Uganda's Suspended Catholic Priest Free to Appeal

By John Njoroge
Africa Review
March 22, 2013

http://www.africareview.com/News/Uganda-suspended-Catholic-priest-free-to-appeal/-/979180/1727462/-/10en7ndz/-/index.html

Fr Anthony Musaala. FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Maverick Ugandan Catholic cleric Anthony Musaala will remain on an indefinite suspension, an official said.

The Kampala Archdiocese Judicial Vicar, the Rev Fr Andrew Katto-Kasirye, said Fr Musaala was free to appeal to whatever authority, but it was up to him to undo the “damage” he had caused in the run up to his situation.

Investigations into the motives of Fr Musaala's missive, a stinging criticism of the sexual conduct of Uganda’s Catholic clergy, were continuing.

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 Fr 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 said 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."

Fr 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 believers and faulted the church’s teachings.

The damage

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 on the grounds 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 on Thursday, 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 had caused.