The Angolan government has recently shut down at least 34 churches in the country following an operation dubbed Operação Resgate (rescue operation), according to police sources. The churches were shut down for operating illegally.

The police operation commenced on November 6, and is expected to continue till the end of the year.

19 churches were closed in Cabinda Province, 11 in Luanda and 4 in Malanje Province, according to Mr Orlando Bernardo,the national police director for communication.

The Angolan government had recently declared that over 50 percent of churches in the country were foreign and that at least 1,116 of them were operating illegally. The churches originated from countries like Nigeria, DR Congo, Brazil and Senegal according to the government.

Operação Resgate (rescue operation) is not only targeting instituting order in worship; but also on the roads, fighting unregulated hawking and illegal migrations in addition to others.

In its first week of operation, it arrested at least 509 people for various crimes. Among those detained included three foreign nationals; two from DRC and one from Republic of Congo.

In addition the Angolan authorities have repatriated 26 DRC nationals as a result of illegal stay in Zaire Province; as confirmed by the Foreign and Emigration Services (SEM).

16 people were repatriated from Luvo, 6 from Nóqui and 4 from Kimbumba border point, according to SEM.

Zaire Province is about 481Km north of the Angolan capital Luanda; and the cross border Luvo market plays host to an estimated 1,000 businessmen and women from Angola, Republic of Congo, Namibia and DRC.

We need to enforce the same here.
Most of these churches are an unnecessary nuisance and don’t better the very society they exist in.

All religious houses need to pay taxes.
There should be standardisation.
Good one from the Angola government.
I can't see it working in Nigeria where the government uses religion as a weapon to divide and control the populace.

okwabayi:
We need to enforce the same here.
Most of these churches are an unnecessary nuisance and don’t better the very society they exist in.

I honestly believe that churches and most faith based organizations are good for the society. Agreed there are bad eggs amongst them but these are not enough reasons to condemn all. Lots of them are involved in some for of charity and community service.

Imagine if there were no churches, do you think the society will be better off?

effoi:


I honestly believe that churches and most faith based organizations are good for the society. Agreed there are bad eggs amongst them but these are not enough reasons to condemn all. Lots of them are involved in some for of charity and community service.

Imagine if there were no churches, do you think the society will be better off?

Name one thing the church is good for ?

ifenes:


Name one thing the church is good for ?

Well churches give people hope. Imagine in a country as ours if people had no hope of a better future. There will be mass suicides as so many people are going thru so much.

Agree like i said some fraudsters have infiltrated the faith but you don't throw away the baby with the bath water.

Some churches also feed the poor, offer scholarships and assistance to the needy. They also provide counseling services free of charge to distressed or traumatized persons.

They can definitely do more but at least they are doing something. What have you done for your family or the people around you?

effoi:


I honestly believe that churches and most faith based organizations are good for the society. Agreed there are bad eggs amongst them but these are not enough reasons to condemn all. Lots of them are involved in some for of charity and community service.

Imagine if there were no churches, do you think the society will be better off?

Yes.

effoi:


Well churches give people hope. Imagine in a country as ours if people had no hope of a better future. There will be mass suicides as so many people are going thru so much.

Agree like i said some fraudsters have infiltrated the faith but you don't throw away the baby with the bath water.

Some churches also feed the poor, offer scholarships and assistance to the needy. They also provide counseling services free of charge to distressed or traumatized persons.

They can definitely do more but at least they are doing something. What have you done for your family or the people around you?

The church gives people hope in what ? False hope or real hope ? What about the truth ?

Angola can, and should shut down business centres and devilish gatherings that appear as a church...I totally agree with that.

However, Angola, or the world in general, cannot shut down the church of Christ.


If the gates of hell (Devil himself, principalities, spiritual wickedness in high places) cannot prevail against the Church of the most high,

No human can.

Originakalokalo:


Angola can, and should shut down business centres and devilish gatherings that appear as a church...I totally agree with that.

However, Angola, or the world in general, cannot shut down the church of Christ.


If the gates of hell (Devil himself, principalities, spiritual wickedness in high places) cannot prevail against the Church of the most high,

No human can.

Bros the churches were shut down because they were operating illegally not that the country wants to shut down churches. Churches must obey they laws of the land.