RC priests to be issued with identity cards

ROMAN CATHOLIC priests are being given identity cards, replacing celebrets, the letters of commendation in Latin which have traditionally allowed priests to celebrate mass outside their own parish. Media reports suggest that all RC priests in England and Wales are to be issued with cards, in part to modernise the system, and also to rule out the possibility of impostors. The cards will carry a passport-style photo, together with basic information and the diocesan bishop’s signature. The general secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, the Revd Patrick Thomas, said: “The Church has always had a system so that priests can travel, showing that they are in good standing. It’s a very ancient system of authorisation, and we’re modernising it.”

WCC condemns killing of RC priests in Central Africa

THE General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Revd Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, has condemned the killing of two Roman Catholic priests in the past fortnight. Fr Victor Luke Odhiambo was killed in Cueibet, South Sudan on 15 November. Fr Cosmos Omboto was killed outside his office in Mamfe, Cameroon, by crossfire between the military and separatists on 21 November. Dr Tveit said: “These attacks are even more abhorrent because we have lost two peacemakers who had dedicated their lives to bringing justice to their respective countries.”