Uganda Catholic priests form new church
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Delicious Digg Facebook Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Twitter Yahoo! Bookmarks Print By GODFREY OLUKYA and NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writers Godfrey Olukya And Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Writers – Thu Dec 31, 3:25 pm ET
KAMPALA, Uganda – Twenty renegade Catholic priests who are either married or want to marry have broken from the mainstream Roman Catholic Church here and formed a new church where celibacy is not required, members said.
The Ugandan government said Thursday it was investigating the breakaway Catholic Apostolic National Church in Uganda and would ban it if found to be illegal. Vatican officials said the priests were now considered "outside" the Catholic Church and would likely be excommunicated.
The creation of the splinter church underscored the increasingly vexing problem of enforcing celibacy for Roman Catholic priests in Africa, which has the world's fastest-growing Catholic population but where there have been several cases of priests living openly with women and fathering children.
Earlier this year, the Vatican summoned African bishops to Rome for a three-week meeting on problems of the church in Africa, and celibacy was a key topic of discussion. The Vatican, however, has remained firm that priests must not marry, although there are exceptions for priests of the Eastern rite and for converts from Anglicanism.
The breakaway Ugandan church has as its head a former Zambian Catholic priest, the Rev. Luciano Anzanga Mbewe, who was excommunicated earlier this year for having founded what the Vatican called a schismatic church, the Catholic Apostolic National Church of Zambia, which allows for a married priesthood.
The Ugandan offshoot is located in the eastern town of Jinja. Mbewe is expected to visit soon to officially launch the church and ordain new priests, said Rev. Leonard Lubega, who says he has been appointed bishop-elect by Mbewe.
Mbewe has said he was inspired by the former Zambian archbishop, Emmanuel Milingo, who was married in 2001 to a South Korean woman by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church.
Milingo was excommunicated in 2006 after installing four married men as bishops in the United States. Two weeks ago, the Vatican defrocked Milingo entirely, stripping him of his priestly functions so any future ordinations by him would be invalid.
Lubega said the Catholic Apostolic National Church in Uganda already has over 12,000 followers.
"We are Catholics but not Roman Catholics," Lubega said, adding that the new church — while not under Pope Benedict XVI — recognizes him and prays for him.
At least three of the priests have said they are married. One is Rev. Henry Mutto, who said he recently got married. "Some of us already have wives. Others will get (one) soon," he said.
Uganda's vice president, Gilbert Bukenya said authorities were investigating the church, which he called a sect.
"We want to know its roots. If we discover that it is illegal we will ban it," he said.
Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Kampala, called on the government not to allow such renegade religious groups to operate, saying they might cause confusion among Ugandans.
"I call upon government to avoid registering such new churches," he said. "They can bring about religious conflicts."
___
Winfield reported from Rome.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Probable Apparition of Blessed Virgin Mary in Egypt
Virgin Mary sighting a glimpse of hope for Egypt Christians
AFP/File – Egyptian Copts are seen outside the Virgin Mary church in Cairo's al-Waraaq district, early on December … by Mona Salem Mona Salem – Thu Dec 24, 4:02 am ET
CAIRO (AFP) – Every night in the run-up to Christmas thousands of Egypt's Coptic Christians have been gathering in a Cairo suburb eager for a glimpse of a vision that has given hope to their marginalised community.
It is three hours past midnight in Al-Warrak, a poor working class neighbourhood of the Egyptian capital, and a 10,000-strong crowd is silently staring at the sky.
Then the appearance of a mysterious light over the church tower jolts the gathering into a frenzy of cries and ululations. It is the apparition of the Virgin Mary, they say.
Thousands have been coming nightly since the first sighting of the Virgin Mary on December 10, in the hope of being blessed by her light.
The prospect of benediction is a much needed morale boost for the Christian minority which complains of systematic discrimination and marginalisation in the Muslim majority Arab country.
Tea vendors and sweet sellers snake through the crowd where thousands of families have gathered with young children and babies.
"The first person to spot the sighting of the Virgin Mary was a Muslim neighour. He took a video and pictures and distributed them to everyone," said Father Fishay, a priest at the Warrak church, describing how he first heard of the apparition.
Hassan, the Muslim neighbour, was sitting at his local coffee shop when at around 8:30 pm, he saw a strong light coming from the church.
Others on the street began to notice the light and saw a bird circling above the church. At around 2 am, a vision of the Virgin Mary in her white and blue robes appeared, Fishay said.
But Muslim residents of the area insist it is a hoax, with someone creating the image with laser beams.
News of the apparition quickly spread in the area, prompting hundreds to rush out of their homes armed with mobile phones to capture the momentous event.
"It's her, with her blue and white clothes, there is no doubt about it. It cannot be an illusion," said an excited Rami, 36, in response to sceptics.
"The church closes its doors in the evening, we were not there when the image appeared the first time, so we decided to come back the second night and we saw the bird circling the church then the light," Fishay said in his measured manner.
