Baltimore prelate calls narrative of tension between US bishops, pope bogus
- Dec 6, 2019
The first ever Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society and Pastoral Life will take place this week in Enugu, Nigeria.
Africa’s top prelate has hit back against the notion that clerical sexual abuse is a purely western problem, saying it happens on his home turf too, though he also pressed for Pope Francis’s newly minted reporting mechanism to be broadened to cover local issues.
The Church in Africa must work to end violence against people with albinism through its schools and other education efforts, said Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha, South Africa, first vice president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar.
At the close of a high-stakes meeting last week, bishops from throughout Africa have said the event was not only a sign of hope, but they doubled down on their commitment to evangelization, specifically highlighting the role of laypeople, including youth and women.
Africa’s bishops pledged to work together to ensure that the continent’s resources serve development and peace of all people.
As Africa’s bishops contemplate this week what their priorities will be for the foreseeable future, one proposal under strong consideration is the creation of a special office for youth apostolate.