Don't politicise conflicts - Cardinal Turkson
Nov 12, 2008
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The Chairman .of the National Peace Council (NPC), His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkso,n, has warned against the politicization of any conflict in the country.
He said conflicts were bound to happen but noted with regret that in Ghana when they occurred, especially in an election year, as was being witnessed now, people tended to link them to politics.
"We need to avoid this practice as we strive to attain peaceful elections this year," he said.
Cardinal Turkson stated this at the opening of a three-day workshop on election security management in Kumasi.
Journalists, security personnel, members of youth groups, among others, attended the workshop, which was organised by the NPC, with sponsorship from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Among the topics treated were elections and national security, inter-agency collaboration for peaceful elections and challenges and opportunities of media practitioners during elections.
Cardinal Turkson said every Ghanaian had a role to play in ensuring that the prevailing peace in the country was maintained.
He said the NPC was still looking for a formula to establish regional peace councils in the country.
A member of the NPC, Maulvi Wahab Adam, expressed confidence that Ghana would go through peaceful elections on December 7, in spite of pockets of disturbances in the build up to the elections.
"We have met the presidential candidates and the leadership of the political parties, top security officers, the Chief Justice and other individuals and interest groups and we are convinced that the elections will be peaceful," he said.
He expressed the hope that the unity among the leadership of the parties would trickle down to the grass roots where there had been pockets of disturbances.
Maulvi Adam reminded Ghanaians that they had no other country than Ghana and as such they must protect the nation at all cost against all forms of trouble.
He pointed out that political 'fanaticism of the extreme order, as was being experienced in certain quarters would not do the nation any good.
Speaking on the topic, "Challenges and Opportunities of media practitioners during elections", Mr.Kofi Yeboah, a joumalist with the Daily Graphic, traced the history of the media in the Fourth Republic and said they had performed creditably.
He, therefore, challenged the media to avoid acts that bring the upcoming elections into disrepute.
Afrique occidentale : Evêques anglophones et francophones ensemble
Dec 13, 2007
Naissance d’une nouvelle association.
ROME, Mercredi 12 décembre 2007 (ZENIT.org) - L'Association des conférences épiscopales de l'Afrique occidentale réunit maintenant les évêques anglophones et francophones de l'Afrique occidentale, annonce l'agence vaticane Fides.
La nouvelle association a été placée sous la protection de Marie Immaculée. Le cardinal Peter Turkson, archevêque de Cape Coast, au Ghana, en est le premier président.
L'association naît de la fusion de « l'Episcopal Conference of Anglophone West Africa » (AECAWA) et de la « « Conférence régionale de l'Afrique de l'Ouest » (CERAO).
Le cardinal Turkson, qui était président de l'AECAWA, a été nommé à la tête du nouvel organisme par l'Assemblée constituante plénière qui s'est tenue le 7 décembre à Abuja, au Nigeria. Les évêques anglophones et francophones de l'Afrique occidentale ont aussi élu leur vice-président : le cardinal Théodore Sarr, archevêque de Dakar, au Sénégal, créé cardinal au dernier consistoire de novembre dernier.
« C'est un rêve qui s'est confirmé après sept années de prières, de rencontres, de documents et d'ébauches de statuts », affirme le cardinal Turkson dans son message publié au terme de l'assemblée plénière.
« Nous sommes très motivés pour la réalisation du désir d'une unique association pour tous les évêques de l'Afrique occidentale », continue le cardinal Turkson, qui rappelle « les fruits abondants des premiers missionnaires ».
« Nous ne pouvons pas ne pas exprimer notre gratitude aux différentes sociétés missionnaires qui plantèrent les semences de l'évangélisation dans nos pays », insiste l'archevêque ghanéen.
La nouvelle association se fixe pour objectifs de « maintenir et promouvoir les relations entre les conférences épiscopales qui en font partie »; « établir des relations fraternelles et efficaces entre les différentes conférences épiscopales à travers leurs secrétariats respectifs »; « coordonner les études d'intérêt commun et des formes de collaboration entre les conférences épiscopales et autres organismes »; « servir d'agence de liaison pour faire face à des problématiques urgentes pour l'Eglise de l'Afrique occidentale, comme la proclamation de la Foi, le dialogue interreligieux, l'inculturation, la justice, le développement et la paix ».
En réaffirmant leur engagement à continuer de promouvoir le concept d' « Eglise - Famille de Dieu », selon l'exhortation apostolique post-synodale de Jean-Paul II, les évêques de l'Afrique occidentale entendent affronter les défis dérivants « des actuels développements économiques, sociopolitiques et culturels dans la région ».
Ils ont donc créé 5 sous-commissions régionales concernant les séminaires, le clergé et la religion; la justice, la paix et le développement; les laïcs et la vie familiale; le dialogue interreligieux; le catéchisme et les communications sociales.
Cardinal Says Church Mission is One, With Many Faces
Oct 31, 2007
As the Catholic Church celebrated World Mission Sunday, Cardinal Peter Turkson, archbishop of Cape Coast, explained that evangelisation - and not simply socio-economic development - is the Church's primary objective.
Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi, 23 October 2007) "The point of mission is the promotion of the Gospel and faith in Jesus. This will take many forms in different countries," Cardinal Turkson told ZENIT. For example, the cardinal continued, "proclaiming the Gospel may require some structural support, as in India, Latin America, and Africa."
"Also, there are places where proclaiming the Gospel will take the form of the simple presence of witnesses, as in northern Africa and the Middle East; for instance, something as simple as carrying a Bible. In this case, the testimony is in the form of the witnesses' lives and what they do," he added.