Kawkab Munir Shehata, 39, is convinced. The mother of two says the Virgin Mary even performed surgery on her, giving her back the sight she had lost in her left eye.
"It was about 3:40 am when she started performing the surgery on my left eye. I felt immense pain which lasted about quarter of an hour. Then I was ecstatic to find out that I could see clearly," said Kawkab.
"You see, my left eye is even better than my right one now," she said.
Nabil, 32, his wife Mariam, 28, and their three children came from Shubra al-Kheima, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) away on the other side of town, to receive the Virgin's blessings.
"Her appearance means she approves of us and if she blesses us, we will stay till morning," Mariam said.
Her husband said the sighting proves that Christianity is still alive. He is angry over the recent publication of an article in a periodical of Cairo's Al-Azhar University, Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning, questioning the foundations of Christianity.
"The apparition of the Virgin Mary means that Christianity is real and the Bible is real," he said.
Raafat, 38, goes to Warrak every night but has to leave early to make it to his pre-dawn job. His wife Mariam however stays up with their four children.
"Schools are closed due to swine flu, there's no reason not to stay up late and wait for the Virgin Mary," she said.
Egypt's Christians make up around 10 percent of the 80 million population but complain they are kept out of jobs in the army, judiciary and universities.
The apparition of the Virgin provides comfort for many of the Coptic faithful as they prepare to celebrate Christmas on January 7 in accordance with the ancient Julian calendar used by many Eastern Churches.
"It is not possible to know the reason for the Virgin's appearance, but it could be to push people towards faith, and help put an end to their problems," Fishay said.
"Maybe her appearance is to bring people closer together, maybe it will bring about the end of the state of tension between Muslims and Christians and an end to extremism," he said.
"Maybe it'll bring back forgiveness like there once used to be in Egypt."
AFP/File – Egyptian Copts are seen outside the Virgin Mary church in Cairo's al-Waraaq district, early on December … by Mona Salem Mona Salem – Thu Dec 24, 4:02 am ET
CAIRO (AFP) – Every night in the run-up to Christmas thousands of Egypt's Coptic Christians have been gathering in a Cairo suburb eager for a glimpse of a vision that has given hope to their marginalised community.
It is three hours past midnight in Al-Warrak, a poor working class neighbourhood of the Egyptian capital, and a 10,000-strong crowd is silently staring at the sky.
Then the appearance of a mysterious light over the church tower jolts the gathering into a frenzy of cries and ululations. It is the apparition of the Virgin Mary, they say.
Thousands have been coming nightly since the first sighting of the Virgin Mary on December 10, in the hope of being blessed by her light.
The prospect of benediction is a much needed morale boost for the Christian minority which complains of systematic discrimination and marginalisation in the Muslim majority Arab country.
Tea vendors and sweet sellers snake through the crowd where thousands of families have gathered with young children and babies.
"The first person to spot the sighting of the Virgin Mary was a Muslim neighour. He took a video and pictures and distributed them to everyone," said Father Fishay, a priest at the Warrak church, describing how he first heard of the apparition.
Hassan, the Muslim neighbour, was sitting at his local coffee shop when at around 8:30 pm, he saw a strong light coming from the church.
Others on the street began to notice the light and saw a bird circling above the church. At around 2 am, a vision of the Virgin Mary in her white and blue robes appeared, Fishay said.
But Muslim residents of the area insist it is a hoax, with someone creating the image with laser beams.
News of the apparition quickly spread in the area, prompting hundreds to rush out of their homes armed with mobile phones to capture the momentous event.
"It's her, with her blue and white clothes, there is no doubt about it. It cannot be an illusion," said an excited Rami, 36, in response to sceptics.
"The church closes its doors in the evening, we were not there when the image appeared the first time, so we decided to come back the second night and we saw the bird circling the church then the light," Fishay said in his measured manner.
Kawkab Munir Shehata, 39, is convinced. The mother of two says the Virgin Mary even performed surgery on her, giving her back the sight she had lost in her left eye.
"It was about 3:40 am when she started performing the surgery on my left eye. I felt immense pain which lasted about quarter of an hour. Then I was ecstatic to find out that I could see clearly," said Kawkab.
"You see, my left eye is even better than my right one now," she said.
Nabil, 32, his wife Mariam, 28, and their three children came from Shubra al-Kheima, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) away on the other side of town, to receive the Virgin's blessings.
"Her appearance means she approves of us and if she blesses us, we will stay till morning," Mariam said.
Her husband said the sighting proves that Christianity is still alive. He is angry over the recent publication of an article in a periodical of Cairo's Al-Azhar University, Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning, questioning the foundations of Christianity.
"The apparition of the Virgin Mary means that Christianity is real and the Bible is real," he said.
Raafat, 38, goes to Warrak every night but has to leave early to make it to his pre-dawn job. His wife Mariam however stays up with their four children.
"Schools are closed due to swine flu, there's no reason not to stay up late and wait for the Virgin Mary," she said.
