Obama to parishioners: Keep faith in hard times
By NATASHA METZLER, Associated Press Writer Natasha Metzler, Associated Press Writer 23 mins ago
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Sunday recalled the work of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. as he urged those packing a Baptist church to take heart in hard times and celebrate progress — however small.
On the eve of the federal holiday marking King's birth, the first African-American president said he learned — as did the civil rights leader — to rely on his faith even as he felt the "sting of criticism" during his first year as president.
"During those times it's faith that keeps me calm," he said.
Obama pointed specifically to his attempts to move the country out of the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression while pressing for an overhaul of the health care system.
Speaking to an enthusiastic congregation of nearly 300 people at the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, founded in 1866 by former slaves, Obama called King and those who fought with him for civil rights the "Moses generation." He exhorted parishioners — those he termed the "Joshua generation" — to "get back to basics" as Americans faced the challenges of a "new age."
Obama encouraged those in the audience to learn from previous the generations' firm resolve, belief that government can be a force for good and commitment to universal ideals.
"Our predecessors were never so consumed with theoretical debate that they couldn't see progress when it came," Obama said. "Sometimes I get a little frustrated when folks just don't want to see that even if we don't get everything, we're getting something."
In his remarks at the Washington church, Obama reflected on the difficulties he has faced in pushing key elements of his legislative agenda through Congress and the periodic distractions that have arisen from remarks about his race.
Referring to the "post-racial" and "post-partisan" shift in the country that many observers predicted would flow from his inauguration a year ago, he said, "That didn't work out so well."
But Obama urged listeners to have faith that things would slowly improve.
"Each season, the frost melts, the cold recedes, the sun reappears; so it was for earlier generations and so it will be for us," he said.
Later the president headed to Boston in support of the Senate candidacy of state Attorney General Martha Coakley, who is in a tight race for the seat long held by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who died in August. Coakley's defeat would upend the Democrat's 60-vote majority in the Senate, making it impossible to overcome a filibuster that could kill hard-fought health care legislation.
Obama was accompanied to the church by first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Sasha and Malia.
King himself spoke in 1956 at Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, located just over a mile north of the White House.
Then a 27-year-old preacher who was emerging as a prominent voice in the civil rights movement, King visited Washington shortly after the Supreme Court sided with a ruling that led to the end of racial segregation aboard city buses in Montgomery, Ala. King was one of the leaders of a bus boycott that lasted more than a year.
Monday's King holiday will be the first that Obama, the first black president, will commemorate as the nation's leader.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Archbishop of Port Au Prince, Haiti dies in Earthquake
The Church has always had to pay a price as part of human society. News has reached us of the death of Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot of the Port au Prince archdiocese in Haiti, who was found dead in the rubbles of his ruined archdiocesan office. He died leading and sharing the fate of his suffering flock and country men and women, especially those faithful so terribly affected.
At the moment, it seems many priests and seminarians are still missing or in ruined rubbles. Our heart reaches out to them and we continue to keep them in our prayers.
Haiti, home to about 9 million people of mainly African descent is a poor country within the western hemisphere. In its culture and religious heritage it continues to display and manifest African cultural identities and legacies of its connection to the African continent.
We pray for the repose of the dead and especially the archbishop and members of the church of Haiti, so terribly affected.
*****************
The Times of India
Indiatimes Web (by Google) Video Photos
Archbishop of Port-au-Prince dies in Haiti earthquake
AP, 14 January 2010, 03:06am
Topics:Haiti
PARIS: Monsignor Joseph Serge Miot, the archbishop of Port-au-Prince, has been killed in the Haiti earthquake. He was 63.
Missionaries at the archdiocese found his body crushed by rubble in the ruins of his office, said the Rev Pierre Le Beller of the Saint Jacques Missionary Centre in western France.
A seminary student was killed and two others were injured in the quake, according to the mission.
