The Catholic Church has joined the bandwagon calling for respect of the current Constitution.

The National Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has expressed its rejection of all attempts to amendment Article 220 of the Constitution of 2006 that currently provides for alternation in the presidency after two terms of office, RFI reported. Some members of the presidential majority are seeking the amendment to enable President Joseph Kabila stand for a third term of office in 2016.

The Church has gone further to suspend its participation in a religious committee to follow up preparations of elections within the Electoral Commission, called on priests to convey the message of the conference to all Christians for them to stand up against all attempts to amend the Constitution, RFI said.

In a message titled “let us protect our nation”, the Catholic Church describes all attempts to amend the Constitution as dead end, calling for the respect of the current constitution. Reverend Father Donatien Nshole, the spokesman of the National Episcopal Conference reaffirmed the objection to all modification of Article 220 of the Constitution governing the form of the State, form of representation in government, number and duration of terms of office of the President of the Republic and the independence of the judiciary.

The reaction of the Catholic Church comes within the context of the start of the parliamentary session on Monday, September 15 with the bill on Article 197 of the Constitution relating to the election of Provincial Parliamentarians already tabled for debate. Donatien Nshole reportedly said the modification of the Article will bring the country backwards in the current drive to build democracy and also seriously compromise the harmonious future of the country.

Senate President, Léon Kengo wa Dondo has warned against the constitutional amendment, stating that it could threaten peace and national cohesion. Government’s Spokesman, reports say, considers the manifestation of the National Episcopal Conference as based on assumptions and not facts, stating that the Church was answering questions that do not exist.