Egypt's Christians make up around 10 percent of the 80 million population but complain they are kept out of jobs in the army, judiciary and universities.
The apparition of the Virgin provides comfort for many of the Coptic faithful as they prepare to celebrate Christmas on January 7 in accordance with the ancient Julian calendar used by many Eastern Churches.
"It is not possible to know the reason for the Virgin's appearance, but it could be to push people towards faith, and help put an end to their problems," Fishay said.
"Maybe her appearance is to bring people closer together, maybe it will bring about the end of the state of tension between Muslims and Christians and an end to extremism," he said.
"Maybe it'll bring back forgiveness like there once used to be in Egypt."
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Irish Bishop Donal Murray at center-stage of Sex Abuse resigns
Irish bishop resigns over sex-abuse scandal
Clergymen allege he ignored reports of crimes by priests in his diocese
Bishop Donal Murray speaks in St John's Cathedral in Limerick, Ireland, on Thursday, after resigning as as bishop of Limerick. Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Murray, who was heavily criticized in an Irish investigation of clergy sex abuse of children and a church hierarchy cover-up, the Vatican said.
View related photos
AP
Europe video MORE VIDEO
John Paul II edges closer to sainthood
Dec. 19: The late pontiff’s successor, Pope Benedict, approved the "heroic virtues decree," one of the key steps in the procedure by which the church recognizes its saints. NBC’s Lester Holt reports.
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updated 3:04 p.m. ET, Thurs., Dec . 17, 2009
VATICAN CITY - A Roman Catholic bishop in Ireland has resigned after an investigation into child sex abuse by clergymen accused him of ignoring reports of crimes by priests in his diocese, the Vatican said Thursday.
The one-line announcement that Bishop Donal Murray had resigned did not mention the scandal.
But a statement that Murray read to colleagues and curates in the western Irish city of Limerick left no doubt that he was going because of an Irish government investigation's damning findings about his time as an auxiliary bishop in Dublin from 1982 to 1996.
Story continues below ↓
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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your ad here
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"I know full well that my resignation cannot undo the pain that survivors of abuse have suffered in the past and continue to suffer each day," the 69-year-old Murray said. "I humbly apologize once again to all who were abused as little children."
Murray had been widely expected to resign following last month's report from a government-appointed commission. It ruled that Murray had handled reports of child-abusing priests "particularly badly" — and condemned his failure to crack down on one particular abuser, the Rev. Thomas Naughton, as "inexcusable."
Convicted twice of raping boys
Murray transferred Naughton to new parishes despite receiving reports that he was molesting children. Naughton since has been convicted twice of raping altar boys.
The investigation found that four other serving bishops and five retired bishops, including Cardinal Desmond Connell, played a role in a decade of cover-up.
The report said church leaders in the Dublin Archdiocese failed to inform authorities about sexual abuse by priests, while police failed to pursue allegations because they considered church figures to be above the law.
The leader of Ireland's four million Catholics, Cardinal Sean Brady, said he was praying for Murray and offered his own apology "to all who were abused as children by priests, who were betrayed and who feel outraged by the failure of church leadership in responding to their abuse."
One abuse survivor, former altar boy Andrew Madden, said Murray's resignation was not enough and other church leaders should quit too.
He called for the immediate resignation of four other serving bishops who were based in Dublin during the period investigated: Jim Moriarty, Martin Drennan, Eamonn Walsh and Ray Field.
"Their continued presence in office is an insult to every child sexually abused by a priest in the Dublin Archdiocese. They display a contemptible level of arrogance and a shocking lack of humility," Madden said.
But all four bishops have said they have no intention of tendering their resignations to the pope. Unlike Murray, the other four bishops were not found to have bungled any specific abuse reports.
‘Outrage, betrayal, and shame’
The Vatican has been harshly criticized in Ireland, a nation of staunch Catholic traditions, for failing to answer letters from the Dublin Archdiocese investigators.
Last week, the Vatican described Benedict as being "deeply disturbed" by the sex-abuse scandal and said he will write a letter to Catholics in Ireland with the Holy See's response. It said also the pope shares the "outrage, betrayal and shame" felt by many Irish faithful.
Benedict issued that statement after meeting at the Vatican with senior Irish clergy to discuss possible resignations of Murray and other Irish bishops criticized in the Dublin Archdiocese investigation.
The 720-page report found that dozens of church leaders in Ireland's most populous diocese kept secret the record of child abuse by more than 170 clerics since 1940.
Click for related content
Read more news from around the world
Police and social workers charged with stopping child abuse didn't start getting cooperation from the church until 1995. This opened the floodgates to thousands of abuse complaints expected to cost the Dublin Archdiocese 20 million euros ($30 million).
The leader of an American group campaigning against Catholic cover-ups of pedophile priests welcomed Murray's resignation but said it wasn't nearly enough.
"Wounded adults and vulnerable children need widespread reform, not sacrificial lambs," said David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.
