|
|
 |
May. 09, 2008
Woman who had affair with retired Zimbabwean archbishop dies
Rosemary Sibanda, who had an affair with retired Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube, died May 2 in a Bulawayo hospital where she had been admitted with pneumonia.
May. 05, 2008
Zimbabweans afraid to vote without monitors, says church official
A Catholic official from Zimbabwe said "people are scared" to vote for president in a runoff because they fear for their lives.
Apr. 23, 2008
Zimbabwean church leaders: Opposition voters targeted for torture
Zimbabwe's church leader warn world that if nothing is done to help the people of Zimbabwe, the country will soon witness "genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hot spots in Africa."
Apr. 21, 2008
Catholics urge South Africa to refuse shipments of arms from Zimbabwe
Catholic bishops in southern Africa have urged the South African government to stop all shipments of armaments to Zimbabwe, which is in political and economic crisis.
Apr. 11, 2008
South African archbishop seeks help defusing crisis in Zimbabwe
A South African archbishop has urged African leaders to act swiftly to defuse the crisis in Zimbabwe, a country facing the threat of political violence after disputed elections March 29.
Apr. 04, 2008
Caritas health center provides needed care in Muslim Somalia
Before dawn each morning, large crowds line up outside the gates of the Caritas Somalia Health Dispensary in Baidoa, Somalia.
Apr. 04, 2008
Zimbabweans will risk their lives for change, says church official
Zimbabweans will risk their lives for change if they need to, a church official said nearly a week after the presidential election, when results still had not been announced.
Apr. 02, 2008
African church leaders urge Zimbabweans to exercise restraint
Southern African church leaders urged Zimbabweans and their leaders to exercise restraint as results of the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections were announced.
Apr. 01, 2008
Church officials: Anxiety grows as Zimbabwe awaits election results
Anxiety is growing in Zimbabwe, where the results of March 29 elections are not yet known and the opposition has claimed a resounding victory over President Robert Mugabe, church officials say.
Mar. 26, 2008
Church leaders express need to resettle internally displaced Kenyans
Kenyan Catholic leaders expressed the importance of resettling internally displaced people in an effort to return the country to normalcy.
Mar. 25, 2008
In video interview, Zimbabwean archbishop admits he had affair
Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube, who resigned as archbishop of Bulawayo last year after a sex scandal, has admitted he had an affair with a woman.
Mar. 18, 2008
Nairobi cardinal cautions Kenyan youths not to be used by politicians
Nairobi Cardinal John Njue said that during the country's recent postelection violence, it was clear that some young people allowed themselves to be used by politicians.
Mar. 18, 2008
Church leaders say rape is used as weapon of war in Congo
Women are afraid to work alone in the fields in many parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where rape is used as a weapon of war, said religious leaders and Catholic aid workers.
Mar. 10, 2008
Ghanaian cardinal, known for dedication to poor, dies at age 89
Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Poreku Dery, known for his pastoral dedication and concern for the poor, died March 6. He was 89.
Mar. 5, 2008
Kenyan bishops urge quick implementation of power-sharing agreement
Kenya's Catholic bishops have urged the country's political leaders to quickly implement a power-sharing agreement between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Feb. 22, 2008
CRS program for doctors in Congo helps ease plight of female victims
A church-run training program for rural doctors in the Democratic Republic of Congo has helped ease the plight of women in the war-torn eastern region where sexual violence is common, an aid worker said.
Feb. 20, 2008
Nigerian bishops denounce culture that violates human dignity
Nigerian bishops criticized some government policies that are "ill-conceived with little or no input from the people."
Feb. 20, 2008
Priest hospitalized in Kenya after rectory attack
A priest in the Diocese of Kericho has been hospitalized after four assailants beat him while he was sleeping in his parish home.
Feb. 18, 2008
Tanzanian girls at Maryknoll center tell Bush how education helps
About 50 traditionally dressed Maasai girls at a Maryknoll education center in Arusha, Tanzania, told U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura how education is empowering them and giving them options.
Feb. 18, 2008
Kenyan cardinal appeals to Catholics to reconcile during Lent
In a pastoral letter, Nairobi Cardinal John Njue called on Catholics to reflect on the word of God and "apply it to the current situation" of violence so Kenyans can "be reconciled with God and with one another."
Feb. 11, 2008
Church commission urges Zimbabwe to postpone March elections
Zimbabwe’s Catholic justice and peace commission has called for the postponement of March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Feb. 11, 2008
Cardinal: Church must mend split between African, Arabic countries
Church structures in North Africa need strengthening so that the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar can represent “all of Africa, as is intended,” said the symposium’s president, Tanzanian Cardinal Polycarp Pengo.
Feb. 8, 2008
Archbishop says corruption endemic in some African countries
Corruption is endemic in some African countries, where "the lifestyle of those in positions of responsibility is characterized by unbridled greed," said the president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference.
