Fr. Musaala affair heads to the Pope
By John Njoroge
Posted Friday, March 22 2013 at 02:00
Posted Friday, March 22 2013 at 02:00
In Summary
Kampala Archdiocese Judicial Vicar says it is upon the suspended
priest to undo damage he has caused the Catholic Church.The Catholic Church yesterday said suspended maverick cleric Fr. Anthony Musaala is free to appeal to whatever authority but indicated it was up to him to undo the “damage” he has caused in the run up to his situation.
The Kampala Archdiocese Judicial Vicar, the Rev. Fr. Andrew Katto-Kasirye, said Fr. Musaala will remain on an indefinite
suspension, as investigations into the motives of his missive, a stinging criticism of the sexual conduct of Uganda’s catholic bishops and clergy continue.
“He is free to do as he pleases, ” said Dr. Kasirye.
“The [Church] law is very clear. Priesthood is not a right but a privilege. And with this privilege comes laws and procedures a priest must abide by,” he adding: “What he (Fr. Musaala) raised is not new. If, however, he felt very strongly about these issues, the Church has platforms and procedures through which a priest like him can raise his concerns”.
Dr Kasirye holds a PhD in Canon Law, under which the Catholic Church is governed.
Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga on Tuesday suspended Fr. Musaala for penning a document which, according to Catholic Church laws, damaged the good morals of the Catholic believers and faulted the church’s teachings.
In a recorded interview on Wednesday, Fr. Musaala said he had no regrets over the missive that has since gone viral on the Internet
He, however, claimed that he had “no hand in making it public”.
Fr. Musaala also challenged Dr Lwanga’s decision to suspend him under the ground that he intentionally caused the missive to circulate and vowed to appeal the suspension before the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Michael Blume.
The missive by Fr. Musaala challenged the Catholic Church on its capacity to effectively handle cases of sexual abuse conducted by catholic priests. The missive also sorts to bring forth, the debate on whether or not Africa’s catholic clerics should be allowed to openly wed.
But yesterday, Dr. Kasirye said: “The responsibility now remains in the hands of Fr. Musaala, to amend the damage he has caused to the Catholic faithful.”
To remedy his position, Dr Kasirye advised Fr Musaala to “duly explain” to catholic believers, the doctrine of celibacy, in its rightful manner and context. This, Dr Kasirye added, would be the only way faith in catholic priesthood could be restored after the damage Fr Musaala has caused.
