Free Republic

African Pachamama: Priest DefrockedAneho Bishop Isaac Jogues Gaglo, Togo, laicised Father Joseph Bassitome (pictured) for joining a pagan African religion.Gaglo writes in a February 2 message that he summoned Bassitome after learning that he was invoking pagan deities and indulging in "syncretistic and scandalous" practices.Bassitome admitted having joined a group called "African Renaissance." The bishop ordered him to leave the group and spend a period of time in a monastery in the mountains. But Bassitome refused and asked to be defrocked. Had he adored Pachamama, Francis would have made him a Cardinal.In Western dioceses, priests proclaiming the pagan homosex religion...

The monument "African Renaissance" under construction near Dakar International Airport in Senegal(photo taken on Aug. 10.) The monument, 50 meter high, is to be completed in coming December. N. Koreans have been building it since last year.

In the Liberian town of Redemption last week the bodies of the dead littered the main street. Aid workers with Médecins Sans Frontières described a smell of death hanging over the town. 'People have come from camps where the last food distribution was months ago,' said Alain Kassa. 'They have again been fleeing for six days with nothing to eat. Here in the city they won't even find the bits and pieces of food that they can gather in the bush.' Kassa was describing Liberia, but his words could just have easily been applied to the Democratic Republic of Congo,...