I have forgiven my rivals, says Bishop Odoki
Gulu.
Arua Bishop Sabino Odoki said he has forgiven Christians who ransacked the diocese headquarters in September last year, accusing him of poor administration and neglecting the late Bishop Emeritus Frederick Drandua.
The bishop said he is also ready to reconcile and have a dialogue with the Christians, citing that they are his ‘brothers and sisters’ in Christ.
The bishop has also encouraged the Christians who he said masterminded the raid at the diocese to open up and ask for forgiveness defending that there will be no reprisals from him or other top church leaders.
Forgiveness
“For the violence that was imployed on us, we forgive those who put us in that situation. We want to reconcile with them and assure them that nothing wrong will happen to them in anyway,” Bishop Odoki said.
He made the remarks at St Monica Girls Tailoring School in Gulu Town last week at the closure of the four-day 12th Gulu Provincial Prayer Peace Week organised by the ecclesiastical province of Gulu (Arua, Nebbi, Lira and Gulu Archdiocese).
The peace prayer week under the theme “Non-Violence: A style of Politics for peace”attracted thousands of Christians from West Nile region, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions.
Call for peace and unity
The bishop said the attack on the catholic diocese was an error carried by misguided Christians and advised that it shouldn’t be repeated for the benefit of peace in the diocese.
“Violence is not good; humanity should desist from violence and instead promote peace in our community. We can only overcome our challenges through love and peace,” Bishop Odoki said.
The Archibishop of Gulu John Baptist Odama, who was the main celebrant at the peace prayer week, reiterated Bishop Odoki’s call on peaceful coexistence citing that without unity, life on earth is worthless.
Bishop Odama said unity and peace are achieved through sacrifice of one self. “If you don’t sacrifice yourself, you will not change anything, nor your family, nation, religion and the world at large.”
