De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

High drama last night as Cardinal Kasper denied the comments he was reported as making about African Bishops on Zenit ( as I blogged yesterday ). After the interview was published, Cardinal Kasper told German media : “I am appalled. I have never spoken this way about Africans and I never would, I assure you that in these days and weeks…nobody from Zenit has introduced themselves to me and no one has asked for an interview. Nobody from Zenit has had an interview from me.” Edward Pentin, an experienced reporter for the National Catholic Register  responded by posting the audio recording of the exchange with Cardinal Kasper on his website , along with the following statement: His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper spoke to me and two other journalists, one British, the other French, around 7.15pm on Tuesday as he left the Synod hall. I transcribed the recording of our conversation, and my iPhone on which I recorded the exchange was visible. I introduced myself as a journalist ...

What has struck me about the internet this morning is the way in which it seems to be throwing up to me two opposing views from two Cardinals with respect to the African Bishops at the Synod. Cardinal Kasper is reported in Zenit as commenting that African Bishops should not be listened to: Cardinal Kasper: Africa is totally different from the West. 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. For us, we say we ought not to discriminate, we don’t want to discriminate in certain respects. ZENIT: But are African participants listened to in this regard? Cardinal Kasper: No, the majority of them [who hold these views won’t speak about them]. ZENIT: They’re not listened to? Cardinal Kasper: In Africa of course [their views are listened to], where it’s a taboo. Maria Madise, Voice of the Family’s coordinator, said: “Cardinal Kasper shou...