Latest stories: South Africa

South African Archbishop Warns of Selfishness, Jealousy as Most Toxic Emotions in Marriage

A Catholic Archbishop in South Africa has cautioned married couples and those considering marriage against selfishness and jealousy, describing both emotions as toxic to any relationship.

Procreation Not “the only purpose of marriage”: South African Catholic Priest

Procreation is not the only reason behind marriage, a Catholic Priest in South Africa has said at the ongoing marriage awareness campaign of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC).

Vatican Entity Urges Support for African Migrants on Durban Declaration Anniversary

The Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, has called for support of Africa’s rising numbers of refugees and migrants who, he says, continue to experience racism and xenophobic attacks in the countries of destination.

South African Archdiocese Maintains Stance against Singing to Curb COVID-19 Infections

The Catholic Archbishop of South Africa’s Cape Town Archdiocese has urged the people of God under his pastoral care to continue exercising restraint against singing during Holy Mass to curb COVID-19 infections.

Southern African Bishops Decry Corruption in Member Nations, Urge “solidarity with needy”

Theft of COVID-19 response funds in nine Southern African countries is a cause for concern for Catholic Bishops in the region who are decrying the vice and urging solidarity with “weakest and needy members of society.”  

Plans Underway to Build a Shrine in Honor of South Africa’s First Martyr, Potential Saint

South Africa’s Tzaneen Diocese has announced plans to build a shrine in Honor of Blessed Benedict Daswa, the country’s first martyr and first potential Saint.

Never Take Your Spouse for Granted, Catholic Bishop Warns in Marriage Awareness Campaign

The Catholic Bishop of South Africa’s Oudtshoorn Diocese has called upon married couples and those contemplating marriage to make a commitment to value their spouses and to stick by the commitment.

Unequal Care of Catholic Priests and Sisters is Gender Inequality: South African Bishop

One of the ways in which gender inequality manifests itself in the Church is the unequal care given to Catholic Priests and Religious Sisters, a South African Bishop has said.

Catholic Bishop in South Africa Cautions Country’s Poor against Being Used in Violence

The Catholic Bishop of South Africa’s Umtata Diocese has acknowledged the calm in the country that followed a series of violent attacks and cautioned the country’s poor people against accepting to be used by those in power to fuel violence.

Action Needed amid Increased Rape, Teenage Pregnancies in South Africa: Catholic Entity

Reports of increased cases of rape and teenage pregnancies in South Africa are a cause for concern for officials of the Catholic Institute of Education (CIE) who are calling for an “urgent response” to address the crisis. 

“Take action now” against Environmental Degradation: South African Archbishop

A South African Archbishop has expressed concern over the destruction of the environment and called on the people of God in the country to take urgent action to mitigate the effects of degradation.

Family is all we have, Catholic Bishop Says at Southern Africa’s Marriage Campaign Launch

Everything, except family, seems to have been taken away by the COVID-19 pandemic, a member of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has said at the launch of the marriage awareness campaign in the three-nation ecclesiastical region.

Become Aware of “ecological, social degradation we are experiencing”: South African Bishop

Ahead of the month-long annual event dubbed Season of Creation, a South African Bishop has called on the people of God in the country to become aware of “ecological and social degradation” and take appropriate actions.

Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa Concerned about Violence in Mozambique: Peace Entity

The leadership of the peace entity of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), Denis Hurley Peace Institute (DHPI), says that Catholic Bishops in the Southern African pastoral region are concerned that the insurgent attacks in Mozambique may have a terrible effect in the whole region if it remains untamed.

International Catholic Entity Initiates Campaign against Euthanasia in South Africa

The African branch of the International Catholic activist organization, CitizenGo Africa, has initiated an online campaign to stop ongoing discussions about legalizing euthanasia in South Africa.

Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa Announce Campaign to Strengthen Marriages

Members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) have announced a campaign in which they plan to journey with the people of God seeking to strengthen their marriage relationships and families in the ecclesiastical region.

South African Bishop Says People Struggling to Survive, Announces Consecration of Diocese

The Catholic Bishop of South Africa’s Klerksdorp Diocese has announced the consecration of his Episcopal See to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary on separate days during which the people of God who the Bishop says are struggling to survive will pray for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Be Partners in Education, Catholic Entity in South Africa to Parents amid School Dropouts

The leadership of the Catholic Institute of Education (CIE) in South Africa has called on parents in the country to show their partnership in the education program by ensuring that their children attend school amid a reported increase in the number of dropouts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We should add our voice on call for accountability for violence”: South African Bishop

Catholic Church leaders in Southern Africa should call on the South Africa’s government to hold accountable the perpetrators of last month’s riots that started after former President Jacob Zuma handed himself over to police, the Bishop at the helm of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference  (SACBC) has said. 

Pope Francis Appoints South African Professor of Anthropology to Pontifical Academy

A South African Professor of Anthropology has been appointed as an ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.