Archbishop says Zimbabwe's enmity shown by refusing priests' permits

Published: 2007-05-15

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- The Zimbabwean government's antagonism toward the Catholic Church is shown in its refusal to renew the permits of foreign priests, said Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. "In a sign of the government becoming anti-church," the archbishop said, two black South African priests were refused extensions of their permits to stay in Zimbabwe and had to return to their home country. In a May 14 telephone interview from Bulawayo, Archbishop Ncube called Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's recent comments about him "very disturbing." In the May edition of the London-based New African magazine, Mugabe, 83, singled out Archbishop Ncube for condemnation and said he has "long been a lost bishop." After an Easter pastoral letter in which Zimbabwe's bishops said the country was in "deep crisis" and "extreme danger" because of its "overtly corrupt" leadership, Mugabe warned the bishops that they are treading "a dangerous path" by criticizing the government. Ordinary Zimbabweans have praised the letter and are grateful that the bishops have spoken up for them, Archbishop Ncube said.

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