Rome, Italy, Feb 21, 2011 / 12:42 pm
The Catholic Church’s top international charity says the Vatican is preventing the group’s general secretary from seeking a second term in office.
In a Feb. 18 statement sent to CNA, the Rome-based Caritas Internationalis did not cite specific reasons for the Vatican’s action against Lesley-Anne Knight, whose four-year term will end in May. The Vatican has not commented on the case.
Ahead of the Caritas elections to be held in May, Knight submitted a request last month for the Vatican’s official seal of approval – called a nihil obstat (Latin for “nothing stands in the way”). The approval, which is required for all candidates, was denied.
Caritas officials held a meeting Feb. 5 to discuss the matter. Based on their “positive assessment of Mrs. Knight's work,” they decided to approach the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone about the decision.