The 59-year-old Ghanaian cardinal was last week visiting England to strengthen links between the two countries. He said Africa had a duty to support the Church in Europe.
While Ghana had one priest for every 2,400 Catholics, "we are not talking about sharing personnel, since we don't have a surplus, but recognition that we are a world Church - a Church together. As much at possible we must respond to people's needs because we see what our brother needs. If this is what is needed in Europe, this is something we can share."
In Africa, he said, needed a deepening of the faith among Christians by properly former priests. "If a priest has to preach about conversion, he cannot do it if he himself has not experienced it, if it is missing in his life," explained the cardinal.
"The people then leave the Church and enter other groups, like the evangelicals, because they did not have a deepening of their faith. The people learned a few notions and concepts, but not about the offer of God's love, and the richness of what the Church has to offer."
"What is needed is the experience of God's love for us in Christ Jesus, not just to be talked about but lived and experienced. When this is the case, something is lasting in the experience of the person," Cardinal Turkson added.
"We need to discover new pathways of inviting people - not simply philosophizing - to enter into a relationship with God."
La Giornata Missionaria Mondiale non riguarda solo l’aiuto economico
Oct 17, 2007
Il Cardinale Turkson, del Ghana, visita il Regno Unito.
LONDRA, martedì, 16 ottobre 2007 (ZENIT.org).- La Giornata Missionaria Mondiale non riguarda solo l’aiuto economico ai Paesi poveri, ha affermato il Cardinale africano Turkson.
Il Cardinale Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Arcivescovo di Cape Coast, in Ghana, sta visitando questa settimana l’Inghilterra per rafforzare i legami esistenti tra i due Paesi e sottolineare l’importanza della Giornata Missionaria Mondiale.
In questa occasione, che cade il 21 ottobre, il porporato celebrerà la Messa nella Cattedrale di St. George's a Southwark (Londra).
Parlando con ZENIT della Giornata, il Cardinale ha affermato che la sua prima preoccupazione “è spiegare la visione della missione nella Chiesa; questo obiettivo non è semplicemente da ricondurre allo sviluppo e all’aiuto economico al sud del mondo”.
“Il punto centrale della missione è la promozione del Vangelo e della fede in Gesù, che prenderà molte forme nei vari Paesi”. Ad esempio, ha continuato il Cardinale, “la proclamazione può richiedere delle strutture di supporto, come in India, America Latina e Africa”.
”Ci sono anche luoghi in cui questo prenderà la forma della semplice presenza di testimoni, come nell’Africa del Nord e in Medio Oriente, qualcosa di semplice come portare una Bibbia. In questo caso, la testimonianza è nella vita dei testimoni e nelle loro azioni”, ha aggiunto.
“In Cina, e in luoghi come questo, la gente può avere la possibilità di dire qualcosa, ma è limitata, per cui devono essere scoperte nuove vie”, ha continuato.
“La missione è costituita dai modi di fare tutto questo. La stessa cosa si applica in Occidente. Anche qui, infatti, possiamo fare missione, pur se non nella stessa forma rispetto ad altri luoghi. Qui nel Regno Unito ci sono troppe chiese. Le varie forme devono essere usate per presentare una nuova proclamazione di quello che è il messaggio del Vangelo”.
“Penso che nel corso del tempo sia accaduto qualcosa nella proclamazione del Vangelo – ha osservato il Cardinale Turkson –. La maniera in cui è iniziato nelle prime pagine della Scrittura, come si vede negli Atti degli Apostoli, è stata un modo di invitare la gente all’interno della Chiesa attraverso una reale esperienza di evangelizzazione mediante il messaggio del Vangelo”.
“In seguito, questo messaggio è stato sostituito da qualche forma di catechismo, ma la catechesi non era intesa come punto di ingresso. Dovrebbe esserci un invito, al quale la catechesi segue”.
“Quando ammettiamo persone nella Chiesa con la pura catechesi”, ha affermato il Cardinale, “abbiamo cristiani nozionistici che mancano di esperienza personale. Con un tipo eccessivamente nozionistico di cristianesimo, quando qualcuno arriva con un’altra idea, o un modo migliore di guardare le cose, sostituendo una nozione con un’altra, la fede si perde”.
“Ciò di cui c’è bisogno è l’esperienza dell’amore di Dio per noi in Gesù Cristo, non come una cosa di cui parlare soltanto, ma da vivere e sperimentare. Quando avviene questo, c’è qualcosa di duraturo nell’esperienza della persona”, ha aggiunto.
“Dobbiamo scoprire nuove vie per invitare la gente – non limitandosi a filosofeggiare – a entrare in rapporto con Dio”.
Condivisione nel bisogno
Il Cardinale Turkson ha detto che l’Africa ha il dovere di sostenere la Chiesa in Europa.
Il porporato, di 59 anni, ha spiegato che come l’Europa è stata generosa nella sua opera missionaria nei confronti dell’Africa, ora la Chiesa africana deve essere ugualmente pronta a condividere la missione universale della Chiesa.
Visto che il Ghana ha un sacerdote per ogni 2.400 cattolici, rispetto alla Gran Bretagna che ne ha uno per ogni 890, il Cardinale Turkson ha sottolineato che “non stiamo parlando di condividere personale perché non abbiamo un surplus, ma di riconoscere che siamo una Chiesa mondiale – una Chiesa unita. Per quanto possibile dobbiamo rispondere ai bisogni della gente, perché vediamo ciò di cui necessita il nostro fratello. Se è questo ciò che serve in Europa, è una cosa che possiamo condividere”.