Feb. 8, 2008
Refugees from Chad face desperate situation, says CRS spokesman
Thousands of people who fled Chad to neighboring Cameroon after rebel fighting in early February are in a desperate situation without infrastructure to support them, said a spokesman for the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Relief Services.
Feb. 4, 2008
Bishops condemn police raid on South African church housing refugees
The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference condemned a police raid on a Johannesburg Methodist church that houses more than 1,300 refugees, mostly from Zimbabwe.
Feb. 1, 2008
Congolese Jesuit urges Canadians to support mining contracts' review
A Congolese Jesuit called on Canadians to support efforts for a review of mining contracts drawn up with international mining companies during years of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Feb. 1, 2008
CRS worker says agencies won’t evacuate amid rising tension in Kenya
A church aid worker said Catholic aid agencies in Kenya will not evacuate their staff, but he expressed concern over the increasing insecurity across the country.
Jan. 31, 2008
Church official says British bishops saw face of AIDS on African trip
A visit to South Africa and Zimbabwe has enabled a delegation from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales to "put faces to the statistics" on HIV/AIDS in southern Africa, said a church official.
Jan. 29, 2008
Mob brutally kills priest amid continuing violence in Kenya
A mob brutally killed a priest of the Diocese of Nakuru in Kenya's Rift Valley amid continuing post-election violence which has pitted rival ethnic gangs against each other.
Jan. 22, 2008
Church officials say it's unlikely Zimbabwean election will be fair
A South African church leader said it's unlikely Zimbabwe will hold a free and fair presidential election this year, since Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has refused demands for a new constitution to be implemented before the poll.
Jan. 8, 2008
Priest says forgiveness should take precedence over justice in Uganda
As the 20-year war in northern Uganda begins to wind down, religious leaders are insisting that forgiveness take precedence over justice and are calling for the international community to back off from legal proceedings against the leader of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army.
Jan. 8, 2008
Taking final steps to lasting peace in Uganda not easy, says priest
As the new year began, Corrina Akongo harvested grass for the roof of a new thatched hut and dug her sweet potatoes from the ground, after more than a decade of living in a crowded camp for internally displaced persons.
Jan. 8, 2008
Kenyan bishop says his appeals for aid have been met quickly
The bishop of Eldoret, Kenya, said his appeals for humanitarian assistance have been met quickly following the violence sparked by the country's disputed Dec. 27 general elections.
Jan. 4, 2008
Nigerian cardinal urges disclosure of how recovered funds were spent
Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie of Lagos has urged the Nigerian government to disclose what it did with the stolen money recovered from politicians and other public officials.
Jan. 2, 2008
Kenyan bishops appeal for dialogue to resolve violence
Following days of violence and death after the announcement of disputed election results, Kenya’s Catholic bishops appealed to political leaders to make every effort to dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Dec. 21, 2007
South African archdiocese helps Zimbabwean refugees adjust to new life
Recognizing the enormous difficulties Zimbabwean refugees face when they flee to South Africa, staff at a South African archdiocese have set up programs to help the refugees adjust.
Dec. 21, 2007
Zimbabwe Catholic leader: Bishops to mobilize citizens for elections
Recognizing the difficulty of persuading Zimbabweans, whose primary concern is survival, to vote in the March presidential elections, the Catholic bishops' conference of Zimbabwe will use all its structures to mobilize them, said a church official.
Dec. 6, 2007
Zambia needs strategy to protect it from debt, says church official
Zambia needs a comprehensive strategy to protect it from high debts and mismanagement that threaten to erode the gains of debt cancellation, said an official from the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection in Lusaka.
Nov. 24, 2007
Nigerian church leaders praise new cardinal from West Africa
Nigerian leaders told Catholic News Service that the elevation to cardinal of a prelate from Senegal is the acceptance of further growth and development of the Catholic Church in Africa and the world in general.
Nov. 21, 2007
Kenyan AIDS orphans use poems, songs to remember U.S. priest
A group of Kenyan AIDS orphans recalled their memories of the late U.S. Jesuit Father Angelo D'Agostino, a native of Providence, R.I., who founded their Nyumbani children's home in the early 1990s.
Nov. 8, 2007
Increasing violence in Somalia traps residents, blocks aid
Increasing violence in Somalia’s capital has trapped residents as Catholic and other aid agencies call for an end to the humanitarian catastrophe.
Nov. 1, 2007
Kenyans jam basilica for installation of Nairobi archbishop
Hundreds of people, including Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, jammed Holy Family Minor Basilica for the installation of Cardinal-designate John Njue, 63, as the head for the Archdiocese of Nairobi.
Oct. 16, 2007
South African archbishop: Murderers should not get Catholic services
Murderers should not be buried from Catholic churches, and recipients of stolen property should be banned from receiving Communion, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg said at the funeral of a murdered priest.
Oct. 16, 2007
Cardinal: Ghana's Catholics learn Islamic texts to further dialogue
Catholics in Ghana are being taught the Quran and Islamic scriptures to further interreligious dialogue and community cohesion, said the country's first cardinal.
