Bishops say West needs to continue to support Africa's growing church

Published: 2005-10-25

ROME (CNS) -- Western countries need to continue to support the church in Africa, not take advantage of its growing number of priests to fill priestless parishes abroad, said three African bishops. While Africa will continue to supply priests to Western bishops who make a request, people must understand that such exchanges are "only temporary," said Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana, Uganda. Bishop Matthias Ssekamaanya of Lugazi, Uganda, said "a permanent solution" to Western countries' lack of vocations "must be discovered by the countries concerned." The two Ugandan bishops, together with Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak of Wau, Sudan, made their comments at a Rome press conference Oct. 21 as they appealed to Western countries to continue to support the growing number of vocations in Africa and the church's growing needs. The bishops were in Rome attending the Oct. 2-23 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist at the Vatican.

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