Vocazioni in Ghana
Interpellato sulle vocazioni in Ghana, il Cardinale ha affermato che “attualmente ci sono tre centri di formazione, di cui uno per ordini religiosi. Abbiamo poi due centri diocesani: uno nel nord, l’altro nel sud. In quello di Cape Coast, che rappresenta 13 diocesi, abbiamo 400-500 uomini in formazione”.
Per sfuggire al cristianesimo superficiale, il Cardinale Turkson sottolinea l’importanza della formazione nel seminario.
“E’ fondamentale il tipo di evangelizzazione, che può essere stato un problema per l’Europa”, ha spiegato.
In Africa, ha detto, “siamo il prodotto dell’evangelizzazione dei missionari. Hanno fatto del loro meglio, nel senso di riunire le basi della fede che cercavano di condividere con la gente”.
“Quando la gente entrava nella Chiesa significava che veniva ammessa perché le erano state insegnate nozioni che si ritenevano indicative di ciò che era la fede cattolica, facendone dei cristiani che imparavano le cose a memoria e si limitavano a recitare ciò che dovevano”, ha sottolineato.
“Quando ci si ordina e si inizia il ministero, se un sacerdote deve parlare della conversione non può farlo se non l’ha sperimentata, se manca nella sua vita. Quando non si è avuta quell’esperienza di conversione la Chiesa è debole”.
“La gente può abbandonare la Chiesa ed entrare in altri gruppi, come gli evangelici, perché non ha approfondito la propria fede. Ha imparato qualcosa, poche nozioni e pochi concetti, ma non sull’offerta dell’amore di Dio, la ricchezza di quello che la Chiesa ha da offrire”.
“Se si ha come esperienza personale un rapporto con Dio”, ha concluso il Cardinale Turkson, “allora la fede è più duratura. Dobbiamo integrare le nozioni facendo fare esperienza alle persone”.
"All must work towards national peace"- Bishop
Jan 02, 2007
The Bishop of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Methodist Church, Right Reverend Isaac Quansah, on Sunday charged all Ghanaians to bury their individual and political differences and work towards national unity to facilitate the socio-economic development of the nation next year.
(GNA, 12/31/2006) Giving his New Year's Message in an interview with the GNA at Cape Coast, Rev. Quansah said the celebration of the country's Golden Jubilee should serve as a platform for reconciliation and nation building to pave the way for 93God's abundance blessings for the nation".
He stressed the need for Christians and Ghanaians in general to have their 93hearts and minds transformed and renewed socially, politically, religiously and economically for them to make a positive impact in society".
All Ghanaians he said should be development minded in the coming year and work hard to change the industrial sector of the nation for the better.
"We need to be mindful of our utterances and the kind of language we use on radio and in the newspapers, watch our attitude towards work, stop polluting the environment and also ensure that we eschew all forms of social vices that hinders the progress and development of our nation", he declared.
Rev. Quansah also urged Ghanaians to extend love to the vulnerable in society by supporting them, particularly HIV/AIDS victims, the poor and the disabled through cash or in kind 93to put smiles on their faces".
He exhorted all Christians to exhibit the virtues of their religion throughout the coming year for them to be true ambassadors of Christ.
The Archbishop of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Catholic Church, Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, on his part said just as Jesus came to repair and restore the world, Ghanaians should endeavour to use the 50th anniversary of the nation's independence for the renaissance of Ghana and to put to right what went wrong in the past and start afresh. He said the exuberance and enthusiasm that Ghanaians had on Independence Day 50 years ago was much stronger than what was being experienced now, and asked that the same will power should be exhibited during the jubilee celebration.
Cardinal Appiah Turkson regretted that the pivot of the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah's development programmes were not met, adding that "our classmates in independence" such as India and Malaysia were far ahead of Ghana in terms of development.
He attributed the situation to the fact that leaders after Dr Nkrumah did not continue or complete with the projects he started. He mentioned the Tema harbour, motor way and the Volta lake and a number of factories and industries as some of the giant projects Dr Nkrumah put in place but regretted that many of the factories and industries were allowed to deteriorate with others collapsing due to the lack of maintenance.
Cardinal Turkson however said all was not lost for Ghanaians and that they should not be discouraged and lament too much about the lack of success and development, but should recognize the bright opportunities of the future and endeavour to do things in a new way to give Ghana a new birth.
He in this regard called on the government to identify and implement sound and solid economic policies that would make the country a 93big market" such that it would produce and sell its own goods and not allow all kinds of inferior goods to be dumped on her. He urged Ghanaians not to only recount the failures of the nation but should also talk about its successes and achievements. This he noted would help market the country, stressing that with solid economic policies and committed political will, Ghana would be restored to the original plans Dr Nkrumah had for the nation. Touching on religion, he noted with concern that if the issue of inter religious conflict was not well managed it could bring the nation some problems in the near future and called for religious tolerance and the respect for dignity and rights of others.
Cardinal Turkson called on parents to protect and take care of their children since they are vulnerable and defenceless and prone to all kinds of hazards and dangers.
He said just as the parents of Jesus Christ, protected him from being killed by king Herod, it was important for all parents to also protect their children since they could easily be destroyed, adding, "Let us recognize the vulnerability of children and protect them accordingly".
He said irresponsible child birth, single parenthood, teenage pregnancy and pushing children onto the streets did not help with the wellbeing and success of children. He suggested that measures should be evolved to address the situation, saying 93the evil consequences of irresponsibility would be reaped in the land if nothing is done to save the situation". He prayed for the "renaissance of Ghana" as well as for the President, John Agekum Kufuor, Misters of State, Members of the Council of State, parliament and all Ghanaians.