The Saint Jacques order of missionary priests was officially founded in 1951 by the bishop of Gonaives, Haiti. While headquartered in France, it retains a strong presence in Haiti and traces its unofficial missionary activity to 1860.
Born in Jeremie, Haiti, on November 23, 1946, Miot was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1975.
He was consecrated a bishop in 1997, and named deputy to the archbishop of Port-au-Prince, a title he held until being named archbishop himself in 2008.
"He was a demanding, and understanding, priest," said the Rev Michel Menard, also of the Saint Jacques mission, who met regularly with Miot in Haiti. "He was man of great discretion and humility."
"He was very close to his priests, very welcoming," and his door was always open to visitors, Menard said.
Miot, a philosophy professor at the Port-au-Prince seminary, "would tell students that being a priest is not a profession, it is a mission," Menard told AP by phone from the Brittany town of Landivisiau.
At the moment, it seems many priests and seminarians are still missing or in ruined rubbles. Our heart reaches out to them and we continue to keep them in our prayers.
Haiti, home to about 9 million people of mainly African descent is a poor country within the western hemisphere. In its culture and religious heritage it continues to display and manifest African cultural identities and legacies of its connection to the African continent.
We pray for the repose of the dead and especially the archbishop and members of the church of Haiti, so terribly affected.
*****************
The Times of India
Indiatimes Web (by Google) Video Photos
Archbishop of Port-au-Prince dies in Haiti earthquake
AP, 14 January 2010, 03:06am
Topics:Haiti
PARIS: Monsignor Joseph Serge Miot, the archbishop of Port-au-Prince, has been killed in the Haiti earthquake. He was 63.
Missionaries at the archdiocese found his body crushed by rubble in the ruins of his office, said the Rev Pierre Le Beller of the Saint Jacques Missionary Centre in western France.
A seminary student was killed and two others were injured in the quake, according to the mission.
The Saint Jacques order of missionary priests was officially founded in 1951 by the bishop of Gonaives, Haiti. While headquartered in France, it retains a strong presence in Haiti and traces its unofficial missionary activity to 1860.
Born in Jeremie, Haiti, on November 23, 1946, Miot was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1975.
He was consecrated a bishop in 1997, and named deputy to the archbishop of Port-au-Prince, a title he held until being named archbishop himself in 2008.
"He was a demanding, and understanding, priest," said the Rev Michel Menard, also of the Saint Jacques mission, who met regularly with Miot in Haiti. "He was man of great discretion and humility."
"He was very close to his priests, very welcoming," and his door was always open to visitors, Menard said.
Miot, a philosophy professor at the Port-au-Prince seminary, "would tell students that being a priest is not a profession, it is a mission," Menard told AP by phone from the Brittany town of Landivisiau.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Kenya: Married Catholic Priests enjoin Catholic Nuns to Abandon celibacy vow
Kenya:Nuns Urged to Abandon Celibacy Vow
The Daily Nation online
27 December 2009
Nairobi — A group of married Catholic priests have urged nuns to also abandon their celibacy vows and "stop living a life of pretence".
The group led by Archbishop Daniel Kasomo has disassociated themselves with the traditional Roman Catholic Church doctrine of celibacy.
Dr Kasomo said infidelity was rife among the church's rank and file and called on priests having secret love affairs to come out in the open and formally get married.
One of the married priests, Peter Njogu, said nuns should get married because celibacy in the church had proved unworkable.
Congregation
The priests were speaking in Wamagana, Nyeri, during a celebration of 20 years of priesthood in honour of Mr Njogu.
The prayers, attended by a small congregation, took place at a private compound, about 200 metres from Wamagana Catholic Church.
Dr Kasomo was ordained by controversial Zambian cleric Emmanuel Milingo in June this year. Pope Benedict XVI recently defrocked Archbishop Milingo for his continued ordination of married priests.
The Daily Nation online
27 December 2009
Nairobi — A group of married Catholic priests have urged nuns to also abandon their celibacy vows and "stop living a life of pretence".
