The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, sparked controversy following his comments Tuesday in which he said that the decades-long violence in Nigeria, which has disproportionately affected Christians, is a “social conflict” rather than a religious one.
Parolin’s remarks, at a press conference for the release of Aid to the Church in Need’s report on religious freedom, were first reported by Vatican News.
“I think they’ve already said, and some Nigerians have already said, that it’s not a religious conflict, but rather a social conflict, for example, between herders and farmers,” Parolin said, according to a recording obtained by the National Catholic Register.
“Let’s keep in mind that many Muslims who come to Nigeria are victims of this intolerance. So, these extremist groups, these groups that make no distinctions to advance their goals, their objectives, use violence against anyone they perceive as an opponent,” he said.
Continue reading at National Catholic Register