Clergymen allege he ignored reports of crimes by priests in his diocese
Bishop Donal Murray speaks in St John's Cathedral in Limerick, Ireland, on Thursday, after resigning as as bishop of Limerick. Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Murray, who was heavily criticized in an Irish investigation of clergy sex abuse of children and a church hierarchy cover-up, the Vatican said.
View related photos
AP
Europe video MORE VIDEO
John Paul II edges closer to sainthood
Dec. 19: The late pontiff’s successor, Pope Benedict, approved the "heroic virtues decree," one of the key steps in the procedure by which the church recognizes its saints. NBC’s Lester Holt reports.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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East Coast digs out from big storm
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‘Super Saturday’ snowed out on East Coast
Sleep like a baby — and wake up feeling younger
Most viewed on msnbc.com
Two-legged dog gives hope to disabled vets
DNA clears Fla. man after 35 years behind bars
First gene maps created for 2 deadly cancers
Brazil custody dad discouraged but determined
Recession hits Rust Belt’s steel towns hard
Most viewed on msnbc.com
Sleep like a baby — and wake up feeling younger
Food stamps altering how retailers do business
Author sees lost middle class in America
Girl, 14, vanishes after solo sailing bid is nixed
Evangelical church opens doors fully to gays
Most viewed on msnbc.com
updated 3:04 p.m. ET, Thurs., Dec . 17, 2009
VATICAN CITY - A Roman Catholic bishop in Ireland has resigned after an investigation into child sex abuse by clergymen accused him of ignoring reports of crimes by priests in his diocese, the Vatican said Thursday.
The one-line announcement that Bishop Donal Murray had resigned did not mention the scandal.
But a statement that Murray read to colleagues and curates in the western Irish city of Limerick left no doubt that he was going because of an Irish government investigation's damning findings about his time as an auxiliary bishop in Dublin from 1982 to 1996.
Story continues below ↓
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
advertisement
your ad here
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I know full well that my resignation cannot undo the pain that survivors of abuse have suffered in the past and continue to suffer each day," the 69-year-old Murray said. "I humbly apologize once again to all who were abused as little children."
Murray had been widely expected to resign following last month's report from a government-appointed commission. It ruled that Murray had handled reports of child-abusing priests "particularly badly" — and condemned his failure to crack down on one particular abuser, the Rev. Thomas Naughton, as "inexcusable."
Convicted twice of raping boys
Murray transferred Naughton to new parishes despite receiving reports that he was molesting children. Naughton since has been convicted twice of raping altar boys.
The investigation found that four other serving bishops and five retired bishops, including Cardinal Desmond Connell, played a role in a decade of cover-up.
The report said church leaders in the Dublin Archdiocese failed to inform authorities about sexual abuse by priests, while police failed to pursue allegations because they considered church figures to be above the law.
The leader of Ireland's four million Catholics, Cardinal Sean Brady, said he was praying for Murray and offered his own apology "to all who were abused as children by priests, who were betrayed and who feel outraged by the failure of church leadership in responding to their abuse."
One abuse survivor, former altar boy Andrew Madden, said Murray's resignation was not enough and other church leaders should quit too.
He called for the immediate resignation of four other serving bishops who were based in Dublin during the period investigated: Jim Moriarty, Martin Drennan, Eamonn Walsh and Ray Field.
"Their continued presence in office is an insult to every child sexually abused by a priest in the Dublin Archdiocese. They display a contemptible level of arrogance and a shocking lack of humility," Madden said.
But all four bishops have said they have no intention of tendering their resignations to the pope. Unlike Murray, the other four bishops were not found to have bungled any specific abuse reports.
‘Outrage, betrayal, and shame’
The Vatican has been harshly criticized in Ireland, a nation of staunch Catholic traditions, for failing to answer letters from the Dublin Archdiocese investigators.
Last week, the Vatican described Benedict as being "deeply disturbed" by the sex-abuse scandal and said he will write a letter to Catholics in Ireland with the Holy See's response. It said also the pope shares the "outrage, betrayal and shame" felt by many Irish faithful.
Benedict issued that statement after meeting at the Vatican with senior Irish clergy to discuss possible resignations of Murray and other Irish bishops criticized in the Dublin Archdiocese investigation.
The 720-page report found that dozens of church leaders in Ireland's most populous diocese kept secret the record of child abuse by more than 170 clerics since 1940.
Click for related content
Read more news from around the world
Police and social workers charged with stopping child abuse didn't start getting cooperation from the church until 1995. This opened the floodgates to thousands of abuse complaints expected to cost the Dublin Archdiocese 20 million euros ($30 million).
The leader of an American group campaigning against Catholic cover-ups of pedophile priests welcomed Murray's resignation but said it wasn't nearly enough.
"Wounded adults and vulnerable children need widespread reform, not sacrificial lambs," said David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Guilty Zambian priest having affairs with married woman fined in Court
Friday, April 10, 2009, 14:29
Catholic Priest fined for marriage interference
A CATHOLIC priest in Ndola was yesterday fined K10 million by a local court for having an affair with a married woman whom he was offering marriage counselling.