The group led by Archbishop Daniel Kasomo has disassociated themselves with the traditional Roman Catholic Church doctrine of celibacy.
Dr Kasomo said infidelity was rife among the church's rank and file and called on priests having secret love affairs to come out in the open and formally get married.
One of the married priests, Peter Njogu, said nuns should get married because celibacy in the church had proved unworkable.
Congregation
The priests were speaking in Wamagana, Nyeri, during a celebration of 20 years of priesthood in honour of Mr Njogu.
The prayers, attended by a small congregation, took place at a private compound, about 200 metres from Wamagana Catholic Church.
Dr Kasomo was ordained by controversial Zambian cleric Emmanuel Milingo in June this year. Pope Benedict XVI recently defrocked Archbishop Milingo for his continued ordination of married priests.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Cardinal Francis Arinze flees Nigerian hometown due to insecurity (Kidnappers)
National Daily (Nigerian Newspaper)
Cardinal Arinze flees hometown for fear of kidnappers
• Travels back to Vatican
By AHAOMA KANU
THE fear of kidnappers has now become the beginning of wisdom for anybody of substance that comes from the South East of Nigeria. With the high prevalence rate of the crime, which is fast becoming a very lucrative business venture, not abating, many indigenes of Anambra and Abia, the two states that have witnessed increased cases of kidnapping lately, in the Diaspora who had wanted to come home for the Christmas holidays are fast rethinking the idea of even coming home in a very long time.
The kidnapping anarchy that has befallen Anambra has recently made one of its illustrious sons, Cardinal Francis Arinze, who has distinguished himself in the service of God in the Vatican, to quickly cut short his holiday and return to Rome. Arinze, who is currently Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, having served as prefect from 2002 to 2008, is also Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni (succeeding Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI) since 2005. Arinze was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul II, and was considered papabile before the 2005 papal conclave, which elected Benedict XVI.
The Cardinal chose to return to his hometown of Ezi-Owerri in Idemmili Local Government Council of Anambra State to have a deserved rest among his kinsmen but no sooner had he unpacked did the unknown men of the kidnapping world struck and kidnapped three people while he was still around.
Arinze, who intended to stay till December ending, was forced to hastily pack his baggage and cut short his stay to rush back to base.
National Daily gathered that while he was at the Alkanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu waiting for the Arik plane that would take him to Lagos from where he would take off to the Holy Land, His Eminence, the Cardinal was worried that the plane was late in coming since he feared that the “boys” might strike while he was waiting. He eventually left the shores with a promise not to visit in a long time. So even the Lord's chosen are beginning to fear the sons of the night.
Francis Arinze was born on 1 November 1932, in Eziowelle, Anambra State. A convert from an African traditional religion, he was baptized on his ninth birthday (1 November 1941) by Father Michael Tansi, who was beatified by John Paul II in 1998. His parents themselves later converted to Catholicism. At age 15, he entered All Hallows Seminary of Onitsha from which he graduated and earned a degree in philosophy 1950. His father was initially opposed to his entering the seminary, but after seeing how much Francis enjoyed it, he encouraged him. Arinze stayed at All Hallows until 1953 to teach. In 1955, he went to Rome to study theology at the Pontifical Urban University, where he ultimately earned a doctorate in sacred theology summa cum laude. On 23 November 1958, at the chapel of the university, Arinze was ordained to the priesthood by Grégoire-Pierre Agagianian, pro-prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith and future cardinal.
After ordination, Father Arinze remained in Rome, earning a master's in theology in 1959 and doctorate in 1960. His doctoral thesis on "Ibo Sacrifice as an Introduction to the Catechesis of Holy Mass" was the basis for his much used reference work, "Sacrifice in Ibo Religion", published in 1970. From 1961 to 1962, Arinze was professor of liturgy, logic, and basic philosophy at Bigard Memorial Seminary. From there, he was appointed regional secretary for Catholic education for the eastern part of Nigeria. Eventually, Arinze was transferred to London, where he attended the Institute of Education and graduated in 1964.
