Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "From the first information that I have read this morning on the FAO Summit, I have the impression that this organization does not know what the real problems of nutrition in Africa are. Africans do not need GMOs (genetically modified organisms), but water. We have our crops that grow well without genetic modifications, as long as you give them enough water. Well help us to build wells, dams and aqueducts; GMOs do not need it.” This is what Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, Archbishop of Durban (South Africa), tells Fides in a statement on the FAO summit which opened today, November 16, in Rome.
Cardinal Napier, who is in Rome for the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, also expressed some concern for the next World Cup to be held in South Africa next year: "The biggest concern stems from possible explosion of prostitution. It seems that the FIFA (International Federation of Football, which organizes the World Cup 2010) is placing pressures on the South African government to decriminalize prostitution. If this happens we can expect a strong increase in the spread of HIV and AIDS." The Church of South Africa has already launched an awareness campaign on prostitution and trafficking in human persons for the World Cup 2010 (see Fides 3/11/2009).
"We are coordinating the efforts of the Catholic Church with those of the government and other organizations, in preparation for the World Cup 2010. We have launched education and prevention campaigns, directed in particular to families. Unfortunately there are too many parents who pretend not to see that their children engage in illicit activities. We try to work with families and authorities to recover the young people who have taken the road of crime," concluded Cardinal Napier. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/11/2009)
