Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Catholic bishops gathered at a special Vatican assembly called on Pope Francis Saturday to open the priesthood to married men in the Amazon, as well as giving women a greater role to play and making damaging the environment a sin. The bishops issued a …
Read More »POPE FRANCIS: Every person should have access to adequate food
COMMENT | POPE FRANCIS | The yearly celebration of World Food Day makes us hear the dramatic plea of those of our brothers and sisters who suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Despite efforts made in recent decades, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is yet to be implemented in many parts of the world. …
Read More »Indonesia moves to ban sex outside marriage
Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | Indonesia is set to vote on a plan to outlaw gay and pre-marital sex while beefing up its blasphemy laws in a shakeup fuelled by religious conservatism and slammed by rights groups Thursday. The proposed criminal law overhaul could affect millions in the world’s biggest …
Read More »OFFERTORY: One shot dead at Rubaga Cathedral
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A security guard has shot dead a man who had raided stores where offertory is kept at the Rubaga Catholic shrine next to the cathedral. Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango identified the deceased as William Otuke. He was reportedly part of a gang …
Read More »Pope Francis to visit Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis flies out on Wednesday for a week-long tour visiting three Indian Ocean African countries hard hit by poverty, conflict and natural disaster. The pope will visit Mozambique and Madagascar, as well as Mauritius, countries visited by pope John Paul II …
Read More »Pope saved by firemen after getting stuck in Vatican lift
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis said Sunday he was late to his weekly Angelus prayer because he had been stuck in a Vatican elevator and had to be freed by firemen. He followed the tale of his rescue with a surprise announcement about the creation …
Read More »Mityana’s Kaziimba is Church of Uganda Archbishop-elect
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Bishop Dr. Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu from Mityana is the new Church of Uganda Archbishop-elect. He will in March be installed as the 9th Church of Uganda Archbishop. He edged out other contenders who were Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa of Ankole Diocese, Bishop Samuel George Bogere …
Read More »African church vocations still strong says Bishop Zziwa
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Catholic Church vocations in Africa remain strong despite turbulent waves sweeping across the continent, the Bishop of Kiyinda – Mityana Diocese has said. Bishop Zziwa who was speaking on Wednesday at the Uganda Episcopal Conference Secretariat, Nsambya, says the Church has firmly withstood numerous devastating …
Read More »Over Ramadan iftar, Sudan protesters vow to get civil rule
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | After a day of abstaining from food and drink, Sudanese protesters Monday broke their fast on the first day of Ramadan with chicken soup and vowed to press their campaign for a civilian rule. As the call for the sunset prayer rang out, crowds gathered …
Read More »Cows come home to haunt India’s Modi
Pilani, India | AFP | One of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s signature policies has been protecting cows, but for Raghuvir Singh Meena — a Hindu farmer struggling to protect his crop of chickpeas from roaming cattle — it has gone too far. Farmers overwhelmingly supported Modi’s nationalist party when …
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