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Africa
Armenian Catholic Priest Killed in Syria; ISIS Claims Responsibility
The Islamic State (ISIS) militant group on Monday claimed responsibility for the shooting of an Armenian Catholic priest and his father in northeastern Syria.
Countering ICPD25: Population, Underdevelopment Narratives, Ploy to Impoverish Africa
As the widely publicized and “controversial “United Nations” Summit bringing together thousands of delegates from across the globe is set to kick off in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, voices of dissent faulting the meeting have increased, the argument of misplaced priorities and a wrong agenda characterizing criticisms leveled against the three-day conference.
Countering ICPD25: Human-Dignity Based Curriculum, Not Comprehensive Sexuality Education
In an effort to counter some of the agenda guiding the planned ICPD25, the Nairobi Summit organized to commemorate 25 years since the last International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), a global youth movement is advocating for a Human-Dignity based Curriculum (HDC) instead of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), the latter among the themes of ICPD25.
On Contention about States in South Sudan, Bishop Recommends Engaging Citizens
One of the reasons for the latest postponement of the formation of a unity government in South Sudan, a power-sharing government that would see the leader of opposition Dr. Riek Machar sworn in a Vice-President, is the arrangement of the boundaries of states in the world’s youngest country, including the number of states.
Nigeria’s President Promises to Support Ministry of New Archbishop of Abuja
Following Pope Francis’ acceptance of the resignation of John Cardinal Onaiyekan from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Abuja, and the confirmation of Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama as his successor, President Muhamadu Buhari has extended a congratulatory message to the new Archbishop, assuring him of his support.
Holy Father Prays for Peace, Reconciliation in South Sudan, Hopes to Visit
Three days after the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Vice-President designate Dr. Riek Machar agreed, at a meeting in Uganda, to delay the formation of a unity government by one hundred days, Pope Francis has led the Catholic faithful in praying for peace and reconciliation in the world’s youngest nation and expressed the hope to visit the country
Why Leaders of South Sudan Churches Have Welcomed 100-day Extension of Unity Government
On November 8, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Vice-President designate Dr. Riek Machar decided to extend the Pre-Transitional period expected to end in the formation of a unity government by one hundred days effective November 12. This is a renewed extension from the original May 2019 deadline
Why the Holy See Won’t Participate in “Nairobi Summit on ICPD25”
Since October 24, the Holy See, the Vatican-based jurisdiction of the worldwide Catholicism under the Holy Father made it known to the Kenyan Government that it will not be participating in the commemoration of 25 years since the last International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) took place, a three-day event dubbed ICPD25 slated to take place in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi from November 12.
“I started preparing myself towards eternity,” Nigerian Priest Recounts Abduction Ordeal
Fr. Arinze Madu, the Nigerian Catholic Priest who had been abducted at the gate of Queen of Apostles Spiritual Year Seminary in Nigeria’s Enugu diocese and later released unharmed has recounted his two-day ordeal in the hands of his abductors and told ACI Africa that his safe release was God’s doing and that he had started preparing himself for eternal life.
Bishops in Kenya Want National Medical Insurer to Pay Church Hospitals to Avert Crisis
Calls on the national medical insurer in the East African country of Kenya to pay pending claims it owes Church-run hospitals was one of the key issues expressed by the Bishops in Kenya at the Friday, November 8 Press Conference at the end of their four-day Ordinary Plenary Assembly in Nairobi.
Ghana’s December Referendum “not receiving enough attention,” Archbishop Says
As Ghana prepares for a constitutional referendum scheduled for December 17 aimed at amending Article 55 (3) of the West African nation’s 1992 constitution, the Local Ordinary of Tamale, Archbishop Philip Naameh is concerned that not much is being done to publicize the event and create awareness about the “important national exercise.”
Evictions from Kenya’s Mau Forest be “humane, in dignity”, Bishops Demand
While the reclamation of one of East Africa’s largest water towers, Mau Forest, has been welcomed by both political and religious leaders in the country, the process of evicting those who have settled in the catchment of the main rivers providing water to western Kenya has been faulted, with a section of Catholic Bishops who have spoken to ACI Africa demanding for a humane approach.
Reduced Growth Rate, Household Size in Kenya Evidence of Contraceptives, Bishops Decry
While Kenya’s overall population has increased by about nine million people since the last census in 2009, the report of the 2019 census released early this week shows not only a comparative downward trend in the rate of growth over the years but also a significant drop in the household size, results that seem to reveal, according to some Catholic clergy and laity in Kenya, the use of modern family planning methods including contraceptives.
Prioritize Evacuation of People from Flood-affected Areas, South Sudanese Bishop Appeals
At a time the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit has declared flooding in the world’s youngest nation a national disaster, the South Sudanese Bishop who had called for this declaration in an interview with ACI Africa is now urging the government and humanitarian organizations to prioritize the evacuation of people from flood-affected areas to safety.
Kenyan Bishop Soliciting Funds to Reconstruct Pastoral Centre Damaged by Floods
In the wake of the recent heavy rains and flooding that have affected the livelihoods of millions in East Africa, the Local Ordinary of the Kenyan diocese of Lodwar, Bishop Dominic Kimengich is soliciting funds toward the reconstruction of the diocesan Pastoral Centre damaged by the floods.
African Nuns Encouraged to Engage Media, to Make Visible their Ministry
African nuns have been encouraged to have a positive view of the media and engage them in a bid to give visibility to their ministry among the people of God on the continent.
Taking Stock of Catholic Bishops’ Anti-Corruption Campaign in Kenya, Testimonies
A month after the Catholic Bishops in Kenya launched a six-month country-wide campaign against graft through what they called “Breaking the Chains of Corruption,” ACI Africa has reached out to the Prelates to testify about the progress of their widely publicized and acclaimed initiative. While some have started off the campaign, others are yet to officially roll out the planned activities in their respective dioceses and jurisdictions amid dissenting voices from some priests.
South Africa’s Rugby World Cup Win Source of “rare” National Unity, Bishop Says
The victory of South Africa over England in the Rugby World Cup over the weekend in Japan has been viewed as having had the impact of uniting South Africans in a “rare” manner.
African Christians and African Saints Disconnect Needs Curbing, African Missionary Says
As the Catholic Church celebrated the feast of All Saints of Africa on November 6 amid an increase in the number of sainthood causes from the world’s second most populous continent, an African missionary priest is of the view that African-born Saints need to be given a more prominent role in the Church to make them “better known” and loved among Africans to counter the seeming disconnect between African Christians and African Saints.
Bishop of Sudan’s El Obeid Diocese Elected President of Conference, SCBC
When the Bishops and heads of dioceses in Sudan and South Sudan met for their weeklong Annual Plenary Assembly in Juba that concluded October 30, they not only deliberated about the situation of their sister countries and delivered a message of hope but also elected new leaders for their umbrella body, the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC).
