VATICAN: Respecting Values of Life and Family, African Bishops Speak at the Synod
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| H.E. Cardinal Berhaneyesus , Chairman of AMECEA |
Speaking in an interview with Elise Harris of
CNA/EWTN, H.E. Berhaneyesus D.Cardinal Souraphiel said that protecting the African
values of life and love “is of utmost importance to the African Bishops and we
will speak about them more I feel.”
CNA/EWTN, H.E. Berhaneyesus D.Cardinal Souraphiel said that protecting the African
values of life and love “is of utmost importance to the African Bishops and we
will speak about them more I feel.”
Cardinal Berhaneyesus recalled how when
Benedict XVI visited Africa in 2011, the Pontiff said that the African
continent has “their own values, you are in fact the spiritual lung of the world
because you have
traditional values.”
Benedict XVI visited Africa in 2011, the Pontiff said that the African
continent has “their own values, you are in fact the spiritual lung of the world
because you have
traditional values.”
This was to emphasize the heavy
criticism of the West
imposing secular values on Africa in exchange for aid emerged as a theme from
the continent’s bishops, as the Synod on the family kicks off its first week.
criticism of the West
imposing secular values on Africa in exchange for aid emerged as a theme from
the continent’s bishops, as the Synod on the family kicks off its first week.
“From press conferences to individual
interviews, multiple prelates voiced concern over what Pope Francis has termed
“ideological colonization,” in which Western nations have made the acceptance
of legislature favoring gay rights and “marriage” contingent on receiving
financial aid.
interviews, multiple prelates voiced concern over what Pope Francis has termed
“ideological colonization,” in which Western nations have made the acceptance
of legislature favoring gay rights and “marriage” contingent on receiving
financial aid.
“It’s one thing that the African bishops are
very, very conscious of,” Cardinal Wilfred Napier of South Africa told
journalists Oct. 7.
very, very conscious of,” Cardinal Wilfred Napier of South Africa told
journalists Oct. 7.
“What we are talking about is when countries
are told unless you pass certain legislation, you’re not going to get aid from
the governments or aid agencies,” he said, pointing to the danger of “political
colonization” being replaced “by a different kind of colonization.”
are told unless you pass certain legislation, you’re not going to get aid from
the governments or aid agencies,” he said, pointing to the danger of “political
colonization” being replaced “by a different kind of colonization.”
This year’s Synod on the Family, which runs
from Oct. 4-25, is the second and larger of two such gatherings to take place
in the course of a year. Like its 2014 precursor, the focus of the 2015 Synod
of Bishops will be the family, this time with the theme: “The vocation and
mission of the family in the Church and the modern world.”
from Oct. 4-25, is the second and larger of two such gatherings to take place
in the course of a year. Like its 2014 precursor, the focus of the 2015 Synod
of Bishops will be the family, this time with the theme: “The vocation and
mission of the family in the Church and the modern world.”
While Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu
and president of the Ugandan Episcopal Conference, in an Oct. 8 interview with
CNA, called the act “criminal,” and said ideologies must never be attached to
receiving aid, which is meant to save lives.
and president of the Ugandan Episcopal Conference, in an Oct. 8 interview with
CNA, called the act “criminal,” and said ideologies must never be attached to
receiving aid, which is meant to save lives.
“The issue of homosexuality should not be
linked with saying ‘if you don’t accept this we won’t help you,’ that is
criminal, I call it criminal,” he said.
linked with saying ‘if you don’t accept this we won’t help you,’ that is
criminal, I call it criminal,” he said.
“Aid should not be linked with ideological
acceptance or rejection. Aid is to save human life. If you link it to ideology
it becomes contradictory…it is self-defeating.”
acceptance or rejection. Aid is to save human life. If you link it to ideology
it becomes contradictory…it is self-defeating.”
Human beings must be helped without any
conditions attached, Archbishop Odama said, adding that the survival of human
life “is paramount,” and that the family exists precisely to promote human
life.
conditions attached, Archbishop Odama said, adding that the survival of human
life “is paramount,” and that the family exists precisely to promote human
life.
“Any other society, any other groups
elsewhere should exist to promote life and protect life, so if it intends to
limit the life to be protected or to be accepted to a certain way of thinking
then we runs short,” he said. “So any issue against human life is an issue
against humanity in general.”
elsewhere should exist to promote life and protect life, so if it intends to
limit the life to be protected or to be accepted to a certain way of thinking
then we runs short,” he said. “So any issue against human life is an issue
against humanity in general.”
Source:
CNA/EWTN and AMECEA Online News
CNA/EWTN and AMECEA Online News
