From ............ National Catholic Reporter

December 27, 1996 / January 3, 1997

Page 6

RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS that priests [ "alter Christus" ..... JP ] and nuns took part in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Pope John Paul II said Dec. 12 that the Catholic church could not be held responsible for the killings. In a written speech to Rwanda's new envoy to the Vatican, the pope said the church, as an institution, could "not be held responsible for the blame of these members ...... who acted against the law of the gospel. They will be called to account for their actions."

- END QUOTE -