Churches have right to address social issues
Feb 24, 2008
THERE has been discussion in the media over whether churches should address social issues. Churches have an innate right to address social evils, because this is what makes a church: to proclaim the good news to all.
By Andrew Kasirye
THERE has been discussion in the media over whether churches should address social issues. Churches have an innate right to address social evils, because this is what makes a church: to proclaim the good news to all.
When critics say churches, especially the Catholic Church, have no freedom of expression because it has fixed doctrines, they should know that this does not hinder the church from participating in social issues.
The “fixed doctrines†which they argue are a sign of dictatorship, are constitutional to the faith groups in question. The teachings of the church propose the principles and values that can be sustained.
No society can preserve her institutions and care for the common good without authority. This authority has an obligation to make laws and give orders and they too have a right to be obeyed.
Therefore, regimes whose actions are contrary to the natural law, to the public order and to the fundamental rights of persons, cannot achieve the common good for Ugandans.
We are faced with challenges which include:
The meaning of truth
This is a boundary and relation between nature, development and morality. This includes the attitudes to be adopted by the public and what it needs to achieve this. Religion plays a great role in achieving this.
Understanding pluralism
This embodies the differences in philosophies, religion, culture and development.
Globalisation
Its meaning is wider than economic globalisation of which some of our leaders may only consider. History has witnessed an opening of a new era that concerns man in his totality.
The church has an obligation to address social issues because authority does nor derive its moral legitimacy from itself as critics imply.
However, the authority must not act despotic but for the common good as a moral force based on freedom and a sense of responsibility.
Role of the church
The church will not stop proclaiming the good news that liberates man. It may be stopped but this is not the first time that this happens. St. Paul exhortated the early Church to preach even when some people were uncomfortable with the massage in 2 Timothy 4:2-5. The church gives principles of reflection, criteria for judgment and directives for action, which are a starting point for the promotion of integral and solidary humanism. This is not merely an academic business of a few citizens.
Critics have asserted that churches had no moral authority to criticise the NRM for requiring its MPs to support government positions.
Much as it could be true that most parliamentary systems have this policy, the diversity of political regimes is morally acceptable provided they serve the legitimate good of the communities that adopt them.
This also implies that if authority employs morally licit means, they are worthy of support but if unjust laws or measures contrary to the moral order are used, they do not bind in conscience and must be addressed before they shamefully abuse citizens. This is the role the church must play.
The rule of law is a landmark for the church. It refers to a situation where law is sovereign, it balances other powers and keeps it within proper bounds to ensure that people do not take the law into their hands.
Religious leaders have a duty to address social issues because in all these religion must suffice We cannot distance religion from daily life.
The writer is a missionary Catholic priest of the Apostles of Jesus
THERE has been discussion in the media over whether churches should address social issues. Churches have an innate right to address social evils, because this is what makes a church: to proclaim the good news to all.
When critics say churches, especially the Catholic Church, have no freedom of expression because it has fixed doctrines, they should know that this does not hinder the church from participating in social issues.
The “fixed doctrines†which they argue are a sign of dictatorship, are constitutional to the faith groups in question. The teachings of the church propose the principles and values that can be sustained.
No society can preserve her institutions and care for the common good without authority. This authority has an obligation to make laws and give orders and they too have a right to be obeyed.
Therefore, regimes whose actions are contrary to the natural law, to the public order and to the fundamental rights of persons, cannot achieve the common good for Ugandans.
We are faced with challenges which include:
The meaning of truth
This is a boundary and relation between nature, development and morality. This includes the attitudes to be adopted by the public and what it needs to achieve this. Religion plays a great role in achieving this.
Understanding pluralism
This embodies the differences in philosophies, religion, culture and development.
Globalisation
Its meaning is wider than economic globalisation of which some of our leaders may only consider. History has witnessed an opening of a new era that concerns man in his totality.
The church has an obligation to address social issues because authority does nor derive its moral legitimacy from itself as critics imply.
However, the authority must not act despotic but for the common good as a moral force based on freedom and a sense of responsibility.
Role of the church
The church will not stop proclaiming the good news that liberates man. It may be stopped but this is not the first time that this happens. St. Paul exhortated the early Church to preach even when some people were uncomfortable with the massage in 2 Timothy 4:2-5. The church gives principles of reflection, criteria for judgment and directives for action, which are a starting point for the promotion of integral and solidary humanism. This is not merely an academic business of a few citizens.
Critics have asserted that churches had no moral authority to criticise the NRM for requiring its MPs to support government positions.
Much as it could be true that most parliamentary systems have this policy, the diversity of political regimes is morally acceptable provided they serve the legitimate good of the communities that adopt them.
This also implies that if authority employs morally licit means, they are worthy of support but if unjust laws or measures contrary to the moral order are used, they do not bind in conscience and must be addressed before they shamefully abuse citizens. This is the role the church must play.
The rule of law is a landmark for the church. It refers to a situation where law is sovereign, it balances other powers and keeps it within proper bounds to ensure that people do not take the law into their hands.
Religious leaders have a duty to address social issues because in all these religion must suffice We cannot distance religion from daily life.
The writer is a missionary Catholic priest of the Apostles of Jesus