Francis Arinze became the youngest Roman Catholic bishop in the world when he was ordained to the episcopate on 29 August 1965, at the age of 32. He was appointed titular bishop of Fissiana, and named coadjutor to the Archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria. He attended the final session of the Second Vatican Council in that same year along with the 45 year old Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II. Following the death of the Archbishop of Onitsha in February 1967, Arinze was appointed to the position a few months later, on 26 June 1967. He was the first native African to head his diocese, succeeding Archbishop Charles Heery, an Irish missionary.
The new Archbishop did not have much time to settle into his office before the Nigeria-Biafra War broke out. The entire archdiocese was located in the secessionist Biafran territory. As a result of the war, Archbishop Arinze had to flee his see city of Onitsha and to live as a refugee, first in Adazi and then Amichi, for the three years of the war, which lasted from 1967 to 1970.
Despite his own refugee status, Archbishop Arinze worked tirelessly for refugees, displaced persons, the sick and the hungry, offering support to priests and religious, and giving the faithful hope for the future. With the help of foreign missionaries, he supervised what one international relief worker called one of "the most effective and efficient distributions of relief materials" in history. He also took care to keep the Church separate from the ongoing political conflict, gaining the respect of all factions in the country.
Francis Arinze was still Archbishop of Onitsha when the Nigeria-Biafra war ended in 1970. Onitsha was a part of Biafra, and the region and its people had suffered greatly in the three-year war. The homes and businesses of the people had been devastated, and the already poor region was sinking deeper into poverty. The end of the war did not mean an end to the challenges facing the young Archbishop.
The Nigerian government deported all foreign missionaries stationed in the archdiocese, leaving only the native clergy and religious, who were few in number. The government also confiscated the Catholic schools, most of which also served as churches or parish halls.
Impressed by Arinze's many accomplishments as the leader of an archdiocese with few resources, and his ability to work side by side with Muslims in a country that is majority Christian (the fearful refusal of mainly Muslims in the north not allow religion and ethnicity to feature in the recent census in Nigeria is viewed by analyst as an acknowledgement of the Christian numerical superiority)and with a strong and not-to-be-ignored Muslim population, in 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed Arinze pro-president of the Vatican's Secretariat for Non-Christian Believers, later renamed the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Archbishop Arinze continued as the ordinary his archdiocese, and was the unanimous choice of his brother bishops for President of the Nigerian Bishops Conference in 1984.
A year later, the people of Onitsha organized a pilgrimage to Rome when they learned that Archbishop Arinze would be named a Cardinal at the Consistory of 25 May 1985. At the age of 53, Cardinal Arinze was among the youngest members of the College of Cardinals.
On 8 April 1985, Arinze resigned from his post in Onitsha, and the Pope named him a Cardinal Deacon, with the title of S. Giovanni della Pigna, little more than a month later in the consistory held on 25 May 1985; he was raised to the rank of Cardinal Priest in 1996. Two days following his elevation to Cardinal Deacon, Arinze was appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, holding the office until 1 October 2002, when he was named Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. All major Vatican officials automatically lose their positions during a sede vacante, and so, the cardinal lost his position on 2 April 2005 due to the death of the Pope.
The Cardinal actively catechises via Familyland TV to the Americas, the Philippines, Africa, and Europe. He has produced over 1,700 television programs with the Apostolate for Family Consecration. The programs cover almost all of Pope John Paul II's encyclicals and apostolic letters, Vatican II, and many other topics. He is also the author of several books along with a complete "Consecration and Truth Catechetical Program" for children and adults.
Arinze was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. He returned to his post as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments when confirmed by Benedict XVI on 21 April 2005. Four days later, on 25 April 2005, he was advanced to Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni, which had been vacated by the ascension of Cardinal Ratzinger to the papacy. On 9 December 2008 Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Arinze as Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship. His successor, who took office that same day, is Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera.