Pamodzi Parish priest Father Davies Nsama of 42 Fitente Road in Northrise appeared before Chifubu local court magistrates Amos Banda, Aaron Sugar Banda and Rosemary Muke for bringing disputes in a marriage.
Charles Moto, 32, of 3597 Kansenshi Extension, an employee of PG Bisonite sued Father Nsama for causing disputes in his marriage of five years to 27-year-old Virginia Mpanza Moto, an employee of Mission Press at the Franciscan centre in Ndola.
Father Nsama admitted to the offence and applied that the matter be heard in chambers but the court refused.
Father Nsama told the court that he knew Virginia in 2002 and went for rides in his car with her to discuss church matters.
He admitted that one day he and Virginia drove to Luanshya where he kissed her.
But Father Nsama denied ever sleeping with Virginia and said he deeply regretted the affair.
Virginia said she too regretted the affair but pointed out that affairs were not always sexual. She said she had suffered a lot from the ordeal.
Justice Banda said from the priest’s own confession, the court found him guilty and fined him K10 million, noting that it was unfortunate that a Catholic priest could get into an affair with a married woman.
In his testimony, Mr Moto said in a fully-packed court that he got married to Virginia
in July, 2004 and the two have two children.
He said at the end of 2007, he was transferred to Ndola but was transferred back to Lusaka in November last year. It was agreed that he would be travelling to Ndola every Friday and go back to Lusaka on Mondays.
Mr Moto said he decided late last year to have a wedding at Pamodzi Catholic Parish that was set for May 9 this year. It was at this point that the couple went to Father Nsama for counselling.
Mr Moto said he, however, received an anonymous call from a private number on Tuesday March, 31 after 20:30 hours and the caller wanted to find out where his wife was.
He said he called his wife but she told him that she was at the bus stop and later switched off her phone.
He called his wife the next day, but she gave conflicting versions of where she was prompting him to get a court order from the Lusaka local court to get the activity phone record from MTN.
The phone record of the previous one month showed that his wife and Father Nsama exchanged a lot of calls and text messages between 19:00 hours and 23:30 hours.
Mr Moto said he travelled from Lusaka and asked Father Nsama to meet him somewhere so they could have a ‘gentleman’s’ talk.
During the meeting, Father Nsama said he and Mrs Moto were merely going for car rides and that on that evening they went as far as Luanshya.
He said he grabbed Nsama’ phone where he found a text message from his wife telling the priest to say that the two merely went for car rides.
Mr Moto said that day he had never slept, got traumatised and even contemplated suicide.
He then arranged a meeting with Ndola Diocese Bishop, Noel Oregan, who he said was cooperative and asked him to forgive his wife and sue Father Nsama.
Mr Moto said Bishop Oregan even offered Father Nsama a house in Lusaka so that he could relocate, an offer he turned down and the bishop further asked the priest to go for an HIV test.
Mr Moto simultaneously sued his wife for divorce which the court granted without compensation and urged the two parties to take good care of the children.
[Times of Zambia]
Catholic Priest fined for marriage interference
A CATHOLIC priest in Ndola was yesterday fined K10 million by a local court for having an affair with a married woman whom he was offering marriage counselling.
Pamodzi Parish priest Father Davies Nsama of 42 Fitente Road in Northrise appeared before Chifubu local court magistrates Amos Banda, Aaron Sugar Banda and Rosemary Muke for bringing disputes in a marriage.
Charles Moto, 32, of 3597 Kansenshi Extension, an employee of PG Bisonite sued Father Nsama for causing disputes in his marriage of five years to 27-year-old Virginia Mpanza Moto, an employee of Mission Press at the Franciscan centre in Ndola.
Father Nsama admitted to the offence and applied that the matter be heard in chambers but the court refused.
Father Nsama told the court that he knew Virginia in 2002 and went for rides in his car with her to discuss church matters.
He admitted that one day he and Virginia drove to Luanshya where he kissed her.
But Father Nsama denied ever sleeping with Virginia and said he deeply regretted the affair.
Virginia said she too regretted the affair but pointed out that affairs were not always sexual. She said she had suffered a lot from the ordeal.
Justice Banda said from the priest’s own confession, the court found him guilty and fined him K10 million, noting that it was unfortunate that a Catholic priest could get into an affair with a married woman.
In his testimony, Mr Moto said in a fully-packed court that he got married to Virginia
in July, 2004 and the two have two children.
He said at the end of 2007, he was transferred to Ndola but was transferred back to Lusaka in November last year. It was agreed that he would be travelling to Ndola every Friday and go back to Lusaka on Mondays.
Mr Moto said he decided late last year to have a wedding at Pamodzi Catholic Parish that was set for May 9 this year. It was at this point that the couple went to Father Nsama for counselling.
Mr Moto said he, however, received an anonymous call from a private number on Tuesday March, 31 after 20:30 hours and the caller wanted to find out where his wife was.
He said he called his wife but she told him that she was at the bus stop and later switched off her phone.
