Okay--not exactly that. But close:
Benedict began his day addressing Catholic clergymen and nuns, telling them to be missionaries to those Angolans "living in fear of spirits, of malign and threatening powers. In their bewilderment they end up even condemning street children and the elderly as alleged sorcerers."
In Africa, some churchgoing Catholics also follow traditional animist religions and consult medicine men and diviners who are denounced by the church. People accused of sorcery or of being possessed by evil powers sometimes are killed by fearful mobs.
Local media have reported that police last year rescued 40 children who had been held by two religious sects after being accused by their own families of witchcraft.
Benedict counseled Catholics to "live peacefully" with animists and other nonbelievers and urged Angolans to be the "new missionaries" to bring people who believe in sorcery to Christ.
On the plus side, though, he is discouraging violence. It would be nice if he could kind of debunk that stuff altogether--but that just isn't the Pope's gig.
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