the welcome guest

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Sep 07, 2006

Bishop Kevin Dowling is in upstate New York this week, giving talks about the fight against AIDS.

You might think it odd that a bishop from a small diocese (Rustenberg) in South Africa gets invitations to speak in Saratoga Springs. But if you hear what he has to say, the mystery disappears. A few samples of press coverage:

Bishop Kevin Dowling, who oversees the Catholic Diocese of Rustenberg, South Africa, isn't shy about voicing his opinion, even though it's one the Catholic church rejects.

His most courageous battle is against the Vatican, which has denounced the use of condoms, saying they promote immorality and promiscuous behavior.

Have you seen any US media coverage of the Bishop of Klerksdorp recently? Or the Bishop of Umtata? Neither have I. Those South African dioceses are actually larger than Rustenberg, but their bishops haven't been getting much press in the US, nor invitations to speak in comfortable suburbs. Only Bishop Dowling-- who, incidentally, is the only South African bishop you can count on to criticize Church teaching. What a funny coincidence!