He called his wife the next day, but she gave conflicting versions of where she was prompting him to get a court order from the Lusaka local court to get the activity phone record from MTN.
The phone record of the previous one month showed that his wife and Father Nsama exchanged a lot of calls and text messages between 19:00 hours and 23:30 hours.
Mr Moto said he travelled from Lusaka and asked Father Nsama to meet him somewhere so they could have a ‘gentleman’s’ talk.
During the meeting, Father Nsama said he and Mrs Moto were merely going for car rides and that on that evening they went as far as Luanshya.
He said he grabbed Nsama’ phone where he found a text message from his wife telling the priest to say that the two merely went for car rides.
Mr Moto said that day he had never slept, got traumatised and even contemplated suicide.
He then arranged a meeting with Ndola Diocese Bishop, Noel Oregan, who he said was cooperative and asked him to forgive his wife and sue Father Nsama.
Mr Moto said Bishop Oregan even offered Father Nsama a house in Lusaka so that he could relocate, an offer he turned down and the bishop further asked the priest to go for an HIV test.
Mr Moto simultaneously sued his wife for divorce which the court granted without compensation and urged the two parties to take good care of the children.
[Times of Zambia]
Friday, December 11, 2009
Irish Priests' Sex Abuse Scandal: Pope Benedict meets Irish Bishops
Commentary:
Pope Benedict XVI met with the Irish bishop expressing his concerns and remorse over the details contained in the Irish report heavily indicting the Irish Catholic hierarchy. While, this is noteworthy, and expressly supported, the Holy Father seems selective in his approach. The late Pope John Paul II was very vocal and confronted these abuses wherever they occurred, except that he did not go far enough as in the cases that evolved out of Poland, Austria, and other places.
Yet, when the American priest's sex abuse scandal blow open and monumentally dented the image of the worldwide Catholic Church, his response was outright, vocal, and swif, though regretably not far reaching. Unfortunately, the late Pope shielded abusers like the late Father Marcel Marcial, the founder and leader of the Society of the Sovereignty of Christ the King, often referred to as the Legionaries of Christ.
Fr. Marcial was eventually sanctioned after years of denial and protection by the same Vatican following the death of the late pope, John Paul II, placed under interdict and limited, having being isolate from performing his formal priestly and society roles. He died afterwards, only for it to become public that he had also fathered a child with a woman living in Argentina, and that the society has been obligated financially to the care of the child.
Pope Benedict XVI in the alleged case of Central African Republic did not meet with its hierarchy outside their normal ad limina visit to Rome that year. It is not known whether he even addressed the issue with the senior leadership of that country's hierarchy. Rather, given the limited attention he gave to the issue he delegated an African prelate to that country, after which three bishops were mandated to be removed.
Such double standards when such cases arise in other climes reflect the undying affirmation that the issues of the churches of the third world, outside of the west does not matter, or carry enormous weight. It continues to reaffirm the notion already assumed and somewhat propelled by the Pope himself that the major concern of his pontificate revolves around the issues of the western church, principally Europe and America.
If that is the case, it is really saddening that the church the arrowhead of social justice can become so perverted to certain demarcative interests, that are normatively exclusive.
In any case, we urge and join Catholics the world over, including our good and fervent African Catholics to pray for the mission of the church, its purification, and renewal. Clerics are human beings and can be weak. Many clerics experience being burnt out in ministry. The overwhelming nature of their daily apostolate can be huge and leave little room for their own spiritual upbraiding, while it is true that they are astute resources of spiritual hope and anchor of support for their congregants, parishioners, and those that rely on them. More so, one fact continues to be undermined; the devil is a portent force, looking for avenues and channels to diminish the influence of the church in building God's dominion here on earth (2 Corinthian 11: 3; 1 Peter 5: 8-9).
This year being the year of the priests draw even more attention to this salient fact. The devil is roaring round often, St. Peter informs us looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). The devil whom Jesus designates as "a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the turth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8: 44).
The Church has the promise of Christ her saviour, because the Church is a divine reality; but also made up of weak human beings, capable of denial, abandonment, and even rejection. It is this human side, this weak side that evil permeates; yet it is this weak side that is the vessel of God's grace that God is using (2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
In the book of Apocalypse (Revelation) we see the seven churches in spite of their strengths and witnessing, still failing (Revelation 2-3). As human beings we can be weak and tempted, but the grace of faith, of praying for one another, praying for the Church and her global mission, praying for our ministers and ecclesiastical leaders and workers, sustained by God- Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit- will see us through.
We are also aware that only God can protect us from the trials and hours of vicissitudes (Revelation 3: 10-12). Therefore, we need to open our hearts to God, allow him once again to come in and refresh us with his presence in the Holy Spirit, to revitalize us through and through, casting away our lukewarmness (Revelation 3: 20). As a church, we need to return to our first love, knowing where we first started from before we fell head on (Revelation 2: 4-5).
