Mexican Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel has defended the Vatican-approved adaptations to the Roman Rite for indigenous communities in Chiapas, Mexico, saying Jesus didn’t celebrate Mass in Latin. The cardinal emphasised that these changes are faithful to Catholic teaching and reflect local culture, addressing traditionalist criticism. The Dicastery for Divine Worship recently approved a decree permitting Read more
Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong has urged the Catholic Church to engage in dialogue with China to ensure its presence aligns with Chinese culture. Speaking at a conference in Rome on 16th-century Jesuit missionary Father Matteo Ricci, Chow emphasised the need for collaboration with China’s ruling and intellectual class amid ongoing efforts to “sinicize” Read more
Tensions are escalating between the Catholic Church and traditional African communities over the integration of local customs into religious practices. Some African communities, particularly in Cameroon, have accused the Church of disrespecting their cultures under the guise of inculturation (adapting Christianity to local customs). This has sparked a debate on balancing cultural respect with the Read more
Catholic inculturation in Cameroon must stop. This is the firm advice given to the Bishop of Kumbo in Cameroon. The Nso Cultural and Development Association (NSODA) has written a strongly worded letter warning the Catholic Church against adulterating their culture “in the guise of inculturation”. The Nso is one of the largest clans in Cameroon’s Read more