Catholics do not worship idols - Lwanga

By Juliet Lukwago                 

The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has clarified that Catholics do not worship statues, but instead use them to reflect on their saintly life and behaviour.

He said Catholics use the holy images, paintings and other artistic devices to recall persons or things depicted.

 Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga gives blessings to an old lady after the Holy Mass on Saturday August 29, 2015. PHOTO BY JULIET LUKWAGO

“Just as it helps one to remember one’s mother or father by looking at her or his photograph; images also help Christians to recall saints by looking at their pictures or statues,” Lwanga said.

Celebrating Radio Maria's annual listeners' day at Bbiina-Luzira, a Kampala suburb, Lwanga said the idols were used to remember God, Christ and the saints.

Archbishop Lwanga receives offertory from christians  who attended their day at Bbiina on Saturday August, 29, 2015
PHOTO BY JULIET LUKWAGO

The function was attended by hundreds of Christians from different parishes and dioceses.

Lwanga was reacting to criticism that by respecting statues, Catholics worshiped idols. He said that holy statues just help us reflect on what we believe in.

Lwanga said the use of images of Christ and the saints in the Catholic faith is misunderstood by many.

“It does not only show their lack of knowledge about the use of these items, but also ignorance of what the Bible says.”

Some of the Radio Maria listeners who attended their day at Bbiina on Saturday August, 29, 2015
PHOTO BY JULIET LUKWAGO

"The people who accuse Catholics of adoring images should consult those who are knowledgeable in their respective religions before making such criticisms and other comments about the Catholic Church and other peoples’ religions,” he said.

Lwanga said. “As Christians, we should emulate the virgin Mary, and love God, and preach love, hate hatred, jealousy and other habits that make us unclean in the eyes of God,” Lwanga said.

Francis Xavier Kittaka who was the chief guest Catholic Radio Maria annual listeners' day receives a certifcate from the Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga on Saturday August 29, 2015. PHOTO BY JULIET LUKWAGO

“The prelate stressed that images and pictures help Catholics to reflect on Jesus Christ Himself and his saints just as one would look at a picture of his or her beloved one or parent and vividly remember as if that person was still living,”

The function was graced by Fr Francisco Calascutus from the holy family Radio Maria in Pope Francis’s country Argentina.

Others were Frs Jacinto Kibuuka, a member of Namugongo development committee; Fr Barnabas Magezi from Masaka diocese, a former classmate of Archbishop Lwanga; Fr Cyprian Masembe, Claudius Ssegonja, Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, Paul Okot from Gulu; Benedict Birungi, Denis Mugerwa, Joseph and Kasangaki.

A lady recives the potrait of Pope Francis from the Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, during Catholic Radio Maria annually listener's day  on Saturday August 29, 2015 PHOTO BY JULIET LUKWAGO

Fr. Francesco thanked listeners and said that Radio Maria airs in 72 countries, including 20 in Africa.

Archbishop Lwanga, together with chief guests Francis Xavier Kittaka and listeners of Radio Maria broke ground for a new studio expected to be ready before Pope Francis’s visit in November.

Kittaka, who was the chief guest, donated sh60m towards the construction of the new studio.