Oct. 2, 2007
U.S. Maryknoller, 81, hands over video productions to Kenyan bishops
After 26 years of documenting life in Africa, U.S. Maryknoll Father Richard Quinn has handed over control of Ukweli Video Productions to Kenya's Catholic bishops.
Sept. 27, 2007
Bishops express alarm at brutal crimes in Namibia
The Namibian bishops have expressed alarm at crimes in the country, including "brutal and shocking murders" and the rape of infants, which they linked to excessive consumption of alcohol.
Sept. 26, 2007
Zimbabwean archbishop says he's not interested in running for office
Although he said he is as committed as ever to defending the poor and working for justice in Zimbabwe, retired Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo said he does not have "the slightest interest in entering into politics."
Sept. 21, 2007
Without housing, Zimbabwean students likely to quit, says official
With housing at Zimbabwe's largest university closed for more than two months, many students are likely to drop out as they struggle to find food, shelter and transportation to their lectures, said a church official.
Sept. 6, 2007
Bishops in Sierra Leone condemn violence before presidential runoff
Sierra Leone's Catholic bishops said Saturday's elections will be a testing ground to see how much the nation had cultivated a culture of peace, nonviolence and respect for the law.
Sept. 6, 2007
Zimbabwe's bishops call attacks on archbishop 'utterly deplorable'
Zimbabwe's bishops called attacks on Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo "outrageous and utterly deplorable" and an attempt to divert attention from the catastrophe that Zimbabwe has become.
Aug. 29, 2007
Zimbabwe's bishops call attacks on archbishop 'utterly deplorable'
Zimbabwe's bishops called attacks on Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo "outrageous and utterly deplorable" and an attempt to divert attention from the catastrophe that Zimbabwe has become.
Aug. 27, 2007
Bishop, others welcome new investigation into Father Kaiser’s death
Family and friends of Mill Hill Father John Kaiser welcomed the Kenyan government’s order for fresh investigations into the death of the U.S. missionary, whose body was found in Kenya Aug. 24, 2000.
Aug. 22, 2007
Church leaders criticize regional support for Zimbabwean president
Southern African leaders' support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is "sickening," said a South African bishop, while a priest in Zimbabwe said the region's governments are more interested in clinging to power than working for the common good.
Aug. 20, 2007
South African bishop: Sentences for apartheid police show 'balance'
Suspended prison sentences given to a South African apartheid-era police minister and four police officers provide a "good balance" in upholding the system of justice while enabling reconciliation, said Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg.
Aug. 14, 2007
Zambian bishops urge Catholics to study statement on reforms
Zambia's Catholic bishops have urged all Zambian Catholics to get together in small community groups to study their statement on constitutional reform, calling the current time a "critical moment in the democratic life" of the southern African country.
Aug. 8, 2007
U.N. force in Darfur must protect civilians, church worker says
The decision by the United Nations to send peacekeeping troops to the Darfur region of Sudan will fail to put an end to years of bloodshed unless the peacekeepers come with a clear mandate to protect civilians, said an official of an ecumenical relief effort.
Aug. 8, 2007
Ecumenical group hopes education helps undercut violence in Darfur
An ecumenical relief organization working in Sudan’s Darfur region is hoping to undercut violence by educating displaced persons about human rights and peace.
Aug. 8, 2007
Violence continues to drive Darfur farmers into crowded camps
For years, Fatma Omar resisted leaving her farm near the village of Omra, despite repeated raids by Arab militias. Then in mid-July the attackers came again, this time, she said, killing her husband, raping her and burning their thatched home.
Aug. 7, 2007
Lawyer: Adultery claims against Zimbabwean archbishop remain unproven
A man who has charged Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo with adultery still has not substantiated his allegations, said the archbishop's lawyer.
July 26, 2007
Catholic head of WYWCA looks forward to empowering African women
Building leadership among Christian women in Africa is one of the tasks Zimbabwean Catholic Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda said she looks forward to in her new position as general secretary of the World Young Women's Christian Association.
July 23, 2007
Bishops hope adultery charges don't shift focus from Zimbabwean crisis
The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference said it hopes that allegations of adultery against Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo will not divert attention from the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
July 18, 2007
Zimbabwean archbishop's lawyer calls adultery charges 'orchestrated'
The lawyer for Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo said his client will deny in court allegations of adultery that are part of a "well-orchestrated campaign" to discredit him.
July 11, 2007
Church looks for food for Zimbabweans booted from university housing
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe is battling to find food to give university students a meal a day while they take exams.
July 05, 2007
CRS clinic in Zambia helps orphans affected by HIV/AIDS
Nearly two years ago in the southern African nation of Zambia, Natasha Kangwa became an orphan and was diagnosed with HIV, but a Catholic Relief Services clinic helped nurse her back to health.
June 26, 2007
Bishop says Kenyan church needs to do more to fight HIV/AIDS
The Catholic Church has gone to great lengths to help the 1.3 million Kenyans with HIV/AIDS, but more needs to be done, said the chairman of the bishops' Catholic Health Commission.