Cardinal Arinze will be eligible to participate and vote in any future conclaves before his 80th birthday on 1 November 2012.
Cardinal Arinze flees hometown for fear of kidnappers
• Travels back to Vatican
By AHAOMA KANU
THE fear of kidnappers has now become the beginning of wisdom for anybody of substance that comes from the South East of Nigeria. With the high prevalence rate of the crime, which is fast becoming a very lucrative business venture, not abating, many indigenes of Anambra and Abia, the two states that have witnessed increased cases of kidnapping lately, in the Diaspora who had wanted to come home for the Christmas holidays are fast rethinking the idea of even coming home in a very long time.
The kidnapping anarchy that has befallen Anambra has recently made one of its illustrious sons, Cardinal Francis Arinze, who has distinguished himself in the service of God in the Vatican, to quickly cut short his holiday and return to Rome. Arinze, who is currently Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, having served as prefect from 2002 to 2008, is also Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni (succeeding Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI) since 2005. Arinze was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul II, and was considered papabile before the 2005 papal conclave, which elected Benedict XVI.
The Cardinal chose to return to his hometown of Ezi-Owerri in Idemmili Local Government Council of Anambra State to have a deserved rest among his kinsmen but no sooner had he unpacked did the unknown men of the kidnapping world struck and kidnapped three people while he was still around.
Arinze, who intended to stay till December ending, was forced to hastily pack his baggage and cut short his stay to rush back to base.
National Daily gathered that while he was at the Alkanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu waiting for the Arik plane that would take him to Lagos from where he would take off to the Holy Land, His Eminence, the Cardinal was worried that the plane was late in coming since he feared that the “boys” might strike while he was waiting. He eventually left the shores with a promise not to visit in a long time. So even the Lord's chosen are beginning to fear the sons of the night.
Francis Arinze was born on 1 November 1932, in Eziowelle, Anambra State. A convert from an African traditional religion, he was baptized on his ninth birthday (1 November 1941) by Father Michael Tansi, who was beatified by John Paul II in 1998. His parents themselves later converted to Catholicism. At age 15, he entered All Hallows Seminary of Onitsha from which he graduated and earned a degree in philosophy 1950. His father was initially opposed to his entering the seminary, but after seeing how much Francis enjoyed it, he encouraged him. Arinze stayed at All Hallows until 1953 to teach. In 1955, he went to Rome to study theology at the Pontifical Urban University, where he ultimately earned a doctorate in sacred theology summa cum laude. On 23 November 1958, at the chapel of the university, Arinze was ordained to the priesthood by Grégoire-Pierre Agagianian, pro-prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith and future cardinal.
After ordination, Father Arinze remained in Rome, earning a master's in theology in 1959 and doctorate in 1960. His doctoral thesis on "Ibo Sacrifice as an Introduction to the Catechesis of Holy Mass" was the basis for his much used reference work, "Sacrifice in Ibo Religion", published in 1970. From 1961 to 1962, Arinze was professor of liturgy, logic, and basic philosophy at Bigard Memorial Seminary. From there, he was appointed regional secretary for Catholic education for the eastern part of Nigeria. Eventually, Arinze was transferred to London, where he attended the Institute of Education and graduated in 1964.
Francis Arinze became the youngest Roman Catholic bishop in the world when he was ordained to the episcopate on 29 August 1965, at the age of 32. He was appointed titular bishop of Fissiana, and named coadjutor to the Archbishop of Onitsha, Nigeria. He attended the final session of the Second Vatican Council in that same year along with the 45 year old Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II. Following the death of the Archbishop of Onitsha in February 1967, Arinze was appointed to the position a few months later, on 26 June 1967. He was the first native African to head his diocese, succeeding Archbishop Charles Heery, an Irish missionary.
