Church leaders decline suggestion that bishop should lead transitional government in Burkina Faso
November 11, 2014
Church leaders in Burkina Faso have politely declined a suggestion that a Catholic bishop should act as the transitional president of the African nation, the Fides news service reports.
Following the resignation of President Blaise Compaore, a military junta took control of the government in Burkina Faso, promising to allow the election of a new civilian regime in November 2015. Until that time, military leaders suggested that a prominent member of the clergy should act as president. That suggestion may have been aimed at Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo of Ouagadougou, who had said that the military takeover was not a coup but a “popular uprising,” yet strongly insisted on a return to civilian government.
However Father Joseph Kinda, a spokesman for the nation’s bishops, explained that canon law forbids clerics from holding political office.
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Further information:
- A Bishop President of the Transition? The official position of the Church (Fides)
- Burkina Faso’s cardinal analyzes national turmoil (CWN, 11/6)
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