June 22, 2007
Archbishop elected president of Christian Association of Nigeria
The executive council of the Christian Association of Nigeria has elected Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja as national president.
June 21, 2007
Many topics can fit African synod's theme, says bishops' spokesman
Many topics can be covered in the yet-unscheduled Synod of Bishops for Africa, said the communications director for one of the regional groupings of African bishops.
June 18, 2007
Nigerian cardinal urges new president to avoid 'dead wood' in Cabinet
Lagos Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie advised newly elected Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua that for his administration to be successful he should not appoint "dead wood" to his Cabinet.
June 13, 2007
Kenyan inquest into death of U.S. Mill Hill priest ends
The nearly four-year-long inquest into the death of a U.S. priest who died in Kenya in 2001 has ended, and presiding magistrate Maureen Odero said she would deliver her judgment July 18.
June 6, 2007
Caritas official, archbishop warn Congo faces full-scale war
The Democratic Republic of Congo is on the brink of full-scale war unless the government and international community intervene, said a Caritas official and the archbishop of Bukavu, Congo.
May 24, 2007
South African bishop discusses finding Jesus in HIV/AIDS care
Although no easy answers can be found in the suffering of people affected by HIV/AIDS, God is with them and their caregivers, said a South African bishop.
May 23, 2007
South African archbishop disputes charges of racism in church
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg has disputed charges of racism in the placement of priests in his diocese and said he does not understand "why an African priest would be so keen to serve a white parish when the need is greater in the African community."
May 15, 2007
Archbishop says Zimbabwe's enmity shown by refusing priests' permits
The Zimbabwean government's antagonism toward the Catholic Church is shown in its refusal to renew the permits of foreign priests, said Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
May 4, 2007
Zimbabwean president warns country's bishops are on 'dangerous path'
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has warned his nation's bishops that they are treading "a dangerous path" by criticizing the government.
April 24, 2007
Nigerian bishops say elections were not free, fair or credible
"The reports from across the country showed that the mandate of the people was abused, traumatized and brutalized," said a Nigerian bishops' conference statement April 24.
April 23, 2007
Archbishop speaks of South Africa's ills in address to religious
The head of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference called the ruling African National Congress' slogan, "People First," "an empty charade.
April 18, 2007
Nigerian archbishop urges officials to fix voting procedures
The head of the Nigerian bishops' conference urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and government security agents to correct voting irregularities and violence before presidential and National Assembly elections April 21.
April 17, 2007
South African bishop says Zimbabwean forces detain children
A South African Catholic bishop who recently visited Zimbabwe said that even children are being detained by Zimbabwean security forces.
April 5, 2007
Zimbabwean bishop discusses leaders' response to Zimbabwe's violence
Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo said he is not surprised political leaders haven't pressured Zimbabwe's government to stop the violence and reinstate the rule of law.
March 30, 2007
Nigerian cardinal calls pre-election arms smuggling 'danger signal'
Lagos Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie said smuggled weapons were in the hands of politicians and their agents who were prepared to use them in urban warfare if the elections did not go their way.
March 23, 2007
Zimbabwean archbishop says he would risk his life leading protests
Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, urged citizens to continue their protests against government oppression and said he was willing to risk his life by leading them.
March 20, 2007
Church officials: South Africa unprepared to help Zimbabwean refugees
South Africa is unprepared to meet the needs of thousands of people fleeing political and economic problems in neighboring Zimbabwe, Catholic officials in South Africa said.
March 16, 2007
Church groups express concern with police violence in Zimbabwe
Recent police violence and the arrest and torture in jail of anti-government protesters have been the cause for serious concern, said the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe.
March 12, 2007
Nigerian bishops urge politicians to ensure free, fair elections
April general elections are "matters of grave concern for us and for most Nigerians. Past experiences make Nigerians enter this season of elections with heightened trepidation," said the Nigerian bishops in a statement.
March 2, 2007
Robbers shoot Irish priest who runs South African AIDS hospice
An Irish priest who runs an AIDS hospice in South Africa has been shot twice in the chest by robbers in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria.
Feb. 22, 2007
FBI reps to testify at Kenyan inquest into U.S. priest's 2000 death
Three FBI representatives are expected to testify in early March at an inquest into the death of Mill Hill Father John Kaiser, a U.S. missionary who died in Kenya in August 2000.
Feb. 16, 2007
Sudanese bishop blames politics for delay in implementing peace
A Sudanese bishop has blamed politics and political maneuvering for the delay in implementation of a peace agreement between the government and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement.
Jan. 26, 2007
Priest: World Youth Day cross a sign of hope for South African youths
The World Youth Day cross was recently carried through a largely rural province of South Africa which has high unemployment, poverty and inadequate education in a country where more than 18 percent of adults are HIV positive.
