to survey all the issues that would then be dealt with by the government. AFL/SC
