The Secretary-General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference Msgr. John Baptist Laura has contacted the Vatican Ambassador (Apostolic Nuncio) to Uganda ,Archbishop Luigi Bianco urgently seeking an official statement from Rome to guide the flock in Uganda on the Pope\u2019s stand on homosexual unions, ugandaupdatenews has learnt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The International media has this week been flooded with news that Pope Francis has declared support for civil unions for same-sex couples. In a new documentary ‘Francesco’, produced by Russian filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky, that premiered on Wednesday at the Rome Film Festival, the Pope indicates that gay couples should be accepted in society and in Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it,” the Pope said in the film. “What we have to create is a civil union law so that they are legally covered.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now the Ugandan Catholic Bishops, under their forum, the Episcopal Conference, are seeking urgent clarification from Rome. Obedience is the hallmark of Catholic priesthood. The bishops in Uganda can therefore not take any stand different from that of the Pope, who is deemed to be infallible when communicating on a matter of the Faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But homosexuality being regarded by most Ugandans as objectionable and repugnant no normal human conduct, the bishops and priests are not sure how the ordinary Catholics would react if they sold the Pope\u2019s attitude in the country. Hence their request for an official position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The church\u2019s situation is faced with another complication \u2013 the threat of the Pentecoastal balokole movement which is intolerant of whatever is regarded as immoral. The Pope\u2019s position, if it gets (mis)interpeted to mean that homosexuality\u00a0 (derogatorily called \u2018bisiyaga\u2019 in local lingo around Kampala) is no longer condemned by the church, will provide potent ammunition for the balokole who are competing with traditional churches for the congregations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both the Catholic and the Anglican Church in Uganda have in the past condemned the act of same-sex marriage saying that it is against biblical teachings.The NRM government also used to frown upon gay relationship and President Museveni caused an international stir when a couple of decades back he called for arrest of gays. He clarified that that what he opposed and is also banned by the law was the public display of intimacy, whether heterosexual or homosexual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also told a delegation of European envoys that if he was ever caught kissing his own wife in public, Ugandans would stop voting for him.However Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga refused to be cowed and has maintained the normal stance of Ugandan communities against homosexuality. She daringly opposed a big Commonwealth conference in Canada that homosexuality is against African morality and told the wealthy national to take her position or leave it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Catholic church is usually quite clear and explicit in its communications to the congregation, usually read in on Sunday in form of an apostolic letter from the archbishop. The public now awaits the clarification, as observers wait to hear how this time the church will manage to avoid confusing the faithful with a vague philosophical statement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Secretary-General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference Msgr. John Baptist Laura has contacted the Vatican Ambassador (Apostolic Nuncio) to Uganda<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2123,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/pope.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14284,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/vatican-confirms-pope-francis-died-of-heart-attack-and-stroke\/","url_meta":{"origin":2122,"position":0},"title":"Vatican confirms Pope Francis died of heart attack and stroke","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On Monday evening, the Vatican published the late Pope\u2019s final testament, setting out his wishes for his burial in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The Vatican said Pope Francis died of a stroke and a heart attack after going into a coma. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the carmerlengo of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/3AXRCE3-scaled-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/3AXRCE3-scaled-1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/3AXRCE3-scaled-1.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/3AXRCE3-scaled-1.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/3AXRCE3-scaled-1.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14338,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/the-poors-pope-francis-funeral-live-world-leaders-mourners-say-final-farewell\/","url_meta":{"origin":2122,"position":1},"title":"The Poor’s Pope Francis Funeral Live: World Leaders, Mourners Say Final Farewell","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The atmosphere right now is one of anticipation and probably quite heavy excitement. The focus of the world now is drawn to the Vatican, drawn to Rome. The crowds are gathered into St Peter\u2019s Square \u2013 all of the access ways to the square were choked with people who got\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Pope-funeral-4-1.avif","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Pope-funeral-4-1.avif 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Pope-funeral-4-1.avif 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14281,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/the-life-and-times-of-pope-francis-dead-at-88\/","url_meta":{"origin":2122,"position":2},"title":"The Life And Times Of Pope Francis , Dead At 88","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Pope's death comes less than 24 hours after he\u00a0made an appearance at the Vatican's St Peter's Square\u00a0on Easter Sunday.A short while ago, His Eminence, Cardinal Farrell, announced the death of Pope Francis with these words: \u201cDearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Pope Francis Dead At 88"","block_context":{"text":"Pope Francis Dead At 88","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/pope-francis-dead-at-88\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/p0l5kgy3.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/p0l5kgy3.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/p0l5kgy3.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/p0l5kgy3.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/p0l5kgy3.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11054,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/ukraine-catholic-church-rejects-vatican-same-sex-blessing-order-by-the-pope\/","url_meta":{"origin":2122,"position":3},"title":"Ukraine Catholic Church Rejects Vatican Same-Sex Blessing Order By The Pope","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"December 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The leader of Ukraine\u2019s Catholic church has insisted that the Vatican document endorsed by the Pope allowing same-sex couple blessings didn\u2019t apply to his church because it wasn\u2019t reference specifically. \"Thus this Declaration applies solely to the Latin Church and has no legal force for the faithful of the Ukrainian\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/vatican.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/vatican.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/vatican.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/vatican.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8116,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/pope-francis-if-he-resigns-will-go-to-residence-for-elderly-priests-and-be-bishop-emeritus\/","url_meta":{"origin":2122,"position":4},"title":"Pope Francis: if he resigns, will go to residence for elderly priests and be “bishop emeritus”","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"January 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"In an interview with the media , Pope Francis confirmed that if he resigned, he would like to be called bishop emeritus of Rome. He also said that if and when the time comes he would like to live in the diocese's residence for elderly priests as any other retired\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Religion"","block_context":{"text":"Religion","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/religion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14349,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/conclave-to-elect-new-pope-to-begin-on-7-may-vatican-says\/","url_meta":{"origin":2122,"position":5},"title":"Conclave To Elect New Pope To Begin On 7 May, Vatican Says","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Cardinals will meet next month in a secret conclave to elect the next pope, the Vatican has said. The closed-door meeting will start inside the Sistine Chapel on 7 May and will involve some 135 cardinals from across the world. It follows the death of Pope Francis who died on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AA1DLgB4.jpeg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AA1DLgB4.jpeg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AA1DLgB4.jpeg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AA1DLgB4.jpeg 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-ye","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2122"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2124,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122\/revisions\/2124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}