Committee set up after President mocks the Fall
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has set up a committee to improve relations with the Roman Catholic Church and other religious groups, it has been announced, after he caused offence in a televised speech on Tuesday. President Duterte mocked the story of Adam and Eve, saying “Adam ate [the apple], then malice was born. Who is this stupid God?”, and went on to say: “Even in the womb, we already have sin. What kind of religion is that?” Most Filippinos are Roman Catholic. He has a history of abrasive remarks concerning the Church. The RC Bishop of Sorsogon, the Rt Revd Arturo Bastes, called the President a “madman” and urged the faithful to pray that his “blasphemous utterances and dictatorial tendencies” would end.
Nigeria responds to clashes in Plateau state
A SECURITY operation is to be launched in central Nigeria after a wave of violent clashes between Christian farmers and Muslim cattle herders claimed at least 86 lives. The Daily Telegraph reported that the government had announced that it would deploy a special task force to the Plateau region to tackle the violence (News, 4 May). The charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide estimates that Fulani herder militia perpetrated at least 106 attacks on communities in central Nigeria in the first quarter of 2018, claiming 1061 lives.
Korean church leaders seek end to sanctions
NORTH and South Korean church leaders, after a meeting in Geneva last weekend, issued a call to “seek peace and pursue it”. After the US-North Korean agreement earlier this month (News, 15 June), and the peace agreement between North and South Korea (News, 27 April), they also called for economic sanctions to be lifted against North Korea.
New director for CMS-Africa
CMS-AFRICA has appointed Canon Moses Bushendich as its new international director. He will take up his new post in September and will be based in Nairobi. He is currently the coordinator for the household and community transformation directorate of the Church of Uganda.