Forgiveness gives peace of mind – Bishop Rukamba

Forgiveness eases the pain of the heart and sets free the victim, this is the message delivered by Bishop Rukamba of Butare Catholic Diocese to people who had come to bury and commemorate the 1994 genocide against Tutsi victims in Ngoma sector in Huye district on the 20^th.May.2012. 

Bishop Rukamba emphasized this message mainly to genocide survivors who lost their families and friends in the genocide.

“Forgiving is to let go of the grudge because to the one who sinned against you, it is to protect yourself, some will not ask for your forgiveness because they no longer exist, forgiving makes our hearts relax and eases the pain we feel.” He said.

Forgiveness was again talked about by Dr. Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu the coordinator of Ibuka on the National level. He reminded people that forgiveness does not take away justice.

“Asking for justice is not bad and we will never stop asking those who killed others in genocide to take a step and ask for forgiveness from those they hurt and betrayed and beseech that God direct them in the right direction.”

The minister of sports and culture Protais Mitali asked those who committed genocide to tell the truth about what happened by saying where they hid genocide victims’ bodies so as to be buried in respect as it is the only way to mend what they did and to be forgiven.