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