Is it true that the population is still strongly influenced by sorcery?
Yes, very much so! There are some villages which I am forbidden to visit on account of people’s belief in witchcraft. For example, one woman within my diocese went to give catechism lessons in a village that I am forbidden to enter, and her house was set on fire on two occasions. She had to move away. Belief in sorcery is still very much present in the bush villages. It’s because of the lack of education; the people don’t know anything else.

What about the relations of Christians with Islam?
Relations with the Muslims used to be good, but for some time now we have been seeing Islamists come in, and we are now confronted with the Islamization of the country. The number of Muslims is increasing rapidly. In the past there were only Comorese, Pakistanis and a few Madagascans, but now people are arriving from abroad and we don’t know how.

They are building mosques everywhere. In fact, there is an agreement with the government to build 2,400 mosques! In my diocese, for example, there are no Muslims, and yet many mosques are being built.

They are also coming to convert people, setting up Koranic schools and giving scholarships to students. We have learned that in the universities the young, non-Muslim female students are being paid three Euros a day to wear the burka, the Muslim veil. They are taking advantage of the poverty of the people, and especially of the students who need money! And 85 percent of the people here are living below the poverty line.

Please read the whole article here.