Missionaries Lead Peace Prayers in Ivory Coast

FIDES, Dec. 21—After months of fighting between Muslim rebels and government forces, the African nation of Ivory Coast is praying for peace, reported Fides, the Vatican news agency.

A local missionary working in rebel-held Korhogo told Fides, “Since Korhogo fell into rebel hands the city has been emptied, but the churches have been filled! … In our parish we provide schooling and a meal for 2,000 children as well as recreation and sports. It is heartening to see them kicking a football or running a race while war continues. We continue to organize prayers for peace, the rosary every Saturday morning and in front of Blessed Sacrament during daily exposition. Many non-Christians—most here are animists—come to join the prayers. I think the local animists are edified to see the way Christians pray for peace, unlike Muslims who even pray for war. Recently one imam in the main mosque prayed publicly for the death of the president. We ask you … to remember the Ivory Coast in your prayers, that these long-suffering people may have a new year of peace.”

Flemish Priest Fired for Banning French

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Dec. 30—Ever since the small kingdom of Belgium was founded in the 19th century, tensions have stirred between its Flemish majority and a large minority of French-speakers.

The dispute burst into the sanctuary as Flemish Father Jos Verstraeten cancelled French-language Masses in 2001 at his parish of St. Peter's in Wezembeek-Oppem outside Brussels. That left French-speaking Catholics in his town to hold Mass in cafÈs and private homes.

The French ban made Father Verstraeten a star in the Flemish nationalist movement, which also sponsors one of the more successful socially conservative political parties in Europe, the Vlaams Blok.

In late December, Cardinal Godfried Danneels moved Father Verstraeten to another parish. In response, Flemish activists gathered at the priest's last parish Mass, waving flags and singing the nationalist anthem “The Flemish Lion.”

According to the AP disputes between Dutch and French-speakers have brought down numerous governments in Belgium.

Priests in Malawi Accused of Vampire Conspiracy

REUTERS, Dec. 23—Vigilante violence has convulsed the small African nation of Malawi thanks to strange rumors of vampire attacks that have spread across the country.

Those alleged attacks have been blamed on international aid agencies. The country is suffering political turmoil and food shortages, and now many villagers have come to believe that food aid from foreign donors is only being dispensed in return for human blood.

Three Catholic priests were injured by stoning and another man died after accusations they were part of the vampire conspiracy. Malawi President Bakili Muluzi has blamed the rumors on his political opposition, saying they are trying to undermine his government, according to the wire service.

Muluzi condemned the rumors as irresponsible and malicious and told a news conference: “No government can go about sucking blood of its own people. That's thuggery.”

Malawi is one of the 10 poorest countries in the world.