Auxiliary Bishop of Juba, South Sudan: “There is no peace without justice”
Bishop Santo Laku, the Auxiliary Bishop of Juba in South Sudan, has recently commented on the fraught situation in the country: “There is no need to tell lies. They do not help us. This country is sinking. We need to get up and stand strong and say God help us to carve a new way, […]
Colombia: After the referendum, the Bishops promote a “culture of encounter”
Following the results of the Colombian Referendum on the Peace Agreements, held on October 2nd, with “No” emerging victorious (50.2% to 49.8% against) on a very low turnout (37.4% of registered voters), the Colombian episcopate have invited political leaders and the entire population to overcome polarisation and divisions. The statement of the Bishops’ Conference of Colombia (CEC), […]
Pope Francis and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby: “Our continuing common journey”
Pope Francis met on October 6th with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and 35 Primates of the Anglican communion, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey of Canterbury. During the meeting, the Pope said: “It is a beautiful sign of fraternity to see the […]
Uganda: The Karimojong Prophets
In the Karimojong group living in north-east Uganda, the prophet (ekadwaran) is an important figure. The status of prophet is the highest possible status an elder can attain, and therefore demonstrates the significance of the elder to his people. Akidwar means to foretell and to prophesy; adwaris indicates a capacity to prophesy in a particularly accurate manner; and ekadwaran stands […]
Republic of Congo: Oil Does Not Flow for the Poor
The Republic of Congo ranks among the top five oil producers on the African continent. The oil and resource extraction, however, has strained a parched landscape, caused deforestation, polluted rivers and impoverished communities – all while the profits of such activities enrich foreign companies and local governments. Huge trees, tropical plants, and dense vegetation soaked with […]
Uganda: Justice and Peace Centre
The John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre (JPIIJPC) is a consortium of five religious institutes: Missionaries of Africa, Mill Hill, Comboni Missionaries, Holy Cross, Jesuits, and Comboni Sisters. Reflecting on church life in the country, the major superiors of these congregations in Uganda recognised that the people of God in Uganda were still affected […]
South Sudan: When Life Can Be Beautiful
In spite of the horrors of war, life is beautiful in South Sudan, when children play together as brothers and sisters and do not see others as their enemies and threats – as some adults often do. This is the experience of Bill Firman, De La Salle Christian Brother and Executive Director of Solidarity of […]
The Island of Lamu in Kenya: Keram, a Board Game
Under the shadow of the tamarind trees in market square, and in the adjoining alleys, scores of people turn to keram. A board game a curios mix of billiard and table shuffleboard. We look at the game. Visitors to the island of Lamu, which is part of the Lamu Archipelago of Kenya, are always struck […]
Christians Before the Wounds of the World
Individuals, society, the planet itself are suffering from many wounds. How to contribute to their recovery? A meditation by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, Philippines. Today, people, society and the planet itself are suffering from many wounds. The failure of relationships within the family causes wounds to all its members, affecting even future […]
Philippines: Bishops Warn About Threat of Dictatorship as Duterte Declares National Emergency
The Catholic bishops of the Philippines have warned against the danger of a dictatorship after President Rodrigo Duterte declared a “state of national emergency” in the wake of a September 2nd terrorist attack in Davao City. President Duterte, the former mayor of Davao, said that the state of national emergency was necessary not only because of […]