HUYE – The Bishop of Butare Anglican Diocese, Reverend Nathan Gasatura, has called for forgiveness as a way of fighting trauma.

In his presentation over the week-end as part of the activities to mark the 16th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide at the National University of Rwanda, Bishop Gasatura said that forgiveness is a right of the victim and it liberates his/her heart.

He added that forgiveness is more beneficial to the victim than is to the person who is being forgiven.

"Failure to forgive is like keeping a heavy burden on your heart, but to forgive is to liberate yourself from trauma which leads to healing of a broken heart and building hope for the future,” said Gasatura.

The message is in line with this year’s commemoration theme which focuses on fighting trauma, believed to be on the increase as years roll-by.

Bishop Gasatura, said that the best cure for people who get traumatised when they meet Genocide perpetrators is to forgive as Jesus did when he forgave his killers on the cross.

Emmanuel Urimubenshi, a Genocide survivor and student at the National University of Rwanda, concurred with the prelate but he was quick to add that those who committed Genocide should also be ready to seek for forgiveness.

"How can you forgive someone who does not want to ask for pardon?” asked Urimubenshi

The Bishop pledged the diocese’s support in helping vulnerable Genocide survivors in the diocese.

Ends