The Vice President of Angola, Manuel Vicente, has called for closer collaboration and cooperation between the church and state for the building of more just and morally upright society.

 Addressing the opening ceremony of the 17th Plenary Assembly of the symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) Tuesday  in Luanda, Angola, the Vice President stressed the need for the two bodies to condemn violence, the abuse of children, immorality and other vices in society and the family.

‘We live in a world of complexities and ideologies so much so that what happens in one part of the world has direct or indirect effect on the family and society in general in other parts of it.’

 He hoped that the Church in Africa will continue to support the state in promoting moral values, human rights, mutual respect, democracy and good governance.

 The Assembly was declared opened by the President of SECAM, Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Lubango, Angola, who also gave a brief history of SECAM.

 He celebrated ‘Observer Status’ obtained by SECAM in the African Union (AU) as an opportunity for mutual enrichment of the two bodies.

 Mbilingi hoped that with this, there will be closer relations between SECAM and the various governments in Africa through the AU.

 There were goodwill/solidarity messages from the Apostolic Nunciature in Angola; MISSIO, Germany; MISSIO, Aachen; CAFOD; Catholic Relief Services;

Catholic Biblical Federation and Caritas Internationals. The rest are: The Federation of Asian Bishop Conferences; Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe; Family Life Federation in Africa; and the Association of Africa Catholic Women Organisations.