Episcopal Conference of Madagascar

Episcopal Conference of Madagascar

Abbreviation	CEM
Formation	1965
Type	NGO
Legal status	Civil nonprofit
Purpose	To support the ministry of bishops
Headquarters	Antananarivo
Region served	Madagascar
Membership	Active and retired Catholic bishops of Madagascar
President	Désiré Tsarahazana
Main organ	Conference

The Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (CEM) (French: Conférence Episcopale de Madagascar) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in Madagascar. Founded in 1965, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic hierarchy (i.e., diocesan, coadjutor, and auxiliary bishops) in Madagascar.

The CEM is a registered corporation based in Antananarivo. The current president is the Archbishop of Toliara, Désiré Tsarahazana. The current vice president is Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina, OCD, the Bishop of Morondava. The current secretary-general is Jean Claude Randrianarisoa, the Bishop of Miarinarivo.[1]

History

The Episcopal Conference of Madagascar was founded in 1965, five years after the country's independence.[1]

In November 2016, members of the conference published a letter criticizing Madagascar's political elite and intelligentsia. The letter declared that the country "suffers from a shortage of wise men."[2]

Presidents

This is a list of the presidents of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar:[1][3][4]

1. Archbishop Jérôme Rakotomalala (1965–1966)
2. Archbishop Gilbert Ramanantoanina, SJ (1966–1971)
3. Archbishop Albert Joseph Tsiahoana (1971–1974)
4. Cardinal Victor Razafimahatratra, SJ (1974–1986)
5. Archbishop Albert Joseph Tsiahoana (1986–1992)
6. Bishop Jean-Guy Rakodondravahatra, MS(1992–1996)
7. Cardinal Armand Razafindratandra (1996–2002)
8. Archbishop Fulgence Rabeony, SJ (2002–2006)
9. Archbishop Fulgence Rabemahafaly (2006 – November 2012)
10. Archbishop Désiré Tsarahazana (November 2012 – )

See also

• Catholic Church in Madagascar

References

1. "Conférence Episcopale de Madagascar (C.E.M.)". GCatholic. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
2. "Conférence des évêques – « Madagascar souffre d'une pénurie d'hommes sages »". L'Express de Madagascar - Actualités en direct sur Madagascar (in French). 2016-11-12. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
3. "Bishops of Madagascar (by Name)". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
4. "Bishops of Madagascar dedicate country to the Divine Mercy of God". Retrieved 2017-06-16.