Articles by Jude Atemanke
Bishops in East Africa commit to creating ‘safe, nurturing church environment’ for minors
Jul 8, 2024 / 07:00 amIn a statement following their July 1–4 meeting on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, the bishops said they are “deeply saddened by the pain caused by abuse.”
Catholic bishops in Sudan: ‘Fabric of Sudanese society has been torn apart’
Jul 2, 2024 / 13:00 pmMembers of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference released a statement following their June 27–29 meeting expressing alarm about the country’s civil war.
Nigeria archdiocese appeals for prayers for priest abducted from parish rectory
Jun 10, 2024 / 17:00 pmThe Archdiocese of Kaduna is appealing for the “urgent and safe release” of Father Gabriel Ukeh, who was abducted from his parish rectory on June 9.
Nuncio in Kenya: Church in Europe is losing ‘its inner compass’
May 29, 2024 / 16:00 pmArchbishop Hubertus van Megen recently highlighted some of the weaknesses of the Church in Europe, which he said reflect an orientation toward secularism.
Nigeria diocese orders immediate closure of Catholic school after attack
May 10, 2024 / 13:00 pmThe Diocese of Makurdi in Nigeria has ordered the immediate closure of Father Angus Frazer Memorial High School after an attack on the institution.
Botswana diocese mourns loss of bishop who collapsed during Mass
May 8, 2024 / 18:28 pmThe Kenyan-born member of Society of the Divine Word of Indian origin turned 74 on March 18.
Uganda’s Catholic dioceses notified of limited stock of altar wine for Mass
May 7, 2024 / 13:32 pmCatholic dioceses in Uganda have been notified of a limited stock of wine for Masses due to delays in shipping.
Democratic Republic of Congo bishops: Amid growth of Church ‘the Congolese state is dead’
Apr 28, 2024 / 07:00 amCatholic bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo have denounced the insecurity and violence in their dioceses.
Lifting of moratorium on death penalty in Congo ‘a step backwards,’ cardinal says
Mar 22, 2024 / 07:00 amIn a March 17 interview, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo said he finds it “abnormal that a government that claims to be responsible could take such a decision.”
African cardinal: Fiducia Supplicans seen as ‘cultural colonization, Western imperialism’
Mar 20, 2024 / 09:00 amIn a March 17 interview, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo deplored the lack of “synodality” in the release of the DDF document Fiducia Supplicans.
Two missionary priests who were kidnapped in Nigeria released
Feb 12, 2024 / 12:00 pmFather Kenneth Kanwa and Father Jude Nwachukwu were taken from the rectory at St. Vincent de Paul Fier Parish in the Diocese of Pankshin on Feb. 1.
Nigeria fast becoming a hostile killing field, Catholic bishops in Ibadan province say
Feb 12, 2024 / 09:00 amFollowing a recent two-day meeting, Catholic Church leaders said in a statement that “all is not well and positive change is needed.”
Two priests kidnapped from parish rectory in Nigeria
Feb 6, 2024 / 11:00 amA religious missionary order in Nigeria is appealing for the safe release of two of its members who were abducted on Feb. 1.
Religious congregation grateful after release of abducted nuns, seminarian in Nigeria
Oct 19, 2023 / 14:00 pmThree Catholic nuns, a seminarian, and their driver were abducted from Nigeria’s Abakaliki Diocese on Oct. 5 and released Oct. 13-14.
Sisters issue appeal for ‘safe release’ of 3 nuns who were abducted from Nigerian diocese
Oct 11, 2023 / 10:00 amThe vicar general of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria said five people were abducted Oct. 5 in Nigeria’s Imo State.
Suspects arrested in killing of seminarian in Nigerian parish rectory fire
Oct 5, 2023 / 10:45 amSeminarian Na’aman Danlami died after Fulani bandits reportedly attacked St. Raphael Parish Fadan Kamantan on the night of Sept. 7 and set the rectory ablaze.
Abducted priest in Nigeria released, diocese ‘grateful’
Sep 25, 2023 / 15:00 pmFather Marcellinus Obioma Okide, a parish priest at St. Mary Amofia-Agu Affa Parish in the Enugu Diocese, was set free on Thursday evening, Sept. 21.
Nigerian diocese calls for prayers for kidnapped priest
Sep 19, 2023 / 16:20 pmFather Marcellinus Obioma Okide was on his way back to his parish in the Enugu Diocese on Sept. 17 when he was kidnapped along the road.
Ugandan diocese observes five-day prayer for victims of secondary school attack
Jun 27, 2023 / 10:30 amOn June 16, suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces reportedly attacked the school, killing some 41 people, including 38 students.
Missionary priest abducted in Nigeria’s Jos Archdiocese; security guard killed
Jun 19, 2023 / 16:30 pmFather Marcellus Nwaohuocha, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was kidnapped June 17.