We can no longer afford to be neither cold nor warm, proud and arrogant about our influence, wealth, and have no need of nothing; whereas we wallow in wretchedness, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. The Lord counsels us to buy from him, gold refined in the fire, that we may become rich, and white garments, that she will be clotherd, that the shame of her nakedness may not be revealed, and become anointed with eye salve that she may see (Revelation 3: 15-18).
These manifestations of the Church's weakness must not lead us to deny or reject our fatih, but that we rather stand firm on the authority of our God in praying for the renewal of God for our communion of faith, our ministers, God's people. As we share in the Holy Eucharist, may we pray that the cup of salvation containing Christ's precious blood would definitely, together with the sacrament of renewal and reconciliation, be an assured sign of our protection, purification from sins, forgiveness, and restoration to grace (cf. Apocalypse (Revelation) 1:5. Let us join Archangel Michael, in rebuking Satan and forefeiting all its empty and false promises in our lives (Jude 1:9).
It is because the Lord love his church, that she rebukes and chasten, seeking fervent renewal in zealousness and repentance (Revelation 2:19). As bad as the signs are, the Lord may be exposing the nakedness of our embedded and embodied arrogance, to enable us do something about it. In this sense, using the logic of the world to interpret God's designs would be fatal.
Let us see the hand of our God in what is happening to our Church, and visualize it as an ongoing purification, calling our Roman Catholic communion to a greater appreciation of our reliance on God, rather than on our own resources, humility, and more connection with the ideals of Christ upon which the Catholic Church is fundamentally rooted. We must rely less on our human resources and more on God as the foundation of our existence as His community and people.
*********************************
IRISH BISHOPS MEET WITH POPE
VATICAN CITY, 11 DEC 2009 ( VIS ) - The Holy See Press Office released the following English-language communique at midday today:
"Today the Holy Father held a meeting with senior Irish bishops and high-ranking members of the Roman Curia. He listened to their concerns and discussed with them the traumatic events that were presented in the Irish Commission of Investigation's Report into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.
"After careful study of the report, the Holy Father was deeply disturbed and distressed by its contents. He wishes once more to express his profound regret at the actions of some members of the clergy who have betrayed their solemn promises to God, as well as the trust placed in them by the victims and their families, and by society at large.
"The Holy Father shares the outrage, betrayal and shame felt by so many of the faithful in Ireland , and he is united with them in prayer at this difficult time in the life of the Church.
"His Holiness asks Catholics in Ireland and throughout the world to join him in praying for the victims, their families and all those affected by these heinous crimes.
"He assures all concerned that the Church will continue to follow this grave matter with the closest attention in order to understand better how these shameful events came to pass and how best to develop effective and secure strategies to prevent any recurrence.
"The Holy See takes very seriously the central issues raised by the report, including questions concerning the governance of local Church leaders with ultimate responsibility for the pastoral care of children.
"The Holy Father intends to address a Pastoral Letter to the faithful of Ireland in which he will clearly indicate the initiatives that are to be taken in response to the situation.
"Finally, His Holiness encourages all those who have dedicated their lives in generous service to children to persevere in their good works in imitation of Christ the Good Shepherd".
OP/MEETING BISHOPS/IRELAND VIS 091211 (340)
Pope Benedict XVI met with the Irish bishop expressing his concerns and remorse over the details contained in the Irish report heavily indicting the Irish Catholic hierarchy. While, this is noteworthy, and expressly supported, the Holy Father seems selective in his approach. The late Pope John Paul II was very vocal and confronted these abuses wherever they occurred, except that he did not go far enough as in the cases that evolved out of Poland, Austria, and other places.
Yet, when the American priest's sex abuse scandal blow open and monumentally dented the image of the worldwide Catholic Church, his response was outright, vocal, and swif, though regretably not far reaching. Unfortunately, the late Pope shielded abusers like the late Father Marcel Marcial, the founder and leader of the Society of the Sovereignty of Christ the King, often referred to as the Legionaries of Christ.
Fr. Marcial was eventually sanctioned after years of denial and protection by the same Vatican following the death of the late pope, John Paul II, placed under interdict and limited, having being isolate from performing his formal priestly and society roles. He died afterwards, only for it to become public that he had also fathered a child with a woman living in Argentina, and that the society has been obligated financially to the care of the child.
Pope Benedict XVI in the alleged case of Central African Republic did not meet with its hierarchy outside their normal ad limina visit to Rome that year. It is not known whether he even addressed the issue with the senior leadership of that country's hierarchy. Rather, given the limited attention he gave to the issue he delegated an African prelate to that country, after which three bishops were mandated to be removed.
Such double standards when such cases arise in other climes reflect the undying affirmation that the issues of the churches of the third world, outside of the west does not matter, or carry enormous weight. It continues to reaffirm the notion already assumed and somewhat propelled by the Pope himself that the major concern of his pontificate revolves around the issues of the western church, principally Europe and America.
If that is the case, it is really saddening that the church the arrowhead of social justice can become so perverted to certain demarcative interests, that are normatively exclusive.
