The Catholic Church has apologised for the role of some of its members in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed over a million lives.

In a joint resolution signed by nine bishops representing all dioceses in the country, the Church apologised for the role its members played in the Genocide.

Although the Church fell short of acknowledging its responsibility as an institution, saying that only some of its members were involved and not the Church as an entity, the apology is a step forward in efforts to dispense justice for the victims.

Some of the rank and file of the Catholic Church was involved in planning and execution of the mass killings.

Although the apology has come 22 years late, it brings some hope for Genocide survivors in their pursuit for justice against the perpetrators who are still at large and the Genocide deniers.

For a long time, demands by the survivors that the Church apologises fell on deaf ears despite several reports implicating the Catholic Church for having played a central role in the Genocide.

Thousands of people who sought refuge in churches were killed with the help of the catholic clergy.

Even when some Church leaders were implicated, the church leadership in many cases shielded them and indeed some of the suspects are still serving as priests in different parts of the world.

Beyond this apology, the Church must demonstrate more efforts to ensure that none of their serving clergy was involved in the Genocide and also take measures to reach out to survivors to ensure total reconciliation.

And also, the church apology should set in motion reparation efforts, as one of the ways to account for their clergy’s actions.

But, most important, this apology should also be a reminder to other key players who participated in the Genocide that the truth will always prevail.

Where does the Catholic Church apology leave France which was its key ally in 1994? Probably this official admission by the Catholic Church should be a lesson for France to follow suit and apologise. Despite the compelling evidence on the role of the French government in the 1994 Genocide, Paris has continued to distance its self and instead continues to give sanctuary to Genocide fugitives.

While, for many people the Church’s apology is largely vague and falls short of acknowledging the institution’s role in the planning and execution of the Genocide against the Tutsi, its a step in the right direction.