Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Time to apologise to victims of homosexuality (Contribution)

THE Pope’s visit to Australia has been eclipsed by a public outcry from victims of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, according to an article published in Reuters of July 19.

The victims seem to point to the major avenue of homosexual practice and how it was propagated the world over.

The Pope’s public apology on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church to victims of sexual abuse in Australia comes hot on the heels of another similar apology made in the US.

According to The New Vision of July 17 2007, compensation claims by victims of Roman Catholic homosexual priests dating back to the 1940’s rendered some dioceses financially bankrupt.

Years to come, the current Pope’s legacy might be one of a repentant religious leader since he is on record of having recently apologised to the Muslim community when he quoted from a western scholar who denigrated Prophet Mohammed.

The greatest lesson for the world from the Pope’s apology is that homosexuality in the Roman Catholic Church, as is the case perhaps in other churches and institutions, seems to have started with a few paedophiles in very powerful and influential positions, be it religious, educational, civil or public.

The vulnerable groups like the youth, school children, orphans, young prisoners and other groups have provided a fertile ground for introducing, propagating and establishing homosexuality as an acceptable life-style.

The current outcry against homosexuality in Uganda’s secondary schools is mainly a result of sexual bullying by male ‘adults’ in higher classes, many of who were introduced to the practice by ‘senior citizens,’ now enjoying privileged positions in society and some even married.

The case of pastor Grace Kitaka versus his adopted son Lukyamuzi reported by a local media house on July 30, 2007, should have been a test case of paedophiles who abuse vulnerable youth but it is yet to see the legal light of day.

In western countries like England where the problem of sexual abuse is acknowledged, a male adult, even a priest in the Anglican Church of England, for example, is not allowed to be in the company of a young boy even in a church building including its precincts.

As Uganda is about to adopt an open policy to foreigners whilst hurdles continue to be upped for Ugandan citizens seeking visas to foreign countries, there is need to be vigilante about people coming into our country, some of whom might be promoters of homosexuality, yet it is against the laws, religious ethos and cultural heritage.

I do not suggest barring people from coming into Uganda but I am calling for vigilance, especially on the vulnerable groups so that a foreigner or Ugandan who wants to start a school, Church or orphanage is investigated for a clean record of dealing with young people.

In the meantime, it is time for ‘senior homosexuals’ in Uganda to repent to the young victims of homosexuality, as the Pope has, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church and in the event that repentance is not forthcoming, legal redress should be sought by the victims.

The law should allow the identity of victims to be kept secret since the cultural stigma attached to homosexuality is so big that victims may shy away. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Sotto Voce