In Uganda,
we have heard many reports of Catholic priests, who have fathered children,
those who have died of HIV/AIDS and many accused of engaging in sexual
intercourse. But where does the Catholic Church get this teaching which has
enslaved many would-be married priests who are quietly burning with the demands
of nature? Apostle Alex Mitala, the overseer of National Fellowship of Born
Again Pentecostal Churches, believes the Catholic Church got many things wrong
as far as priesthood is concerned among which is the practising of the Old
Testament priesthood of Aaron which creates a special priestly class distinct
from other Christians. “In the New Testament, Jesus is the high priest and all
of us as long as we are washed in his blood automatically become part of his
priesthood. The New Testament priesthood is not, therefore, based on whether
one is married or not or whether a person went to a seminary or not, as the
Catholic Church teaches,” Mitala argues. Referring to Paul’s teaching in 1
Corinthians, Mitala, however, clarified that if a priest decides to remain
unmarried it is acceptable. It only becomes a problem when that optional
practice is enforced as a mandatory requirement to priesthood as the Catholic
Church does. That teaching is not anywhere in the Bible. Even great Old
Testament prophets like Samuel, Moses and many others had wives and so did the
priests of the New Testament like Peter himself whom the Catholics considers to
have been the first Pope,” Mitala elaborated. Mitala said he is a married man
with six children and many other Pentecostal pastors are married and that in
his observation, they may be better priests than those unmarried Catholic
priests.( see, Is priestly celibacy biblical?
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2011/01/is-priest-celibacy-biblical.html
A photo montage of Fr. Anthony Musaala (left) and Archbishop of Kampala Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga
First Read:
Uganda catholic church in disarray : Catholic Charismatic Priest Fr. Musaala exposes priest sex abuse scandals and advocates for end of celibacy and chastity among Diocesan priests
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/03/uganda-catholic-church-in-disarray.htmlWaking up from a dogmatic SLUMBER: Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's Most Senior Catholic, Says Priests Should Be Able To Marry
Sodomy empire of Black mail: Cardinal O'Brien accused of 'inappropriate acts' by priests after challenging the Catholic church’s celibacy stance
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/02/sodomy-empire-of-black-mail-cardinal.htmlArchbishop Lwanga sacks Fr Musaala over sex claims
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Archbishop-Lwanga-sacks-Fr-Musaala-over-sex-claims/-/688334/1725360/-/t6uojp/-/index.html
By Monitor Reporter
Posted Wednesday, March 20 2013 at 10:05
Posted Wednesday, March 20 2013 at 10:05
Dr. Lwanga, in a statement on Tuesday, said Fr. Musaala had been suspended for the document, which “damages the good morals of the Catholic believers and faults the church’s teaching”. According to the Dr Lwang, Fr. Musaala admitted to authoring the document, which has been widely circulating on the internet.
“As per now, after the acceptance of Fr. Musaala that he authored this document, the law prescribed by the Church in can. 1369 takes its course. This law states that: “A person is to be punished with a just penalty, who, at a public event or assembly, or in a published writing, or by otherwise using the means of social communication, utters blasphemy, or gravely harms public morals, or rails at or excites hatred of or contempt for religion or the Church,” said the Archbishop.
“This means therefore, that Fr. Musaala because of the publication of his article in the public media which damages good morals of Catholic believers and further expresses a wrong teaching against the Catholic Church’s teaching and that this stirs up hatred and contempt against the Church, he incurs a Ferendae sententiae penalty as prescribed by Can.1314, Dr Lwanga said in the statement.
He added: “ This means that Father Anthony Musaala is suspended from celebrating sacraments and sacramentals, from the powers of governance in accordance to the law of the Church Can.1335 and1336§1n.1, 2and3 as investigations are being carried on.”
In his dossier, Fr. Musaala alleges sexual abuse among Catholic clergy in Uganda and sought open debate on allowing priests to marry instead of pretending to be celibate. Fr. Musaala also confessed in the document, to being sodomised at 16 while at the Seminary and implicated colleagues/bishops in having undisclosed children as well as secret children, accusing them of living a hypocritical life and hoodwinking a gullible flock.
Archbishop’s Lwanga’s Full Statement:
Dear people of God,
I deeply think of the immense suffering caused by the article produced in the media authored by Fr. Anthony Musaala, that seems to be casting a dark shadow of suspicion” over all priests.
Above all, the Church takes seriously the allegations in this article. On behalf of my fellow Catholic Bishops in Uganda I wish to assure the public that as leaders of the Catholic Church in Uganda; we are committed to the protection of the minors and rights of everyone. Investigations about these allegations are to begin immediately with of course cases that are proved.
It should however, be clear to everyone that the value of the choice of priestly celibacy according to the Catholic tradition still stands, and the need for solid human and Christian formation is underlined, both for seminarians and for those already ordained.
The Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law states the stand of the Catholic Church on celibacy in Canon 277, which mandates clerical celibacy that: “Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore are obliged to observe celibacy, which is a special gift of God, by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and can more freely dedicate themselves to the services of God and mankind.”
This Church law is embraced willingly as prescribed by Can.1037 which states that: “A candidate for the permanent diaconate who is not married, and likewise a candidate for the priesthood, is not to be admitted to the order of diaconate unless he has, in the prescribed rite, publically before God and the Church undertaken the obligation of celibacy, or unless he has taken perpetual vows in a religious institute”. This means therefore that no one is forced to embrace this discipline before or at ordination.
Everyone should once again remember that until Christ came along (Mt 19:12), and then Paul (1 Cor. 7:32-35), the only state of life known was marriage but when Christ came, He made it clear that some people would remain celibate (“eunuchs”) for the sake of the Kingdom of God (Mt 19:12). St. Paul further recommended it for those who would be dedicated to serving God in this world (1 Cor. 7:7, 17, 32-35), for the salvation of souls and it is totally a freedom of choice as the above biblical quotations suggest.
If one fails to comply with this discipline, he does it on his own and not on behalf of the Church. Consequently personal failure in this regard is not an offence sanctioned by the Church. However we as Bishops deeply regret such failures and seek forgiveness from those who have been victims.
I indeed applaud all the many religious men and women who have remained faithful to this promise and there is nothing we can offer but our prayers for them.
It is very unfortunate that the author of the published document stands to call for suspension of this discipline through his proposed forum that has no Church legitimacy and yet the Church’s legislation and practice is clear on this point. None-the-less we are going to investigate into the allegations in the article with people concerned together with certainty of the author of this document.
As per now, after the acceptance of Fr. Musaala that he authored this document, the law prescribed by the Church in can. 1369 takes its course. This law states that: “A person is to be punished with a just penalty, who, at a public event or assembly, or in a published writing, or by otherwise using the means of social communication, utters blasphemy, or gravely harms public morals, or rails at or excites hatred of or contempt for religion or the Church.”
This means therefore that Fr. Musaala because of the publication of his article in the public media which damages good morals of Catholic believers and further expresses a wrong teaching against the Catholic Church’s teaching and that this stirs up hatred and contempt against the Church, he incurs a Ferendae sententiae penalty as prescribed by Can.1314. This means that Father Anthony Musaala is suspended from celebrating sacraments and sacramentals, from the powers of governance in accordance to the law of the Church Can.1335 and1336§1n.1, 2and3 as investigations are being carried on.
Once more I feel sorry of the inconveniences caused by this article and let us entrust the whole matter to our Lord the most chaste, for the conversion of hearts to do good.
Yours Sincerely in Christ,
+Cyprian K. Lwanga
ARCHBISHOP OF KAMPALA