Cardinal Turkson dedicates Mankessim Catholic Church
Jul 31, 2006
Peter Cardinal Kojo Appiah Turkson, Catholic Archbishop of Cape Coast on Sunday dedicated the St. Paul's Catholic Church at ceremony at Mankessim.
Mankessim (C/R), July 12, GNA - The occasion coincided with the 10th Anniversary of elevation of the Church to a parish status.
His Eminence Cardinal Turkson reminded the congregation that buildings alone did not make a church.
He said the most important component of a church was the members and added that dedication of a church building was meaningless if the members did not adopt change of heart towards their fellows and God. "The Bible has stated that our body is the temple of God and therefore it must be used in an acceptable way for God. You are the image of God therefore you belong to God," the Cardinal stated.
Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment noted that people including leaders who did not submit themselves to God never succeeded in life and advised Christians to seek God's guidance in whatever they did.
"Before I take my seat at my office every morning I pray and invite the Holy Ghost to take the seat first for me to seat on his laps", the Minister stated.
He appealed to churches to support the government's sanitation drive.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman West said with the commencement of work on the Baifikrom water supply system, water problems facing communities in the District would be a thing of the past.
The Minister and the District Chief Executive Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur pledged a joint donation of 100 bags of cement and five million cedis to support the Church in its development programmes. Some members including the Most Reverend Father James Robert Myers, Vicar-General of Cape Coast Archdiocese were honoured for their contributions towards the development of the Church.
Attempt to swindle Cardinal fails ... Burkinabe in police grips
Mar 04, 2006
A 45-year old Burkinabe, Paul Yada Gean, who claimed to be an urologist, and attempted to swindle Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson on Monday, this week, has found himself in police grips, Chronicle has learnt.
(The Ghanaian Chronicle, September 15, 2005) Yada Gean was alleged to have attempted to dupe the Cardinal and his Vicar General of an amount of $500 after falsely claiming to have a link with an Archbishop in Burkina Faso.
A police source told the paper that Yada Gean presented himself to the Vicar General as a Burkinabe who had received a message from Burkina Faso through his brother-in-law that he had lost his wife and children through a motor accident.
It continued that after making such claims, he then went ahead to tell the Vicar General that an Archbishop in Burkina Faso had directed him (Yada Gean) to seek assistance following the sad incident.
The Vicar General partially believed the story and gave him a telephone to talk to the supposed Archbishop in Burkina Faso. Yada Gean feigned in front of the Vicar General to have talked to the Archbishop, the source said.
The Vicar General, suspicious of Yada Gean’s behaviour, alerted the Cardinal, who eventually caused his arrest.
Yada Gean, according to the police source, held the police to ransom when he attempted to commit suicide by knocking his head against the walls of the police cells, and again feigned unconsciousness as though he was dead, creating uneasiness among the police.
The police then sent him to the Police Hospital in Cape Coast where he was nearly pronounced dead after infusion and syringe attempts to revive him failed.
After failing to revive him, the doctors and nurses at the hospital suggested that his body be deposited at the mortuary and Yada Gean, realising he was on the verge of meeting his untimely death, quickly rose up from his unconsciousness and shouted “ I’m not dead.”
Reports reaching the paper also indicate that Yada Gean had allegedly stolen some items belonging to the owner of Fair Hill Guest House in Cape Coast.
Cardinal Turkson calls for national IDs
Mar 04, 2006
The Archbishop of Cape Coast, Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, on Friday called on the government to fulfill its promise to provide all Ghanaian citizens with identity cards and to tackle it as one of its major projects in the coming year.
(myjoyonline.com, Dec 30 2005) He said the identity cards were a "basic instrument for democracy", since it would give the government the needed statistics on the number of people it has to deal with.
Cardinal Turkson, made the call in his New Year message through the GNA at Cape Coast, said it was "unfortunate" that at present, there were no proper statistics on the number of people on retirement, children born, or of people in the working age.
He however, cautioned that Ghanaians should not see the provision of the ID cards as a move to sack aliens, but as a way of giving Ghanaians the requisite recognition, as well as enable the government to do effective planning.
According to the Cardinal, the provision of ID cards "would be unforgettable legacy" the government would leave for the people, stressing that possessing voter ID cards and Passports, was not enough to give Ghanaians the needed recognition in the intentional world.
Cardinal Turkson acknowledged the peaceful manner in which both the NPP and NDC conducted their congresses, and said this was an indication that the nation was "now maturing in its democracy", and urged the leaders of the various political parties do their campaigns devoid of rancor, and tribalism and ensure that there was total freedom of _expression.
The Archbishop, however observed that there was the need "for a third strong political party in the country to enable people to make other choices instead having to either go for NDC or NPP"
"Our democracy is maturing and we need other alternatives to choose from" he stressed.
Touching on the economy, Cardinal Turkson thanked the country's development partners for their support by either cancelling her debts or providing loans and grants and tasked the government to make good use of such support to change the social and economic orbit of the country.
He was hopeful that the "economic favours" received by the government would become "motors" to push the country into a new orbit for a better economy, adding that efforts towards a single digit inflation, should be translated into improving the lives of the people, since there was still poverty in many homes, in spite of the numerous international interventions.
He said although the provision of projects, like KVIPs, schools and hospitals were all good for the people, a lot more should done to enable them have decent accommodation, potable water and good meals, since these were basic things that life depended on.
On the fight against HIV/AIDS, he thanked the Ghana AIDS Commission and other concerned organisations for their efforts and urged that the ministry of health to find ways of decentralizing the provision of anti-retroviral drugs to all hospitals, and not to restrict their dispensing to only Korle-Bu and Komfo-Anokye hospitals, as people have to travel long distances to get treated.
