Christianity is strong in the region of Melanesia and the church could play a role in influencing people and combatting the belief in witchcraft says Cassaundra Rangip, co-founder of an anti-witchcraft non-government organisation in Papua New Guinea. She says a recent case of witchcraft related hangings in Vanuatu had raised fears that the phenomenon had Read more
The Vanuatu Christian Council has condemned the hanging of two suspected sorcerers on the island of Akaham in South Malekula. The general secretary of the Council, Shem Temar, told Radio Australia International that pastors are supposed to promote Christian values which includes respect for human life. He said more information was needed before he could comment Read more
Police have arrested suspects on the island of Akaham in South Malekula in Vanuatu following the killing of two people over allegations of sorcery and witchcraft. Those arrested include church pastors and customary chiefs. According to the Daily Post, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, John Taleo, has described the killings as brutal and unlawful murders. Read more
Fr Philip Gibbs says that one of the factors that gives rise to sorcery is that people often don’t understand the basic science behind a person’s health. He was speaking at the Sorcery and witchcraft-related killings in Melanesia: Culture, law and human rights perspectives Conference at The Australian National University in Canberra, last week. The conference was attended Read more
Hundreds of bystanders, including many children, watched a 20-year-old mother accused of sorcery stripped and tortured, then burned alive in a Papua New Guinea Highland town of Mout Hagen. Kepari Leniata was accused of sorcery by relatives of a 6-year-old boy who died in the hospital the day before. More than 50 men participated, torturing her with a Read more
In Tonga, the ancient ritual of “Uiui Tevolo” which means “calling up the dead” or more literally “calling up the devil”, has been regarded as something of pagan origin unacceptable to churches and Christians in general. However, in recent weeks there has been a sort of revival of this ancient ritual among some villagers in Read more
The Catholic Church will soon consider whether a South African man killed 12 years ago should be proclaimed blessed – the first step towards sainthood – according to a Sunday Times report.
The man would be the first saint to be recognised from South Africa, the weekly asserted.
Benedict Daswa, a businessman and devout Roman Catholic from rural Limpopo, was murdered in February 1990, aged 46, after rejecting claims of the existence of witchcraft in his village, Mbahe, near Thoyohandou.
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