NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      BRAZZAVILLE (CWNews.com) - Two Catholic priests reported missing in Congo Republic have been found alive, according to Catholic officials on Thursday.

      Father Georges Lalouz from France and Father Lucien Favre from Switzerland arrived in the oil port town of Pointe Noire on Wednesday night. They went missing from the southern oil town of Dolisie on Monday, along with seven other Europeans, following intense fighting between government soldiers and rebels.

      The priests and many residents of Dolisie had fled on foot to seek refuge in Pointe Noire, some 60 miles further south. It was not clear if they walked the entire distance but rebels have practically crippled all rail and road traffic in the jungle south. The seven laymen reportedly worked for the Congolese timber company SOCOBOIS.