Touching on the role of the church, the Cardinal said the church would continue to play its partnership role effectively and would commit itself to making human life fulfilling and wished all Ghanaians a more promising year.
Hands Off Dagbon — Cardinal Turkson
Dec 04, 2005
The Cardinal,Peter Appiah Turkson,has cautioned political leadership in the country against interfering in traditional matters particularly the Dagbon chietaincy problem.
(graphicghana.info, 11/29/2005) He observed that traditional processes must be used to solve the chieftaincy crisis but not to frustrate efforts at ensuring lasting peace in the area.
Cardinal Turkson gave the warning in Tamale during a courtesy call on the Deputy Regional Minister,Mr Mohammed Amin Anta at the weekend.
The Cardinal’s visit was part of his three-day tour of the Tamale Archdiocese of the Catholic Church. He held prayer sessions and church services at the OLA Cathedral and inaugurated a new ¢331-million chapel sited near the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Cardinal Turkson called on all stakeholders,including the security agencies,religious leaders,Imams and traditional rulers to find a way of ensuring peace in Dagbon.
He noted that it was not right for people to always associate the north with conflicts and as if the area had nothing good to show.
The Cardinal expressed optimism that the region was blessed with much potentials and made the observation that the problems in the area appeared to have overshadowed the good things in the north.
“But no matter what,God’s purpose for the north will reign; we are prepared to pray for peace in the region and we will hold a lot of prayer sessions because there is nothing difficult for God to solve”,he observed.
The Cardinal noted that some people in the region were making frantic efforts to address the chieftaincy problem but expressed regret that those efforts were being stifled and “thrown out of gear by interference for political leadership”.
Cardinal Turkson said his elevation to the position of cardinal was a victory for all Ghanaians adding that the Catholic Church was an institution that enjoyed rendering service to mankind.
Mr Anta on his part appealed to the church to support efforts at promoting peace in Dagbon.He commended the church in the region for co-existing peacefully with the Muslim community.
According to the deputy minister,the burial of the late Dagbon chief,Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II,was critical to promoting peace in the area.
He,however,acknowledged the immense contribution of the civil society and other public- spirited individuals and organisations to help resolve the crisis.
Mr Anta noted that his elevation to the position of cardinal was“a pride to the whole country which will further boost the image of Ghana on the international scene.”
The Archbishop of Tamale,the Most Rev Gregory Kpiebaya, stated that the church would continue to maintain high sense of discipline in the Catholic institutions to improve on educational standards.
African Cardinal Views the Vocation Shortage
Oct 24, 2005
A Ghanaian cardinal expressed his willingness to share priests with countries suffering from a shortage of vocations, as an act of thanksgiving for the missionaries who evangelized his lands.
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, archbishop of Cape Coast, spoke of dioceses such as his own, which has a full seminary -- more than 400 candidates for the priesthood.
He revealed that his country is already sending priests to Canada, the United States, Germany and the Netherlands.
The 57-year-old cardinal took part in a meeting with journalists Tuesday in the Vatican press office. He was accompanied by a spokesman from the Synod of Bishops.
The cardinal warned that, when it comes to placing priests in dioceses in need of them, "one must take into account cultural differences, which might be a problem."
As a solution to the problem, he gave the example of the U.S. bishops, who are preparing a reception center for foreign priests, in which they will learn the culture and customs of the country.
Lessons from Europe
Asked if Ghana had more priests than it needed, the cardinal answered: "No, we do not have more than we need. … It has never happened in the history of the Church, but we share what we already have."
"It's just a way of reciprocating," he added, recalling the missionaries who evangelized Africa.
Cardinal Turkson continued: "We need to learn a lesson from Europe. Europe had a lot of vocations, but what went wrong in Europe? We should learn from all of this and try to avoid the same type of mistakes."
The Ghanaian prelate added that "we've got a good number of priests," but this does not mean that all have the desired formation.
"The biggest problem is the formation of priests," he said. "If we did not take it seriously, their formation would be very mediocre."
Il Cardinale Turkson sulla scarsità di vocazioni
Oct 24, 2005
Un Cardinale del Ghana si è mostrato pronto a condividere sacerdoti con i Paesi in cui le vocazioni sono scarse ed ha affermato che è un atto di “reciprocità” per rendere grazie dell’opera dei missionari che a suo tempo hanno evangelizzato la sua terra.
CITTA’ DEL VATICANO, mercoledì, 19 ottobre 2005 (ZENIT.org).- Il Cardinale Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Arcivescovo di Cape Coast, ha fatto riferimento a diocesi come la sua, il cui seminario è pieno (più di 400 seminaristi), ed ha rivelato che il suo Paese sta offrendo sacerdoti a Canada, Stati Uniti, Germania ed Olanda.
Il porporato africano, che ha compiuto 57 anni l’11 ottobre scorso, ha partecipato questo martedì ad un incontro con i giornalisti nella Sala Stampa del Vaticano, accompagnato da padre John Bartunek, L.C., informatore del Sinodo dei Vescovi in lingua inglese.
Per quanto riguarda il fatto di mettere a disposizione sacerdoti alle diocesi che non ne hanno a sufficienza, il Cardinale ha avvertito che “bisogna tener conto delle differenze culturali, che possono costituire un problema”.
Per risolverlo, ha portato come esempio quello dei Vescovi nordamericani, che stanno preparando una struttura di accoglienza per sacerdoti stranieri in cui questi possano apprendere la cultura e le tradizioni del Paese.