The new Archbishop did not have much time to settle into his office before the Nigeria-Biafra War broke out. The entire archdiocese was located in the secessionist Biafran territory. As a result of the war, Archbishop Arinze had to flee his see city of Onitsha and to live as a refugee, first in Adazi and then Amichi, for the three years of the war, which lasted from 1967 to 1970.
Despite his own refugee status, Archbishop Arinze worked tirelessly for refugees, displaced persons, the sick and the hungry, offering support to priests and religious, and giving the faithful hope for the future. With the help of foreign missionaries, he supervised what one international relief worker called one of "the most effective and efficient distributions of relief materials" in history. He also took care to keep the Church separate from the ongoing political conflict, gaining the respect of all factions in the country.
Francis Arinze was still Archbishop of Onitsha when the Nigeria-Biafra war ended in 1970. Onitsha was a part of Biafra, and the region and its people had suffered greatly in the three-year war. The homes and businesses of the people had been devastated, and the already poor region was sinking deeper into poverty. The end of the war did not mean an end to the challenges facing the young Archbishop.
The Nigerian government deported all foreign missionaries stationed in the archdiocese, leaving only the native clergy and religious, who were few in number. The government also confiscated the Catholic schools, most of which also served as churches or parish halls.
Impressed by Arinze's many accomplishments as the leader of an archdiocese with few resources, and his ability to work side by side with Muslims in a country that is majority Christian (the fearful refusal of mainly Muslims in the north not allow religion and ethnicity to feature in the recent census in Nigeria is viewed by analyst as an acknowledgement of the Christian numerical superiority)and with a strong and not-to-be-ignored Muslim population, in 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed Arinze pro-president of the Vatican's Secretariat for Non-Christian Believers, later renamed the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Archbishop Arinze continued as the ordinary his archdiocese, and was the unanimous choice of his brother bishops for President of the Nigerian Bishops Conference in 1984.
A year later, the people of Onitsha organized a pilgrimage to Rome when they learned that Archbishop Arinze would be named a Cardinal at the Consistory of 25 May 1985. At the age of 53, Cardinal Arinze was among the youngest members of the College of Cardinals.
On 8 April 1985, Arinze resigned from his post in Onitsha, and the Pope named him a Cardinal Deacon, with the title of S. Giovanni della Pigna, little more than a month later in the consistory held on 25 May 1985; he was raised to the rank of Cardinal Priest in 1996. Two days following his elevation to Cardinal Deacon, Arinze was appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, holding the office until 1 October 2002, when he was named Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. All major Vatican officials automatically lose their positions during a sede vacante, and so, the cardinal lost his position on 2 April 2005 due to the death of the Pope.
The Cardinal actively catechises via Familyland TV to the Americas, the Philippines, Africa, and Europe. He has produced over 1,700 television programs with the Apostolate for Family Consecration. The programs cover almost all of Pope John Paul II's encyclicals and apostolic letters, Vatican II, and many other topics. He is also the author of several books along with a complete "Consecration and Truth Catechetical Program" for children and adults.
Arinze was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. He returned to his post as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments when confirmed by Benedict XVI on 21 April 2005. Four days later, on 25 April 2005, he was advanced to Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni, which had been vacated by the ascension of Cardinal Ratzinger to the papacy. On 9 December 2008 Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Arinze as Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship. His successor, who took office that same day, is Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera.
Cardinal Arinze will be eligible to participate and vote in any future conclaves before his 80th birthday on 1 November 2012.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Ugandan Catholic Priests abandon Faith for New Church and Wives
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.
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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 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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"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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trains stall in Chunnel, strand riders
U.S.-China climate progress?
NBC World Blog
NBC News correspondents and producers around the globe share their insight on news events.
Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).
Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com
Your weather
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Click to see the weather outlook for your destination
Most popular
• Most viewed • Top rated • Most e-mailed
Girl, 14, vanishes after solo sailing bid is nixed
East Coast digs out from big storm
Food stamps altering how retailers do business
‘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.
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