Cardinal Turkson lauds growing friendship among religious groups

Kumasi, March 2, GNA- Cardinal Peter Kojo Appiah Turkson, has lauded the new climate of friendship and cordiality among the various religious groups in the country.

He said the establishment of the Conference of Religious for Peace, which has a representative from all the various religious beliefs in the country, was to ensure the advancement of peace in the country. Cardinal Turkson made the statement at a news conference in Kumasi on Monday as part of his three-day pastoral visit to the Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi.

Cardinal Turkson said the new bond of relationship between the various religious groups should serve as a reminder to all politicians from the various political divide to come together and rally behind a common national cause to promote harmony and development.

He said some religious organisations were currently undertaking projects together to better the lives of the people, stressing that, "religious groups can now come together to rejoice for a national cause".

Cardinal Turkson commended the establishment of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) and said the Catholic Church endorsed any process that sought to mend strained relationships among the people. He said his elevation, as a Cardinal was not a personal honour or recognition but an honour to the entire Catholic Church, the country and all religious beliefs in the country.

Any vision for the church would not be his personal one but a collective vision of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ghana of which he is a member, he added.

Most Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, said the appointment of Cardinal Turkson had given Ghana a voice in the choice of a Pope.

He thanked the Cardinal for bringing honour to the Church and Ghana in general.