“No, non abbiamo più di ciò di cui abbiamo bisogno”, ha spiegato rispondendo ad un giornalista che gli domandava se avevano più sacerdoti di quelli necessari. “Non è mai accaduto nella storia della Chiesa, ma condividiamo quelli che già abbiamo”.
“E’ solo una manifestazione di reciprocità”, ha aggiunto ricordando i missionari che hanno evangelizzato il suo Paese.
L’Arcivescovo ha anche riconosciuto che “abbiamo bisogno di imparare la lezione dell’Europa: l’Europa ha molte vocazioni, ma allora cos’è andato storto?”, si è chiesto. “Dovremmo imparare da tutto ciò e cercare di evitare di compiere gli stessi errori”, ha avvertito.
Il Cardinale africano ha confessato che “abbiamo un buon numero di sacerdoti”, ma ciò non significa che abbiano tutti l’auspicata formazione: “il problema più grande è la formazione dei sacerdoti”.
“Se non affrontiamo seriamente la questione, la loro formazione potrebbe essere molto mediocre”, ha affermato.
Ideas del cardenal de Ghana ante la falta de sacerdotes en algunas diócesis
Oct 24, 2005
Un cardenal de Ghana se muestra abierto a compartir sacerdotes con los países que tengan escasez vocacional y reconoce que es un acto de «reciprocidad» para agradecer la labor de los misioneros que en su tiempo evangelizaron sus tierras.
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO, miércoles, 19 octubre 2005 (ZENIT.org).- Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, arzobispo de Costa del Cabo, se refiere a diócesis como lo suya, cuyo seminario está a rebosar (más de 400 seminaristas), y revela que su país ya está ofreciendo sacerdotes a Canadá, Estados Unidos, Alemania y Holanda.
El purpurado africano, que cumplió 57 años el pasado 11 de octubre, participó este martes en un encuentro con periodistas en la Sala de Prensa del Vaticano, acompañado por el padre John Bartunek, L.C., informador del Sínodo de obispos en lengua inglesa.
A la hora de poner a disposición sacerdotes a otras diócesis, el cardenal advirtió que «hay que tener en cuenta las diferencias culturales, que pueden ser un problema».
Para solucionarlo, puso como ejemplo el caso de los obispos norteamericanos, que están preparando una estructura de acogida para sacerdotes extranjeros en la que aprenderán la cultura del país y las costumbres.
«No tenemos más sacerdotes de los que necesitamos», aclaró en respuesta a un periodista que le preguntaba si les sobraban sacerdotes. «Nunca ha sucedido algo así en la historia de la Iglesia, pero compartimos lo que tenemos».
«Es una forma de reciprocidad», añadió, recordando a los misioneros que evangelizaron sus países.
Asimismo, reconoció que «necesitamos aprender la lección de Europa: Europa tuvo muchas vocaciones, ¿cuál fue el error de Europa?», se preguntó. «Tenemos que sacar lecciones y tratar evitar los mismos errores», advirtió.
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson confesó que «tenemos un buen número de sacerdotes», pero esto no significa que todos tengan la formación deseable: «El gran problema es la formación de sacerdotes».
«Si no nos tomamos en serio su formación, seríamos muy mediocres», reconoció.
Cardinal says he hopes African issues make final list of propositions
Oct 24, 2005
As members of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist amended and refined their final list of propositions to present to Pope Benedict XVI, one African cardinal said he hoped some issues important for the church in Africa would make the final cut.
VATICAN CITY (CNS, Oct-19-2005) -- The synod fathers have already distilled and pared down the working groups' original 287 propositions to a list of 50.
But of the 256 official voting members, only 50 are from Africa. Whether issues such as polygamy and the appropriateness of African instruments and dance in dignified worship would survive the final revisions was anyone's guess.
"Nobody knows what the final draft is going to look like," said Cardinal Peter Turkson of Cape Coast, Ghana.
One proposition on the Eucharist and polygamy did appear in a revised draft.
It said the church's teaching on marriage requires that those entering the church break off polygamous relationships before receiving the sacraments. It said the church recognizes that this process may take time and requires a combination of "tenderness and firmness" on the part of pastors.
"You cannot simply say (to the man), 'just let the others go and take the first wife,' because that becomes an issue of justice. If there are children involved, you just cannot send away somebody," Cardinal Turkson told reporters in an Oct. 18 press conference.
Sometimes a man wishing to break off his polygamous relationships is able to ensure the financial security of the women he is leaving; in some instances, he "can set up a small business for the wife and let her go," he said.
"But then you have not taken care of another need (of hers), and that is the need for a sexual partner," he added.
The cardinal said the church does not want to force celibacy on others, nor does it want to "expose them to prostitution" or "a loose type of living."
The individuals involved have to decide if the woman would "be free to go and look for" another husband, he said, though when the woman is "at middle age it's sometimes difficult" for her to find another spouse.
He said if couples decide to remain in their polygamous relationships, then the church in Ghana tries to offer them "spiritual communion until a clear solution" is found.
In the draft list of propositions, the synod called for the preservation of the dignity and sacred character of liturgical celebrations. It asked the Vatican to prepare a practical instruction for priests on how to celebrate the Mass.
But Cardinal Turkson said that "dancing and expressing yourself bodily at certain parts of the Mass should also be seen as having a place" in dignified worship.
"Dignified worship does not eliminate or make redundant the need to worship in the African style," he said.
He said one bishop from Nigeria told synod fathers that, just as the church is trying to "breathe with two lungs" through its ecumenical efforts with the Orthodox, the church should also "aspire to live with all the sinews and muscles in our body."