Jan. 17, 2007
Nigerian archbishop calls for new structure for African bishops
Africa’s Catholic bishops need a structure to enable them to speak and act as one unit, said Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria.
Jan. 4, 2007
Nigerian cardinal condemns government approval of condom factory
A Nigerian cardinal has condemned the government's recent approval of a billion-dollar condom factory in Yenagoa.
Jan. 2, 2007
Rights workers in Republic of Congo get fines, suspended sentences
Two Catholic human rights workers in the Republic of Congo received suspended sentences and fines on charges of forgery and misusing funds, but said they would appeal the sentences.
Dec. 20, 2006
Zambian church official says foreign companies need to be monitored
Foreign companies in Zambia need to be monitored more closely to protect workers' wages and safety, said a Zambian church official.
Dec. 19, 2006
South African cardinal says churches forced to focus on crime
South Africa's religious leaders must focus on crime because "not enough is being done or seen to be done" by the government and police, said Cardinal Wilfrid F. Napier of Durban.
Dec. 14, 2006
Court convicts priest for ordering deaths of Rwandans during genocide
A United Nations war crimes court sentenced a priest to 15 years in prison for ordering militias to set fire to his church and bulldoze it, killing the 2,000 Tutsis who had sought safety inside during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Dec. 14, 2006
Nuncio's murder in Burundi was planned from top, says journalist
A former president and other high-ranking officials in Burundi have been accused of masterminding the December 2003 assassination of the apostolic nuncio to Burundi.
Dec. 13, 2006
Vatican official: World has not been effective in helping Darfur
The international community has failed to act effectively in putting an end to the tragic conflict and "horrific violation of human rights" taking place in the Darfur region of western Sudan, a Vatican official said.
Dec. 7, 2006
U.N. study spotlights church efforts to curb AIDS in southern Africa
Catholic efforts to curb AIDS in southern Africa and care for those affected by the epidemic have been highlighted in a study by UNAIDS, the U.N. agency that coordinates the global campaign against AIDS.
Nov. 27, 2006
Archbishop: Thousands of Zimbabweans starve, die weekly from disease
More people are dying from starvation and disease in Zimbabwe under President Robert Mugabe than are killed in the war in Iraq or the conflict in Darfur, said an African archbishop.
Nov. 20, 2006
Catholic leaders say government pressure changed churches' statement
At least two Catholic leaders in Zimbabwe are frustrated that the government seems to have sabotaged a statement by Christian churches calling for a national vision to rescue the ailing country.
Nov. 17, 2006
Congolese Catholic rights worker arrested, detained without charges
Christian Mounzeo, president of a Congolese peace and human rights organization working for accountability in the oil industry, was arrested Nov. 13 and accused of defaming the president.
Nov. 14, 2006
Kenyan bishops urge government to boost security amid recent violence
Kenya's Catholic bishops have urged the government to step up security and arrest politicians preaching ethnic hatred that has led to violence.
Nov. 1, 2006
Church official: Madonna's adoption plan shows Malawi's orphan woes
The controversy over pop star Madonna's plan to adopt a Malawian boy highlights the need to find solutions for the growing number of orphans in the country, said a Catholic Church official.
Oct. 24, 2006
Nigerian church leaders appeal for peace amid political turmoil
Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie of Lagos and Bishop Hilary Odili Okeke of Nnewi have appealed for peace amid political turmoil in Nigerian states.
Oct. 23, 2006
Papal nuncio remembers work of Italian nun slain in Somali capital
More than a month after Consolata Sister Leonella Sgorbati was gunned down in Mogadishu, Somalia, she was remembered for her missionary work.
Oct. 13, 2006
Pope tells Zambian bishops to continue preaching honesty, fidelity
Living upright and faithful lives, Zambian Catholics will bring others to Christ and help improve their country's social life, Pope Benedict XVI told the bishops of Zambia.
Oct. 12, 2006
Former teen soldier asks U.S. to help work for peace in Uganda
Grace Akallo's voice was barely audible above the soft outdoor breeze as she described being forced to kill after being kidnapped as a teenager into a Ugandan guerrilla army.
Oct. 4, 2006
Zambian churches urge political parties to accept election results
Zambia's bishops and other church leaders have urged the country's political parties to accept the election results in which President Levy Mwanawasa won a second five-year term.
Sept. 29, 2006
Pope encourages bishops to proclaim truth about Malawi's problems
Pope Benedict XVI encouraged Malawi's bishops to "proclaim the truth" about social and moral ills, including the spread of AIDS, human trafficking and agricultural injustice.
Sept. 27, 2006
Cardinal Napier raps churches council for stance on same-sex marriage
Durban Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, has criticized the South African Council of Churches for its "wishy-washy" position on same-sex marriage.
Sept. 27, 2006
Church see progress in reporting on Republic of Congo's oil revenues
Despite continuing obstacles, a Catholic anti-corruption campaign in the Republic of Congo has made progress since it began in 2003 to make reporting on the government's oil revenues more transparent.
