RELIGION - The African Mirror

Mar

01

2023

God and politics in South Africa: the ruling ANC’s winning strategy

RELIGION

RELIGION shapes some of the most controversial decisions that governments need to make: access to abortion, same-sex marriage, the death penalty and the legal status of sex work. Indeed, it is likely that most voters across the world consider religion to be essential to their lives. Yet research on religion and political parties remains surprisingly inexact. Author DAVID JEFFERY-SCHWIKKARD, PhD Candidate (Theology and Religious Studies), King's College London Much of the research to date has been waylaid by the wrong question: is a political party fundamentally religious or secular? Yet the “essence” of a party resists definition. Is it its…

Mar

14

2023

By The African Mirror

Pope Francis: the first post-colonial papacy to deliver messages that resonate with Africans

RELIGION

WHEN he was presented to a cheering crowd at St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, on 13 March 2013, few people outside Latin America knew much about Jorge Bergoglio. But a decade later, based on my work as a scholar of Catholicism, I would argue that most Catholics know and love Pope Francis. They also see a deep connection between his message and priorities, and their dreams and hopes for a better church and a world that is reconciled. Author STAN CHU ILO, Research Professor, World Christianity and African Studies, DePaul University When Pope Francis was introduced in 2013, I was…

Mar

14

2023

By The African Mirror

Pope Francis: the first post-colonial papacy to deliver messages that resonate with Africans

RELIGION

WHEN he was presented to a cheering crowd at St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, on 13 March 2013, few people outside Latin America knew much about Jorge Bergoglio. But a decade later, based on my work as a scholar of Catholicism, I would argue that most Catholics know and love Pope Francis. They also see a deep connection between his message and priorities, and their dreams and hopes for a better church and a world that is reconciled. Author STAN CHU ILO, Research Professor, World Christianity and African Studies, DePaul University When Pope Francis was introduced in 2013, I was…

Feb

11

2023

By The African Mirror

What does the Bible say about homosexuality? For starters, Jesus wasn’t a homophobe

RELIGION

POPE Francis was recently asked about his views on homosexuality. He reportedly replied: This (laws around the world criminalising LGBTI people) is not right. Persons with homosexual tendencies are children of God. God loves them. God accompanies them … condemning a person like this is a sin. Criminalising people with homosexual tendencies is an injustice. This isn’t the first time Pope Francis has shown himself to be a progressive leader when it comes to, among other things, gay Catholics. Author GERALD WEST, Senior Professor of Biblical Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal It’s a stance that has drawn the ire of some…

Feb

02

2023

By The African Mirror

In DR Congo, Pope Francis will see a dynamic local Catholic Church

RELIGION

ROSE NGOY, BIRD STORY AGENCY AS Pope Francis began his first official visit to Africa this week, the 86-year-old head of the Catholic Church found himself in a country where a huge Catholic following plays a substantial role in the country's public services, including health and education. According to Vatican statistics, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has more than 52 million Catholic believers, out of a total population of 90 million. It is a flock that plays a significant role in Congolese society, not only spiritually but also in the provision of key services in a country that sprawls…

Feb

01

2023

By The African Mirror

Pope Francis in DRC and South Sudan: one of his most challenging visits ever

RELIGION

ON 31 January, Pope Francis departed from Rome to central Africa, to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its neighbouring state South Sudan. The visit was previously scheduled for 2022 but did not take place because of the pope’s health issues. Pope Francis’ visit to Africa comes at a defining moment for his papacy and for the Catholic church worldwide. He has led a period since December 2019 of global reflection known as “the synodal path” in which Catholics have been able to speak up about the agenda that the church should pursue. A similar exercise, the Second…

Jan

30

2023

By The African Mirror

Catholics from in DRC make cross-country journey to meet pope

RELIGION

DJAFFAR AL KATANTY FATHER Adeodatus Muhigi is among the Roman Catholic faithful in the Democratic Republic of Congo's restive city of Goma who prepared to welcome Pope Francis last July before the pontiff had to postpone a trip to Africa because of a knee ailment. Now instead of welcoming the pope in Goma during the rescheduled trip, Father Muhigi will join dozens of other Catholics from the east, including victims of violence and natural disasters, who are making the cross-country journey to the Congolese capital Kinshasa this week. When the plan for Francis' visit to the Central African Country, the first by a…

Jan

29

2023

By The African Mirror

Congo revivalist churches draw in Catholics

RELIGION

CONGOLESE event organiser Deo Malela was born to Roman Catholic parents and identifies as such. But like more and more Catholics in the central African nation, 28-year-old Malele also regularly attends an evangelical church where he says he finds solutions to everyday problems. "There are illnesses where you can go to hospitals (and) you don't find solutions, but here you have a divine and miraculous healing that you can't explain," he said after attending an evangelical church service in the eastern city of Beni. "It does me good to have the base of the Catholic church and add these miracle…

Jan

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Pope Francis’ visit to Africa comes at a defining moment for the Catholic Church

RELIGION

DURING his planned visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan in February 2023, Pope Francis intends to be in dialogue with African Catholics – but also to listen to political leaders and young Africans. This visit comes at a defining moment in what is regarded as a fairly progressive papacy. Author STAN CHU ILO, Research Professor, World Christianity and African Studies, DePaul University Pope Francis has convened a worldwide consultation on the future of the Catholic church. This consultation, called a synodal process, began in 2021 and will conclude in 2024. It is the most ambitious…

Jan

06

2023

By The African Mirror

Supporters demand sainthood for Benedict as Pope Francis leads funeral

RELIGION

PHILIP PULLELLA and CRISPIAN BALMER POPE Francis led the funeral of former Pope Benedict, tenderly touching the coffin of his predecessor as he stood supported on a cane before tens of thousands of mourners, with some calling for the late pontiff to be made a saint. Benedict's death on Saturday brought to an end a decade of the former and present pope living side-by-side in the Vatican and it was the first time in more than 200 years that a pontiff had led the service for his predecessor. His death was a loss for conservatives who yearned for a return to a…