"There must be room" for African styles of worship, which can include ululation -- a joyful or mournful high-pitched cry -- or tam-tam drums, he said.
Dignified worship "means that we recognize the awesomeness of the mystery that we are before, and that means we comport ourselves well" during the Mass, he said. But if the faithful feel joyful and "need to move," this should be accepted, he added.
The Catholic Church loses "a lot of people to the evangelicals" because "sometimes they feel that the only other place they can worship like we used to worship in Ghana is sometimes in these evangelical circles," the cardinal said.
"I think we can involve people in worship more than we've done," he said.
Hundreds attend Cardinal Turkson's father's funeral
Aug 21, 2005
The mortal remains of Mr Pius Kobina Maafo Turkson, father of His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, were laid to rest on Saturday at Nyanfeku Ekroful Catholic cemetery after a burial mass at the St Francis De Sale Catholic Cathedral at Cape Coast. Mr Turkson, 90, died on April 24, after a protracted illness.
Cape Coast Aug. 6, 2005 GNA - More than 100 priests, the Catholic Nuncio, Archbishops, Bishops from all the dioceses in the country celebrated the well-attended mass, which was presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Turkson.
The mass also attracted many mourners including the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Mr J.H Mensah, Senior Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister and Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Oguaahene. In a sermon, Cardinal Turkson said the late Mr Turkson lived a faithful life and served God all the days of his life and that as much as he tried and struggled to do what Jesus Christ asked him to do through the scriptures, there were some imperfections.
He urged people to emulate the example of Mr Turkson who tried to live and serve God by performing their Christian duties in showing love, care and compassion to their follow human beings.
Many tributes were paid to his memory, which described him as a man of faith, who groomed his children into God-fearing individuals and also had the greatest regard for education.
There were also messages from Pope Benedict, Dean of Cardinals, Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference and the government.
African Catholics have numbers, but faith must mature
May 31, 2005
While the Catholic Church in Africa is experiencing rapid growth and large numbers of religious vocations, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Cape Coast, Ghana, said he worries about the nature of the growth.
BALTIMORE (CNS, May-27-2005) -- Cardinal Turkson told The Catholic Review, newspaper of the Baltimore Archdiocese, that the Church must encourage a genuine conversion.
"It is true that the Church in Africa is thriving," Cardinal Turkson said. "But we also have had a certain type of catechesis that is not too deep. Traditional cultures and values are not too radically transformed by the values of the Gospel. We need a more deeply rooted experience of conversion."
The cardinal visited Baltimore May 18-19 before heading to Connecticut for the ordination of a Franciscan friar.
Cardinal Turkson pointed to the genocide and war that has plagued Rwanda as an example of how some Catholics on his continent have not fully embraced the Gospel message.
Rwanda "was supposed to be 80 percent Catholic, but they forgot they were Catholic, and they forgot they were Christian," Cardinal Turkson said. "There was terrible loss of life. Evangelization needs to be radical so that traditional values are challenged and transformed."
The cardinal said he is saddened to see the church struggling in Europe. European missionaries took the Catholic faith to Africa, and Catholics there look to Europeans as their spiritual parents, he said.
"It's indispensable that we see Christianity come back to Europe," said Cardinal Turkson. "If Europe should become less Christian, it gives us a sense of being orphans, of having an experience of faith without parents."
He said it hurts evangelization efforts in Africa when people look at Europe and see that those who encouraged Africans to embrace the faith are now abandoning it.
"I'm glad the new pope is from the North again," said Cardinal Turkson. "I pray that the fact that he comes from Europe will provide a new springtime of faith for Europe."
Cardinal Turkson said that in his archdiocese of about 300,000 Catholics, he is encouraged that many men and women respond to the call to religious life. Two years ago, 17 men were ordained to the priesthood in Cape Coast.
Religious formation must ensure that candidates "embrace the sacrifices that are involved," he said.
Because of the high number of vocations, Cardinal Turkson sends some of his priests to other parts of the world where few are available. Four Cape Coast priests currently are in Canada, two in Seattle and several more in New York and Europe.
During his two-day stay in the Baltimore area, Cardinal Turkson met with Baltimore Cardinal William H. Keeler and Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick and celebrated a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
One of Africa's most energetic Church leaders
Apr 17, 2005
The Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, the 55-year-old Archbishop of Cape Coast, is one of Africa's most energetic Church leaders, a rising star who has been brought into the College at a tender age.
(The Tablet, 23 April 2005) Ghana's first cardinal seems shocked by the speed of his ascent.
"God must have a faster timetable than mine", he said in a statement, recalling that in 1992, when he was still working on his doctorate degree, the Pope named him archbishop of Cape Coast.
Four years later, his colleagues elected him president of the Ghana Bishops' Conference. "Now this morning, here I am being given this news, and the only thing I can do is to say, 'Lord, have your way with me.
Give me the ear and heart to go the way you want'". Too young for now, but one to keep an eye on.
África necesita más catequesis sobre la Eucaristía
Oct 14, 2004
Constata el cardenal Turkson, arzobispo de Cape Coast (Ghana)
(Zenit, 14 octubre 2004) GUADALAJARA - En algunas regiones de África, el rechazo de católicos de no casarse por la Iglesia, prefiriendo ritos tradicionales o simplemente el matrimonio civil, les aleja de recibir la Eucaristía, ha constatado con preocupación un cardenal africano en el Congreso Eucarístico Internacional.
El cardenal Peter K. A. Turkson, arzobispo de Cape Coast (Ghana), ha revelado al mismo tiempo que las culturas tradicionales africanas cuentan con elementos incluso en su propia mitología que ha permitido una conversión y difusión del amor por la Eucaristía.
