Mexican Clergy Cleared of Mixing in Politics

On the same day that Mexico’s clergy was cleared of accusations that its opposition to abortion violated a law banning priests from mixing in politics, the Church announced a campaign June 11 to change the law — saying it’s too restrictive, according to the Associated Press.

The Church had raised the ire of pro-abortion politicians when priests and bishops vociferously opposed the effort to legalize abortion in Mexico City in April. The politicians said the Church stepped over the line.

On June 9, the government dismissed the complaint, saying the Church had done nothing wrong.

Search for Italian Priest Continues in Mindanao

Spero News reported June 12 that an emergency task force has been created to find Father Giancarlo Bossi, missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, kidnapped in the Southern Island chain of Mindanao June 10.

Father Nador Jasulga, the administrator of the Catholic prelature of Ipil, has created the task force.

Col. Roberto Rabasio, coordinating the manhunt on the island, said, “The kidnappers have not answered our requests for negotiation and neither have they asked for anything in return.  We are combing the area of Sibugay, near Zamboanga, for them.”

Nigerian Bishop to Priests: Live an Exemplary Lifestyle

Bishop Alexius Makozi of the Diocese of Port Harcourt, asked his fellow clergy to live a lifestyle in emulation of Jesus Christ, the online version of the Nigerian newspaper The Tide reported.

Bishop Makozi’s comments came during the Mass for the 2007 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Associations, held at the Corpus Christi Cathedral in Port Harcourt. The bishop noted that, as priests, they are expected to serve as role models and be ambassadors of Christ.