Father Pomodimo and many of his younger colleagues were reproached with “sexual immorality tarnishing the Church image, and characterized by priests heading households and fathering children.”

The 27 May 2009 edition of a local daily - Le Confident – reported that in the name of moral responsibility the Vatican exercised pressure on Father Pomodimo to resign and replaced him with Dieudonne Nzapalayinga as apostolic administrator of Bangui archbishopric.

The strike action followed a publication from the apostolic nuncio to Bangui that Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the resignation of Pomodimo. They have resolved to suspend all religious services and sacraments in their various parishes until further notice.

They published an announcement over Catholic Radio Notre Dame protesting also the appointment of Dieudonné Nzapalayinga as apostolic administrator of Bangui archbishopric.

All Catholic churches headed by Central African priests were closed this morning and members who came for services were obliged to return home.

However, there seems to be no agreement among the religious strikers since the vicar-general of Bambari granted an interview to Radio Ndeke Luka today, calling on his colleagues to review their positions, AfricaNews reporter said.

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