El purpurado del oeste de África ofreció estas luces y sombras de la devoción eucarística entre su gente en la catequesis pública que pronunció en el auditorio de la Expo Guadalajara
El arzobispo de Cape Coast indicó que «la Eucaristía como celebración del sacrificio redentor de Cristo» «resuena» o se vincula en lo imaginario «con los sacrificios de las "figuras salvíficas" en diversas culturas y comunidades africanas».
Ofreció algunos ejemplos en esta catequesis pública de cómo las culturas tradicionales, a partir de su propia mitología, reconocen la presentación de la Eucaristía.
Esto debe motivar a una profundización de la teología propia de la Eucaristía de la Iglesia católica para que no se confunda --por ejemplo-- con las cenas rituales comunales de Ghana.
Habría que partir de ellas para inculcar la vida de comunión que reclama el sacrificio de Jesús, añadió el cardenal Turkson.
Al mismo tiempo, subrayó, hay puntos del sacramento eucarístico que los africanos de Ghana comprenden muy bien, por ejemplo, la fe en la «real presencia del Señor en la Eucaristía» «por su comprensión del valor del sacrificio» propio en su cultura.
Así se entiende, aclaró, la gran expansión que experimenta la «Adoración Perpetua» especialmente gracias a grupos como el de la «Divina Misericordia» y del «Sagrado Corazón».
«La más grande manifestación de la creencia popular en la presencia del Señor en la Eucaristía ocurre durante las celebraciones del Corpus Christi, en la fiesta de Cristo Rey», constató.
«El momento de la consagración en las celebraciones eucarísticas es recibido con aclamaciones festivas, el tocar de los tambores y, algunas veces, con danzas», siguió explicando.
Más adelante, en su alocución, advirtió de los ataques que está sufriendo la creencia en la presencia real de Cristo en la Eucaristía por parte del protestantismo evangélico que acusa a los católicos de idolatría y de adorar al Dios-pan.
Insistió el cardenal Turkson que esto debe motivar la intensificación de la catequesis y la apologética en África.
La preocupación del cardenal es que los jóvenes católicos «se resisten a la celebración del sacramento [del matrimonio, ndr.] en la Iglesia», prefiriendo unirse con los ritos tradicionales o simplemente ante tribunales civiles.
De este modo, hay «muchos fieles que no comulgan», reconoció. Pero, felizmente, «los jóvenes adultos, quienes comienzan a descubrir la fuerza de vivir cristianamente a través de la oración y la apertura al Espíritu Santo, están celebrando sus matrimonios en la Iglesia, y hay algunos que deciden vivir cada día en la Eucaristía», concluyó.
Ghana, país de unos veinte millones de habitantes, cuenta con un 63% de cristianos (11.10% católicos), un 16% de musulmanes, y un 21% de creyentes en las religiones tradicionales.
Africa Needs More Catechesis on Eucharist, Says Cardinal Turkson
Oct 14, 2004
Ghanaian Notes That Some Catholics Don't Marry in the Church
(Zenit, Oct. 14 2004 ) GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Some Catholics in Africa decide not to marry in the Church because of a preference for traditional rites or simple civil ceremonies, and this keeps them away from the Eucharist.
So says Cardinal Peter Turkson, archbishop of Cape Coast, in Ghana. He adds, however, that traditional African cultures have elements that have made conversion possible as well as the spread of love of the Eucharist.
The 56-year-old cardinal of west Africa described the Eucharistic devotion among his people in a catechesis he delivered in the Expo Guadalajara hall, at the International Eucharistic Congress.
Archbishop Turkson pointed out that "the Eucharist as celebration of the redeeming sacrifice of Christ … resounds" or is linked in the imagination "with the sacrifices of the 'salvific figures' in different African cultures and communities."
The cardinal gave some examples of how the traditional cultures, stemming from their own mythology, recognize the presentation of the Eucharist. This should lead to further reflection on the theology proper to the Eucharist of the Church, so that it is not confused, for instance, with Ghana's ritual community suppers, he said.
One would have to start with the community suppers to inculcate the life of communion called for by Jesus' sacrifice, Cardinal Turkson added.
At the same time, he stressed that there are aspects of the Eucharistic sacrament that Ghanaians understand very well, for example, faith in the "real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist," because of their "understanding of the value of sacrifice," which is proper to their culture.
Thus one can understand the great increase in perpetual adoration, especially thanks to groups devoted to the Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart, Cardinal Turkson said.
"The greatest manifestation of popular belief in the Lord's presence in the Eucharist occurs during the Corpus Christ celebrations and the feast of Christ the King," he observed.
"The moment of the consecration in Eucharistic celebrations is received with festive acclamations, the beating of drums and sometimes with dances," he explained.
Later in his talk, Cardinal Turkson mentioned the attacks that belief in the Real Presence is suffering at the hands of evangelical Protestantism, which accuses Catholics of idolatry.
In response to this, the cardinal stressed the need to intensify catechesis and apologetics in Africa.
Regarding marriage, Cardinal Turkson was especially concerned about Catholic young people who "resist the celebration of the sacrament in the Church," preferring traditional rites or marriage in a civil court.
As a result, there are "many faithful who do not go to Communion," he said.
Yet, "young adults who begin to discover the strength of living as Christians through prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit are celebrating their marriages in the Church, and there are some who decide to live every day in the Eucharist," he added.
About 63% of Ghana's 20 million inhabitants are Christians; 11.1% are Catholics. About 16% are Muslims, and some 20% are believers in traditional religions.
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