Originally published at National Catholic Register
Just in time for the New York Yankees’ return to the World Series, the spirit of Yogi Berra is evident in Rome: It’s déjà vu all over again. A northern European cardinal is disparaging African bishops and then distancing himself from his own remarks.
In 2014 it was Cardinal Walter Kasper. Ten years later, it is Cardinal-elect Timothy Radcliffe.
Kasper on Africans
Ten years ago this month, Cardinal Walter Kasper spoke about Africans at the 2014 Synod on the Family, telling the Register’s Edward Pentin that the Africans were against liberalizing positions regarding divorce, remarriage and homosexuality.
“Africa is totally different from the West,” Cardinal Kasper said. “Also Asian and Muslim countries, they’re very different, especially about gays. You can’t speak about this with Africans and people of Muslim countries. It’s not possible. It’s a taboo. … There must be space also for the local bishops’ conferences to solve their problems but I’d say with Africa it’s impossible [for us to solve]. But they should not tell us too much what we have to do.”
After Pentin’s interview was published, a great furor arose, with some going so far as to characterize Cardinal Kasper’s remarks as racist. Leaving that charge