Sept. 25, 2006
South African church official highlights attacks against Somalis
Attacks on Somali refugees in South Africa -- including the murders of at least 10 Somali shopkeepers in Cape Town since early August -- are crimes of hatred that need urgent attention, a church official said.
Sept. 20, 2006
Zambian bishops say they do not support any one candidate
The Zambian bishops' conference, saying it does not support "any one candidate over another," has distanced itself from a Christian group that has endorsed incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa.
Sept. 1, 2006
Aid workers say situation in Darfur not yet resolved
Despite a May peace agreement meant to end the conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur, refugees who fled into neighboring Chad are not returning to Sudan, said aid workers.
Aug. 29, 2006
South African bishop: Official's apology for apartheid is not enough
While a South African apartheid-era police minister must be commended for his courage and humility in apologizing to the former general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, the apology needs to include some form of restitution, said a South African Catholic bishop.
Aug. 16, 2006
Congolese bishops urge calm while votes are counted
As vote counting from the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo moves forward, the Congolese bishops asked candidates to accept the results and the people not to resort to violence.
Aug. 14, 2006
Niger's people still hungry, malnourished, says church aid worker
Pockets of drought still drain the livelihoods of Niger's people, who live as farmers and nomadic cattle-raisers, said Catholic Relief Services' country representative in Niger.
Aug. 11, 2006
In a Nairobi slum, church groups work to generate hope about AIDS
In a Nairobi slum, two different types of Catholic groups work toward the same end.
Aug. 11, 2006
In Africa, cultural practices complicate AIDS prevention programs
Lydia Birongo Ogware, a behavior change specialist for the Medical Missionaries of Mary, has a difficult job -- she must encourage and teach a whole culture how to prevent HIV.
Aug. 11, 2006
In Malawi, Jesuit scholastic uses music to help educate about AIDS
A young Jesuit scholastic has begun his own culture-change program, mining one of the richest veins of Malawian culture: music.
Aug. 11, 2006
Sub-Saharan Africa has world's worst incidence of AIDS
Africa below the Sahara Desert has about 10 percent of the world's population and 64 percent of the world's HIV and AIDS cases.
Aug. 11, 2006
A brief timeline of HIV/AIDS
AIDS has been a challenge to science, social policy and political leadership for more than a quarter of a century.
Aug. 3, 2006
Peace efforts seen making progress in Africa's Great Lakes region
As peace makes slow progress throughout Africa's Great Lakes region, the Catholic Peacebuilding Network met in Bujumbura, Burundi, to discuss ways to promote peace and prevent the outbreak of war and conflict.
July 31, 2006
Church official: Cameroon risks civil war without church's proposals
If the government does not approve the church's electoral legislation proposals, Cameroon risks a civil war, said the coordinator of the Cameroonian bishops' Peace and Justice Commission.
July 31, 2006
Few incidents of violence reported after Congolese elections
Catholic officials monitoring the Democratic Republic of Congo's first democratic elections in more than 40 years found a few glitches but said things went surprisingly well.
July 25, 2006
Archbishop says Kenyan government must stop helping political parties
Nairobi Archbishop Raphael Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki has urged the Kenyan government to stop using its resources to campaign for political parties.
July 24, 2006
Swazi church plans campaign to teach people about new constitution
The church in Swaziland is planning a human rights education campaign to educate people about the new constitution in southern Africa's only absolute monarchy.
July 6, 2006
Vatican official urges Nigerians to pray for success of elections
Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, called on fellow Nigerians to pray for the success of the 2007 general elections.
June 12, 2006
Zimbabwe residents lack inspiring opposition leader, says archbishop
Without a strong leader, residents of Zimbabwe will not risk taking to the streets to protest chronic food shortages and spiraling poverty, said Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo.
May 30, 2006
In Cameroon, Catholic schools' pilot program to fight corruption
Catholic schools in Cameroon, a country known for widespread corruption, are piloting a program to teach students to identify and act against dishonesty in their schools and the rest of society.
May 23, 2006
Bishops' survey: Malawi's officials do not fulfill their duties
During elections, members of Malawi's National Assembly make promises they cannot keep, then there is no accountability afterward, said an official of the Catholic Church's commission for justice and peace.
May 23, 2006
South African cardinal says Zuma trial is setback to AIDS battle
Attitudes revealed in former Deputy President Jacob Zuma's rape trial are a serious setback to the country's battle against the spread of AIDS, church leaders said.
May 10, 2006
Priest heads logistics, education for first vote in Congo since 1960
Congolese Father Muholongu Malumalu is president of the Independent Electoral Commission, a body charged with the education, logistics and implementation of all the details surrounding Congo's first election since independence from Belgium in 1960.
May 8, 2006
CRS praises Darfur agreement, expresses concern about sustained peace
Although Catholic Relief Services commended the Darfur peace agreement, the agency said it was concerned with sustained peace and the continued shortage of resources in the region.
