Church in Nepal worried about political uncertainty, says bishop

Published: 2007-11-15

KATMANDU, Nepal (CNS) -- The bishop of Nepal said Catholic officials are worried about the political uncertainty gripping the Himalayan nation as it transitions to a democracy. "We do not know what will happen now and where the country is heading," Bishop Anthony Sharma told an international gathering of Catholic journalists in Nepal Nov. 15. "Everyone is confused," Bishop Sharma said at a program organized by the Geneva-based International Catholic Union of the Press. The event was attended by 20 delegates from Bangladesh, Germany, India, Nepal and Switzerland. In October, the interim government led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala postponed Nov. 22 elections for a constituent assembly, which would draft a new constitution for Nepal. The election's postponement came under pressure from Maoists who insisted on a declaration abolishing the monarchy before the elections, but the interim government said it did not have the constitutional mandate to make such a decision.

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