By John Ikani
The Catholic Church has dismissed a long-serving clergyman in France, Wenceslas Munyeshyaka.
The 64-year-old Rwandan priest, who had been serving in the northern part of the country for almost 30 years was defrocked by Pope Francis.
The decision was based on a papal decree issued in March, as per a statement by the Bishop of Évreux.
Munyeshyaka, who had fled to France in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, has not issued a statement regarding the matter.
The bishop’s statement further added that, Munyeshyaka is banned from carrying out priestly functions and automatically forfeits clerical rights.
The diocese suspended Munyeshyaka in December last year after he admitted to fathering a 10-year-old boy.
The Rwandan-born clergyman had been ordained as a priest in Rwanda in 1992, where he is accused of being involved in the massacre of hundreds of Tutsis.
The genocide survivors had sought shelter at Munyeshyaka’s church in the capital, Kigali.
Although Munyeshyaka was cleared of the charges by French courts, the Pope’s decision sends a strong message about the Church’s stance on such conduct.