April 18, 2006
Priest says poverty, AIDS cause Zambian street children problem
Government-run camps where young people are taught skills are not the solution to Zambia's growing number of unemployed youths living on the streets, said a Catholic official.
March 30, 2006
Bishops won't wed Burundian couples without proof of HIV test
A spokesman said a couple's HIV status does not matter. Both HIV-positive and HIV-negative people will be able to receive the church's blessings in Burundi.
March 10, 2006
Aid agencies says 3.5 million Kenyans face starvation
Millions of Kenyans could starve to death unless emergency food supplies are delivered soon.
March 7, 2006
Church official: Boost skills training to help poor South Africans
South Africa's poor majority will start to feel the benefits of South Africa's booming economy when government spending on skills training increases, a church official said.
Feb. 24, 2006
Ruling party blocks Ugandan Catholic radio from election reporting
A high-ranking government official who ran for re-election in northern Uganda ordered a Catholic-owned radio station to stop broadcasting election coverage during national elections Feb. 23.
Feb. 21, 2006
In Uganda, church works to ensure clean presidential election
As Ugandan elections approached, the Catholic Church and Christian groups took a leading role in trying to ensure that the presidential candidate chosen by the people is the candidate who actually wins.
Feb. 20, 2006
Pope tells African bishops work with Muslims can promote harmony
Working with Muslims in charity and development projects can promote harmony while also serving the poor, Pope Benedict XVI told bishops from four West African nations.
Feb. 1, 2006
Ugandan church leader urges U.N. to help Great Lakes peace process
A church leader from Uganda urged the U.N. Security Council to take a comprehensive approach to ending the 20-year war between Ugandan rebels and the government.
Jan. 27, 2006
Pope praises Congolese priests, bishops, urges them to heal rifts
Pope Benedict XVI praised the courage and dedication shown by priests and religious who continued to stay close to citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo during the country's civil strife.
Jan. 10, 2006
Empty hospital beds in Rwanda show cholera epidemic is fading
Many of the beds set up to deal with a cholera epidemic at the Masaka Health Center are empty. But Joyce Ngoma, a nurse at the church-supported health center on the outskirts of the Rwandan capital, said the empty beds are a recent development.
Jan. 9, 2006
U.S.-born Jesuit says Zambian president fears strong opposition
Zambia's president has criticized the nation's bishops because their emphasis on dialogue creates a stronger opposition, said a U.S.-born Jesuit who has lived in Zambia since the late 1980s.
Dec. 21, 2005
Nigerian archbishop calls for credible election in 2007
A leading Nigerian archbishop has called on the nation's president to put the necessary machinery in place for a credible election in 2007.
Dec. 9, 2005
Southern African bishops condemn court ruling on same-sex marriage
Bishops in southern Africa condemned a South African high court ruling that it is it unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.
Dec. 5, 2005
Zimbabwean church official says elections don't help starving people
The estimated 10 percent voter turnout in Zimbabwe's elections for a new Senate was not surprising as the country's food, fuel and foreign currency shortages worsen, said Alouis Chaumba, who heads Zimbabwe's Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.
Nov. 22, 2005
In rural Rwanda, antiretroviral drugs give hope, life to HIV patients
Drugs which delay the onset of full-blown AIDS are a rarity in rural Rwanda. But the Muhura health center, which is staffed by Oblate Sisters of the Holy Spirit, is one place they can be obtained.
Nov. 21, 2005
Belgian priest held in Rwanda returns home to face investigation
A Belgian priest charged with genocide in Rwanda has been returned home and faces an investigation by Belgian authorities.
Nov. 14, 2005
Refrain from lying, negative campaigning, Kenyan bishops urge leaders
Kenyan Catholic bishops have urged leaders to refrain from issuing derogatory statements in public and from lying to Kenyans during referendum campaigns for the country's proposed new constitution.
Nov. 9, 2005
Rwandan court rules Belgian priest can return home for genocide trial
A Rwandan court has ruled a Belgian priest can be sent home to his country to be tried on charges of genocide.
Oct. 31, 2005
In Tanzania, trial resumes for priest accused in Rwandan genocide
The trial of a Catholic priest accused of ordering his church destroyed to kill Tutsi refugees inside it during the 1994 Rwandan genocide resumed at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania.
Oct. 28, 2005
Rwanda, Belgium agree to transfer priest's case to Brussels
The Rwandan and Belgian governments have agreed to transfer the case of a Belgian priest accused of helping to mastermind the 1994 genocide from Kigali to Brussels.
Oct. 25, 2005
Bishops say West needs to continue to support Africa's growing church
Western countries need to continue to support the church in Africa, not take advantage of its growing number of priests to fill priestless parishes abroad, said three African bishops.
Oct. 24, 2005
Supporters say Belgian priest held in Rwanda defended human rights
A Belgian priest held in a Rwandan prison after being accused of complicity in Rwanda's 1994 genocide was a leading advocate for human rights in Africa, said colleagues who continue to maintain the priest's innocence.
