Fasting day CHURCHES IN South Africa have called for a day of fasting today and a day of special prayer on Sunday in protest at the Government's policy of forced removal of blacks. The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference and the South African Council of Churches have appealed to "every Christian" in South Africa to join the protest. In a recent study of relocations, the two church bodies estimated that some 3.5 million blacks had already been forced to leave their homes and move to socalled "homelands".
Salvador toll
A REPORT on human rights violations in El Salvador presented in the Catholic Cathedral in San Salvador by Fr Ricardo Urioste has revealed that the Army killed 74 civilians during a four-day attack on a guerrilla stronghold in the north of the country. The Church had undertaken a "profound investigation" before making such serious charges, Fr Urioste said.
Lay honour
THE GENERAL Secretary of the French Christian Office for the handicapped and editor of the review Ombres et Lumieres, Marie-Helene Mathieu, has been named as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Mme Mathieu collaborated with Jean Vanier in founding the Foi et Lumiere movement for the handicapped in 1967.
Peru bound
POPE John Paul will visit Peru early next year, according to a church spokesman in Lima. The visit will include trips to Lima, Callao and Arequipa, he added.
Topless tiff
A VILLAGE priest in Campigny in France and his congregation have strenuously denounced the inclusion of an exhibition performance by Iwo topless female mud wrestlers in their village fete which traditionally takes place ad August 15, the Feast of the Assumption. The organisers defended their decision to include the event. "Bare breasts are everywhere on television, on the beaches", they said..
Ambushed
AN ITALIAN missionary, Fr Olivio Torboli, and three Mozambiquans were killed on August 14 by guerrillas in Zambezia province, in the north of Mozambique. Fr Torboli and his companions were killed when their car was ambushed.