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Africa
Decision to Postpone December 17 Referendum in Ghana “good news,” Bishop Says
Following the December 1 decision by Ghana’s president to call off the referendum scheduled for December 17 in which Ghanaians were to vote on whether to allow or deny Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) participate in local elections based on party affiliations, Catholic Bishops in the West African country have reacted to the move, terming the decision “good news.”
Hate Speech Bill “recommending death by hanging an attack on Nigerians”: Bishop
A Nigerian Bishop has termed as “an attack on Nigerians” the proposed bill in his country’s National Assembly that seeks to apply capital punishment for those found guilty of hate speech.
Catholic Church in Burkina Faso Condoles with Protestants after Sunday Attack
Following the Sunday attack on a Protestant church in Burkina Faso that left 14 people dead and several others injured, the Catholic Church in the West African nation has expressed its closeness with the victims of the attack and their families, praying for lasting peace in the country.
Nigeria’s Social Media Bill “a totalitarian attempt, rotten yoghurt,” Bishop Says
A Nigerian Catholic Bishop has joined his compatriots who are campaigning against a proposed bill seeking to regulate citizen engagement on social media terming the attempt a “short walk to totalitarianism” in Africa’s most populous country.
Heads of Church Universities in Africa Strategize Aligning with Pope’s “Veritatis Gaudium”
With the legal effect of the new Apostolic Constitution governing institutions that offer Vatican-approved degrees into its second academic year for many such academic and formation entities in Africa, heads of these Church institutions of higher learning across the continent including Chancellors, Rectors, Presidents and Deans of faculties met in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi to strategize the aligning of the administration of their respective facilities with the new norms contained in the document of Pope Francis, “Veritatis Gaudium” (the joy of truth).
Tanzania’s Moshi Diocese Gets a New Bishop: Papal Transfer
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Ludovick Joseph Minde, who has been the Bishop of Kahama diocese, the new Bishop of Moshi diocese in the North Eastern region of Tanzania.
Catholic Journalists in Togo Pray for Murdered Priests and Victims of Terrorism
Following the murder of two Salesian Missionary priests working in Burkina Faso earlier this year, members of the Catholic Press Union in the west African nation of Togo (UCAP-Togo) have, on the occasion of their annual recollection day Sunday, December 1, offered special prayers for Fr. César Antonio Ferdnandez and Fr. Fernando Hernàndez as well as other victims of terrorism across the globe.
21 Catholics in Ghana Receive Papal Honors for “dedicated, extraordinary service”
At the ongoing Golden Jubilee celebrations of Ghana’s Sekondi-Takoradi diocese, Pope Francis has recognized 21 Catholics with honors for their “dedicated and extraordinary service” to the local Church.
Rwanda’s First Lady Acknowledges Role of Church in Reconciliation Efforts over the Years
25 years after the 1994 Rwanda genocide that pitted majority Hutus against minority Tutsis leading to the death of an estimated 800,000 people, the Catholic Church in the Central African nation has been hailed for its contribution to reconciliation efforts in the county.
US$1 Million Award to “improve lives, renew hope of most vulnerable” in DR Congo: Nun
The winner of this year’s Opus Prize worth US$1 million, Sr. Catherine Mutindi Kivutui, has returned to her ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where she oversees the running of Bon Pasteur (Good Shepherd) Kolwezi, the apostolate she founded in 2012 in Lualaba Province, south of DRC with the objective of ending child labor.
Newly Appointed Head of Kenya-based Catholic Institution, First-ever Lay, “delighted”
The 33-year-old Kenya-based Catholic institution of higher learning jointly owned by various religious orders, Tangaza University College (TUC), is set to be headed by a lay person after members of its Consortium Trust “unanimously voted to offer Professor (David) Wang’ombe the position” of Vice Chancellor designate.
During Advent, Church in Southern Africa Wants Initiatives to End Violence Targeting Women
As the global community continues to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence that started November 25 advocating for the elimination of all forms of gender violence, Church leaders under the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), a region that has recorded the highest cases of femicide in Africa, have called on all people to use the upcoming Advent season to promote the dignity of women and girls, taking deliberate initiatives to end gender-based violence that usually targets the female gender.
Catholic Children in Ivory Coast to Reach Out to Counterparts in Cyclone-hit Mozambique
Following two violent cyclones that hit Mozambique early this year causing severe levels of food insecurity among the population including children, Catholic Children in Ivory Coast under the guidance of the National Directorate of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) have been encouraged to raise funds and reach out to their counterparts in the Southeastern African nation as a concrete sign of solidarity.
In Ethiopia: Couples Evangelized, Women Empowered, Youth Exposed Despite Limited Funding
With 5,000 Euros a year, a religious missionary ministering among Ethiopia’s Borana community has been able to have an impactful apostolate that has included giving dozens of youth the opportunity to interact with peers from other cultures in inter-diocesan pastoral programs, evangelizing couples through the Sacrament of Matrimony, empowering women to become teachers of faith, among other activities that have kept faith alive in the Horn of Africa.
Priests Withdrawn from Parishes in Cameroon’s Mamfe Diocese Over Insecurity
In the Central African country of Cameroon where the Anglophone crisis has affected livelihoods and the functioning of institutions, a Bishop recently took an informed decision to suspend priestly apostolate in some parishes, withdrawing priests who have been targeted in cases of kidnappings and harassment.
Pastoral Agents in South Sudan’s Rumbek Diocese “sensitized” on Gender-Based Violence
In the context of the United Nation’s (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women marked on November 25, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reached out to the clergy, religious, and laity ministering in the Catholic diocese of Rumbek in a four-day training focusing on ways to deal with Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), a participant has told ACI Africa.
Bishops in Kenya Appeal for Humanitarian Aid to People Affected by Floods, Landslides
Following the devastation occasioned by unprecedented torrential rains in parts of Kenya with the Government Spokesman giving Thursday, November 28 statistics of 118 deaths, 350,000 people displaced, and 16,700 houses destroyed across 32 counties in a span of two months, Catholic Bishops in the East African country have issued an appeal for humanitarian aid to save lives.
Africa Needs “politicians who are above all prophets,” African Missionary Cleric Says
As African countries continue working towards enhancing democracy in the 21st century, an African missionary priest has challenged politicians in the world’s second largest continent to integrate their political vocations with prophetism.
Kenya’s Multi-Agency Conference on Agroecology Commits to Catholic Identity, Involve Youth
The four-day multi-agency conference on agroecology concluded Thursday, November 28, in Kenya’s Nyahururu town with participants resolving to draw inspiration from the social teaching of the Catholic Church and to engage various actors especially young people among other commitments that can enhance food security and environmental protection in the East African country.
South African Appointed to New Vatican-based Youth Advisory Body “surprised, honored”
A year after the Synod of Bishops' special assembly on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment proposed the creation of an advisory body that would reinforce the work done by the Vatican-based Youth Office of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, one of the 20 members appointed to the newly established International Youth Advisory Body, South African Dominique Yon, has shared with ACI Africa about her reaction at the news of her appointment announced Sunday, November 24.