Oct. 20, 2005
Church leaders say southern Africa's farmers need long-term solutions
More must be done to help farmers avoid food crises that again threaten southern African countries, said church leaders in Malawi and Zambia.
Oct. 06, 2005
New Liberian government to face 'tremendous challenges,' priest says
The government formed after Liberia's Oct. 11 elections will face "tremendous challenges," but people on the streets "sound positive and energetic" about the promise of peace, said a U.S. priest who visited the country
Oct. 04, 2005
Truth process not set, but Burundi's church begins reconciliation
The biggest sponsor of soccer matches in Burundi these days is not a beer company or an auto manufacturer, but the Catholic Church.
Sep. 26, 2005
Cardinal says Sudan must guarantee rights or face peace-deal collapse
The fragile peace process in Sudan is in danger of collapsing into civil war unless the Islamic government guarantees the rights of non-Muslims, said a Sudanese cardinal.
Sep. 22, 2005
Nigerian bishops condemn increase in violent crime, robbery
Nigerian bishops have condemned an increase in violent crimes and armed robbery, including those at churches and other places of worship.
Sep. 12, 2005
Accused Belgian priest's case moved to Rwandan criminal court
The case of a Belgian priest arrested on charges of helping incite genocide has been transferred to a criminal court, where he could face the death penalty.
Sep. 9, 2005
Belgian priest's arrest in Rwanda forces more questions on genocide
The arrest of a Belgian missionary at the Kigali airport on charges that he incited people to kill in the 1994 genocide has forced the church to answer more questions about the role of its members in the slaughter.
Sep. 2, 2005
Plight of Zimbabweans in South Africa alarms church officials
The plight of Zimbabweans who have fled to neighboring South Africa to escape political and economic hardships has alarmed South African Catholic officials as well as a church delegation from Zimbabwe.
Aug. 16, 2005
CRS begins food distribution in drought-stricken Niger
After the first delivery of emergency food aid was made in her province in drought-stricken Niger, a mother told a Catholic Relief Services worker, "We're going to eat until we can't eat anymore."
Aug. 11, 2005
U.S. bishop calls for more pressure to stop violence in Darfur
International pressure must be applied to the Sudanese government and rebel forces in order to end the violence and suffering in the Darfur region, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops' international policy committee.
July 27, 2005
South African aid to Zimbabwe gets 'no' vote from Cardinal Napier
South Africa would be "most reckless" to send aid to Zimbabwe, which is "in absolute chaos," said Cardinal Wilfrid F. Napier, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference.
July 22, 2005
Kenyans mourn death of slain missionary bishop
Some 4,000 Kenyans attended an emotional funeral Mass for slain Bishop Luigi Locati of Isiolo, an Italian missionary who had worked in Kenya for 40 years.
July 20, 2005
Vatican official urges harmony in Africa's Great Lakes region
Despite the horrors of war that led them to flee their homes, refugees from Africa's Great Lakes region must learn to recognize all people as their brothers and sisters and work for reconciliation, said Cardinal Renato Martino.
July 18, 2005
Pope calls Italian bishop murdered in Kenya 'heroic missionary'
Pope Benedict XVI said an Italian bishop shot and killed in Kenya July 14 was a "heroic missionary" and a "selfless witness to the Gospel."
July 15, 2005
Italian missionary bishop shot dead in northeast Kenya
An Italian missionary bishop who had just learned Pope Benedict XVI had accepted his retirement was shot July 14 outside the Isiolo pastoral center.
July 14, 2005
In Tanzania, first lady praises church-run AIDS treatment program
U.S. first lady Laura Bush praised a church-run AIDS-treatment center in Tanzania, calling it "a good example of the tremendous efforts of faith-based organizations around the world."
July 12, 2005
Church workers say Darfur's real fight is over resources
church workers providing aid to some of the more than 2 million people displaced by fighting in western Sudan's Darfur region say that behind the violence lies a bitter struggle over diminishing supplies of water and arable land.
July 6, 2005
Congolese bishops ask government to set date for elections
Catholic bishops in Congo have called on their government to set a date for national elections amid rising instability and lawlessness.
July 5, 2005
Pope praises Zimbabwe's bishops for pre-election letter
Pope Benedict XVI praised Zimbabwe's bishops for reminding the nation's politicians of the importance of working together for the common good and for their recent pastoral letter.
June 30, 2005
Aid agencies in Darfur navigate red tape, danger to serve displaced
The Darfur region of Sudan is one of the hardest places on earth to deliver humanitarian assistance. There is the heat and harsh terrain. Sandstorms regularly blot out the sky. Bandits attack convoys of relief goods. And at times the Sudanese government seems determined to prevent aid from reaching those who need it.
June 28, 2005
Darfur's 2 million refugees languish in camps over security issues
While the Sudanese government encourages some refugees in the Darfur region to return home, aid workers here report that conditions for a safe return do not exist in most areas.
— back to the top
Copyright © 2008Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
|
|
|
