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Vatican moves to calm bishops over same-sex blessings approval

Vatican moves to calm bishops over same-sex blessings approval

THE Vatican moved to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have baulked over last month's approval of blessings for same-sex couples, telling them that the measure is not "heretical" or "blasphemous". In a five-page statement, the Vatican's doctrinal office also acknowledged that such blessings could be "imprudent" in some countries where people who receive them might become targets of violence, or risk prison or even death. Catholic bishops in some countries, particularly in Africa, have expressed various degrees of dissent over the December 18 declaration, known by its Latin title Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which was approved by Pope Francis.…
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Pope Francis appoints two African cardinals

Pope Francis appoints two African cardinals

TWO Africans are among the select group of leading Catholic Bishops who were appointed as Cardinals by Pope Francis at the weekend, raising speculation that the next Pope may be from Africa. The new Cardinals are Peter Eberechukwu Okpaleke of Ekwulobia, in the Eastern region of Nigeria and Bishop Richard Kuuia Baawobr from Ghana. Okpaleke and Baawobr joined the College of Cardinals which had 229 Cardinals. He now becomes the fourth Cardinal from Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa. A total of 131 of the new Cardinals will elect the successor to Pope Francis. In 2010, Baawobr became the…
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Zimbabwe to meet Vatican envoy over Catholic bishops’ criticism

Zimbabwe to meet Vatican envoy over Catholic bishops’ criticism

ZIMBABWE'S government has sought a meeting with the Vatican representative to understand whether Catholic bishops who accused it of human rights abuses and cracking down on critics were speaking on behalf of the Holy See. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi described a pastoral letter written by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference last weekend as "inappropriately prescriptive and grossly disrespectful". The bishops' strongly worded letter said the country had a multi-layered crisis, including economic collapse, deepening poverty, corruption and human rights abuses. Inflation running at more than 800% is the clearest sign of the worst economic crisis in over a decade and…
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