VATICAN CITY — African nuns told a Vatican meeting Friday they want more of a say in running the Catholic Church on the continent, saying they have special talents and shouldn’t be left to clean churches and mend vestments.
Women also have an important role to play in forging reconciliation in Africa’s many tribal and ethnic conflicts — the main focus of the 3-week-long Vatican meeting on Africa, said Sister Pauline Odia Bukasa of Congo.
“We, your mothers and religious sisters, ask you — our fathers and bishops in this church-family — to promote the dignity of women,” she said, requesting in particular greater emphasis on educating young girls.
Sister Felicia Harry of Ghana was more blunt, saying African nuns didn’t want to usurp priests’ powers but wanted to be part of the church’s decision-making process.
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