God grant Pope long life

Dec 04, 2010

ALL my adult life, that is: as long as I can recall, I have had my battles with a succession of Popes of the Catholic Church, or rather, their edicts. Not enough space to go into details. But I except from their long lasting line, that Holy man of God on Earth, Pope John XXIII.

By John Nagenda

ALL my adult life, that is: as long as I can recall, I have had my battles with a succession of Popes of the Catholic Church, or rather, their edicts. Not enough space to go into details. But I except from their long lasting line, that Holy man of God on Earth, Pope John XXIII.

Indeed, though I am not a Catholic, it was almost as if a father to me had passed away when he died, in, to say the least, mysterious circumstances. But, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, Blessed be the name of the Lord”. The CV, to call it that, of the current Pope, Benedict XVI, seemed to point to a man steeped deep in reactionary Conservatism. Under him Catholicism seemed destined to take several steps backwards.

Imagine then my absolute amazement when recently he commented on his up-coming book, “Light of the World: the Pope, the Church and the signs of the Times”, discussing his stance on condoms. The question used to be asked, “Where were you when President John Kennedy was shot?

Now for most Roman Catholics (and others) it might well become: “Where were you when the Pope gave qualified acceptance of Condoms?” For me, I am not exactly certain; same as I have failed to retrace my exact position on the ground when news exploded of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. But the explosion remains.

Isn’t it universally held that no one can be more Catholic than the Holy Father? He is head of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics, about the same population as the world’s hugest countries, India and China.

Look at such figures ye mighty and, as instructed by Ozymandias, despair! Pope Benedict’s religious followers, World organisations, and governments, not forgetting the Catholic Church hierarchy itself, have been transfixed in wonder, many warmly applauding; some perplexed and even fearful.

He went further. When quizzed, he cited the example of the use of condoms by prostitutes as “a first step towards moralization,” even though condoms are “not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection.”

“The Church,” he added, “of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but in this or that case, there can be nonetheless in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement towards a different way, a more humane way, of living sexuality.” Sounds to those who can last that meandering sentence, that the answer is “Yes” to condoms.

The Vatican has clarified his condom pronouncement. He had seemed to imply that only gay prostitutes might be morally justified in using condoms to stop AIDS. But he’d meant the comments to apply to heterosexuals and transsexuals too. Uganda with its ABC policy (Abstain, Be faithful, failing which use Condoms) had got there years before. But better late…

Also the Pope says, in another revolutionary statement, perhaps fearing a physical backlash: “If I don’t feel so healthy, I might resign!” Pontiffs are expected to go on until they drop. Is he perhaps intimating, to those who might do otherwise (as in many cases in history): “Keep your hands off my throat, I am happy to resign if necessary!”

Whichever way you cut it, Pope Benedict has unleashed a surge that will not easily be stopped. May God grant him years to carry out much needed reform in the Catholic Church.
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Half the Ugandan political Parties are having problems with insubordination from those of their members who, while eager to stand for Parliament, were voted out in the primaries. (I obviously leave out those led by, in no definitive order of influence, Bidandi Sali’s PPP, Beti Kamya’ Something or Other, ditto for Bwanika and Lubega (the latter if found!)

Of course not bothering with primaries in their case is that they have not enough candidates to go round, nor, indeed, voters, to necessitate the exercise. By the skin of its teeth, Dr Otunnu’s UPC, largely deserved the same fate, except For Sentimental Reasons, as the song goes.

To all, apart from our dear Movement, I have nothing to add, being far gone in years, and with ever “Time’s winged chariot drawing near”. (What President Museveni refers to as unfinished business, necessitating him to finish it before shifting.) But what I strongly advise the Movement to do, despite threats to the contrary, is to let rebel Movementists stand as Independents – heavily frowned upon, as it is, by the Movement.

My opinion is based on the rare Commodity of Common Sense. It seems there are so many candidates willing to fork out more fortunes to the eager voters, that it seems hard on these peasants to deny them! Besides, it does seem as if the offended primary losers sometimes have genuine grounds; so why make them decamp into others’ arms, perhaps permanently?

Last, and most important, even if these hitherto stout Movementists make it ahead of those officially chosen, can you honestly see them crossing to Enemy Camps once in Parliament? Arrived there, they will hug each other and smile; being after all birds of the same feather. And have you forgotten the Biblical youth who strayed and yet returned home to a “fatted calf”?

We’ll deal with Wikileaks next time, harshly!

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