Sunday, November 28, 2010

Pope accepts Brazilian bishop's resignation


Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of a Brazilian bishop who backed Dilma Rousseff in Brazil's presidential election despite her stance on abortion, the Vatican said Wednesday. 

The pope had told Brazilian bishops three days before the Oct. 31 runoff vote in the world's biggest Roman Catholic country that priests must unequivocally condemn abortion.

Both Rousseff and rival Jose Serra had said they were against changing Brazil's ban on abortions and oppose gay marriages. 

But Rousseff failed to convince some religious leaders, who pointed to her past support for lifting the abortion ban. 

SIC: OC/INT'L