CAR: Clergymen on strike

  1. Posted on Wednesday 27 May 2009 - 15:30
    Julien
    Julien Dreshenga, AfricaNews reporter in Bangui, CAR
    Local priests and diocesans of the Central Africa Republic (CAR) are on a general and indefinite strike action. They are protesting the resignation of Father Paulin Pomodimo, Bangui archbishop, who was accused of adopting "a moral attitude which is not always in conformity with his commitments to follow Christ in chastity, poverty and obedience."
    central african republic
    Father Pomodimo and many of his younger colleagues were reproached with “sexual immorality tarnishing the Church image, and characterized by priests heading households and fathering children.”

    The 27 May 2009 edition of a local daily - Le Confident – reported that in the name of moral responsibility the Vatican exercised pressure on Father Pomodimo to resign and replaced him with Dieudonne Nzapalayinga as apostolic administrator of Bangui archbishopric.

    The strike action followed a publication from the apostolic nuncio to Bangui that Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the resignation of Pomodimo. They have resolved to suspend all religious services and sacraments in their various parishes until further notice.

    They published an announcement over Catholic Radio Notre Dame protesting also the appointment of Dieudonné Nzapalayinga as apostolic administrator of Bangui archbishopric.

    All Catholic churches headed by Central African priests were closed this morning and members who came for services were obliged to return home.

    However, there seems to be no agreement among the religious strikers since the vicar-general of Bambari granted an interview to Radio Ndeke Luka today, calling on his colleagues to review their positions, AfricaNews reporter said.

    Related story:
    Clergymen gang up against Vatican

Latest News

  1. AFCON: 46 hurt in Zambia victory celebrations09/02Over 40 casualty cases were recorded Wednesday night at Zambia's University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after post-match celebrations turned violent …
  2. African Peer Review Mechanism making progress08/02In 2003 the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the continental development plan, initiated the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM…
  3. Combating HIV infections among African women08/02With a lack of knowledge and power, African women continue to bear the brunt of HIV infections.
  4. Legume cultivation booms in Western Kenya07/02Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) who traditionally relied on seed companies for all their seeds are now bulking their own legume seeds for their farms.
  5. Zim: Informal sector urged to join HIV battle05/02While the Harare City council is busy engaging in running battles with city vendors, Health Minister has called for authorities to devise ways to form…
  6. AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02Following a deadlock during Monday's African Union elections, with a tie between former wife to South African president Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs …
  7. Senegal in turmoil as protest intensifies01/02Hundreds of anti-government protesters Tuesday gathered in the central Dakar, Senegal to show their dissatisfaction over the incumbent president Abdou…
  8. Zimbabwe’s inflation still favourable -…01/02Zimbabwe's annual headline inflation still compared favourably with economies in the region, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono said o…
  9. AFCON 2012: Sudan qualifies after four decades31/01The Sudanese national team has sealed a historic win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso.
  10. Senegalese opposition to intensify protests31/01Opposition and civil society groups in Senegal have vowed to increase their fight against incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade's presidential bid.
  11. Malawi: Rights coalition condemn stripping of…30/01The 39 members of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Coalition based in 18 African countries have vehemently condemned the stripping of wo…
  12. Kenya to deworm five million children annually30/01Kenya launched the second phase of its national deworming programme at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012, aiming to treat 5 million childre…
  13. Benin’s Yayi Boni is AU’s new…30/01President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic has been elected chairperson of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa
  14. Clashes in Senegal as Wade seek third term30/01Clashes have erupted in Senegal's capital Dakar and several other city cities ; after the Constitutional Council said President Abdoulaye Wade co…
  15. Africa Union’s top posts tightly…27/01All eyes are on the 18th African Union (AU) Summit that is currently underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia until the 30th of January 2012.
News archive