Bishops Sound Alarm Over New Tax Policy
At the opening of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Malakal, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla cautioned that recent taxes on church property and staff salaries could shrink already fragile welfare programs reaching South Sudan’s most vulnerable citizens.
Dialogue Sought With Juba Authorities
The prelate emphasised that the hierarchy has no official breakdown of the levies but intends to ‘engage government in good faith so that our charity work is not crippled by an unjust fiscal burden,’ reiterating the Church’s constitutional right to operate freely.
Ad Limina Visit to Rome in Focus
Ameyu revealed that the bishops’ impending ad limina visit will allow them to brief Pope Francis on these fiscal headwinds and the broader pastoral landscape, maintaining the tradition that ‘the Holy Father listens and strengthens our communion’.
Fiscal Pressures on Social Outreach
Catholic clinics, schools and relief centres fill gaps in education, health and humanitarian assistance across the young nation. Faith leaders fear new taxation could hike operational costs, reduce scholarships and force closures in remote counties already marked by conflict and displacement.
Unity and Transparency Inside the Church
The cardinal urged fellow shepherds to model accountability, noting that ‘each bishop must serve, not be served,’ by guaranteeing transparent use of funds and close collaboration with conference commissions as they negotiate a sustainable path forward.
Regional Echoes and Possible Resolutions
South Sudan is not alone; Kenya and Uganda have debated similar tax regimes. Analysts argue that negotiated exemptions or service-based offsets can preserve public revenue while recognising the sector’s social value, a compromise bishops hope to secure through dialogue.