In any case, we urge and join Catholics the world over, including our good and fervent African Catholics to pray for the mission of the church, its purification, and renewal. Clerics are human beings and can be weak. Many clerics experience being burnt out in ministry. The overwhelming nature of their daily apostolate can be huge and leave little room for their own spiritual upbraiding, while it is true that they are astute resources of spiritual hope and anchor of support for their congregants, parishioners, and those that rely on them. More so, one fact continues to be undermined; the devil is a portent force, looking for avenues and channels to diminish the influence of the church in building God's dominion here on earth (2 Corinthian 11: 3; 1 Peter 5: 8-9).
This year being the year of the priests draw even more attention to this salient fact. The devil is roaring round often, St. Peter informs us looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). The devil whom Jesus designates as "a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the turth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8: 44).
The Church has the promise of Christ her saviour, because the Church is a divine reality; but also made up of weak human beings, capable of denial, abandonment, and even rejection. It is this human side, this weak side that evil permeates; yet it is this weak side that is the vessel of God's grace that God is using (2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
In the book of Apocalypse (Revelation) we see the seven churches in spite of their strengths and witnessing, still failing (Revelation 2-3). As human beings we can be weak and tempted, but the grace of faith, of praying for one another, praying for the Church and her global mission, praying for our ministers and ecclesiastical leaders and workers, sustained by God- Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit- will see us through.
We are also aware that only God can protect us from the trials and hours of vicissitudes (Revelation 3: 10-12). Therefore, we need to open our hearts to God, allow him once again to come in and refresh us with his presence in the Holy Spirit, to revitalize us through and through, casting away our lukewarmness (Revelation 3: 20). As a church, we need to return to our first love, knowing where we first started from before we fell head on (Revelation 2: 4-5).
We can no longer afford to be neither cold nor warm, proud and arrogant about our influence, wealth, and have no need of nothing; whereas we wallow in wretchedness, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. The Lord counsels us to buy from him, gold refined in the fire, that we may become rich, and white garments, that she will be clotherd, that the shame of her nakedness may not be revealed, and become anointed with eye salve that she may see (Revelation 3: 15-18).
These manifestations of the Church's weakness must not lead us to deny or reject our fatih, but that we rather stand firm on the authority of our God in praying for the renewal of God for our communion of faith, our ministers, God's people. As we share in the Holy Eucharist, may we pray that the cup of salvation containing Christ's precious blood would definitely, together with the sacrament of renewal and reconciliation, be an assured sign of our protection, purification from sins, forgiveness, and restoration to grace (cf. Apocalypse (Revelation) 1:5. Let us join Archangel Michael, in rebuking Satan and forefeiting all its empty and false promises in our lives (Jude 1:9).
It is because the Lord love his church, that she rebukes and chasten, seeking fervent renewal in zealousness and repentance (Revelation 2:19). As bad as the signs are, the Lord may be exposing the nakedness of our embedded and embodied arrogance, to enable us do something about it. In this sense, using the logic of the world to interpret God's designs would be fatal.
Let us see the hand of our God in what is happening to our Church, and visualize it as an ongoing purification, calling our Roman Catholic communion to a greater appreciation of our reliance on God, rather than on our own resources, humility, and more connection with the ideals of Christ upon which the Catholic Church is fundamentally rooted. We must rely less on our human resources and more on God as the foundation of our existence as His community and people.
*********************************
IRISH BISHOPS MEET WITH POPE
VATICAN CITY, 11 DEC 2009 ( VIS ) - The Holy See Press Office released the following English-language communique at midday today:
"Today the Holy Father held a meeting with senior Irish bishops and high-ranking members of the Roman Curia. He listened to their concerns and discussed with them the traumatic events that were presented in the Irish Commission of Investigation's Report into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.
"After careful study of the report, the Holy Father was deeply disturbed and distressed by its contents. He wishes once more to express his profound regret at the actions of some members of the clergy who have betrayed their solemn promises to God, as well as the trust placed in them by the victims and their families, and by society at large.
"The Holy Father shares the outrage, betrayal and shame felt by so many of the faithful in Ireland , and he is united with them in prayer at this difficult time in the life of the Church.
"His Holiness asks Catholics in Ireland and throughout the world to join him in praying for the victims, their families and all those affected by these heinous crimes.
"He assures all concerned that the Church will continue to follow this grave matter with the closest attention in order to understand better how these shameful events came to pass and how best to develop effective and secure strategies to prevent any recurrence.
"The Holy See takes very seriously the central issues raised by the report, including questions concerning the governance of local Church leaders with ultimate responsibility for the pastoral care of children.
"The Holy Father intends to address a Pastoral Letter to the faithful of Ireland in which he will clearly indicate the initiatives that are to be taken in response to the situation.
"Finally, His Holiness encourages all those who have dedicated their lives in generous service to children to persevere in their good works in imitation of Christ the Good Shepherd".
OP/MEETING BISHOPS/IRELAND VIS 091211 (340)
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