Church suspends priest appointed minister
Mar 16, 2009
THE new state minister for Industry, the Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo, has been suspended from the Catholic Church for engaging in partisan politics.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
THE new state minister for Industry, the Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo, has been suspended from the Catholic Church for engaging in partisan politics.
The head of the Uganda Episcopal Conference and Bishop of Lugazi Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Mathias Sekamanya, on Saturday said Lokodo was suspended on October 16, 2006 when he contested for a parliamentary seat.
“When he refused to withdraw from the race, his bishop suspended him. He was prohibited from exercising priestly functions like saying mass and administering sacraments,†Sekamanya said in a statement.
President Yoweri Museveni recently appointed Lokodo, also MP for Dodoth county in Karamoja, as minister.
The statement said the suspension was based on the Church’s Code of Law, which states that “clerics are forbidden to assume public office whenever it means sharing in the exercise of civil powerâ€.
It also quoted the law as saying clerics are not allowed to play an active role in political parties or in directing trade unions.
The statement said the Catechism of the Catholic Church said: “It is not the role of the pastors of the church to intervene in the political process and organisation of social lifeâ€.
Lokodo, however, said he was never consulted before a decision to suspend him was taken.
“I have been carrying out duties of a priest and as a politician. Nobody has communicated to me that I was suspended. In fact, I have just heard from you that I was suspended,†the minister said in a telephone interview.
“I am not going to be diverted. Recently I heard that there was an Episcopal Conference and that my issue was discussed, but I never received any communication to that effect,†he added.
The Episcopal Conference unites bishops of the Catholic Church.
Sekamanya said in 1971 the Synod Bishops in Rome urged priests not engage in politics.
“Priests should keep their distance from politics to remain free to proclaim the gospel without compromise or prejudice and to remain a valid sign of unity,†the statement said.
“The involvement of the clergy in politics could cause confusion regarding the religious mission of the church,†it added.
Sekamanya said a cleric, who contravenes the church code of conduct faces canonical penalties, which include suspension from the church.
Sources said since Lokodo’s appointment, the church has received numerous enquiries about his status.
THE new state minister for Industry, the Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo, has been suspended from the Catholic Church for engaging in partisan politics.
The head of the Uganda Episcopal Conference and Bishop of Lugazi Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Mathias Sekamanya, on Saturday said Lokodo was suspended on October 16, 2006 when he contested for a parliamentary seat.
“When he refused to withdraw from the race, his bishop suspended him. He was prohibited from exercising priestly functions like saying mass and administering sacraments,†Sekamanya said in a statement.
President Yoweri Museveni recently appointed Lokodo, also MP for Dodoth county in Karamoja, as minister.
The statement said the suspension was based on the Church’s Code of Law, which states that “clerics are forbidden to assume public office whenever it means sharing in the exercise of civil powerâ€.
It also quoted the law as saying clerics are not allowed to play an active role in political parties or in directing trade unions.
The statement said the Catechism of the Catholic Church said: “It is not the role of the pastors of the church to intervene in the political process and organisation of social lifeâ€.
Lokodo, however, said he was never consulted before a decision to suspend him was taken.
“I have been carrying out duties of a priest and as a politician. Nobody has communicated to me that I was suspended. In fact, I have just heard from you that I was suspended,†the minister said in a telephone interview.
“I am not going to be diverted. Recently I heard that there was an Episcopal Conference and that my issue was discussed, but I never received any communication to that effect,†he added.
The Episcopal Conference unites bishops of the Catholic Church.
Sekamanya said in 1971 the Synod Bishops in Rome urged priests not engage in politics.
“Priests should keep their distance from politics to remain free to proclaim the gospel without compromise or prejudice and to remain a valid sign of unity,†the statement said.
“The involvement of the clergy in politics could cause confusion regarding the religious mission of the church,†it added.
Sekamanya said a cleric, who contravenes the church code of conduct faces canonical penalties, which include suspension from the church.
Sources said since Lokodo’s appointment, the church has received numerous enquiries about his status.