The Catholic Church should address, not suppress issues Musaala raises

As a Catholic, I can understand the hurt and “inconvenience” caused by Fr Anthony Musaala’s exposure of sexual scandals in the Catholic Church, as stated by Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

I think the Catholic Church acted in its right to suspend him based on its canons as quoted by the archbishop. But for goodness’ sake, when did killing the messenger ever become a solution to dealing with the message being delivered? Fr. Musaala’s revelations of sexual frolics and abuse, including of children by priests in Uganda are already well known by all of us. Perhaps the bishop is more aggrieved by the fact that one of their own has now come up to confirm it.

So contrary to the archbishops’ assertions, Musaala’s revelations can’t cause more “damage [to the] good morals of Catholic believers” and faith, than the sexual abuse and scandals some priests have for long been committing. Let’s face the fact that child sexual abuse crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of Roman Catholic orders against children as young as three- years-old with the majority between the ages of 11 and 14 is a big problem for the Catholic church worldwide, and which the new Pope has already been called to address.

According to Wikipedia, in the USA alone, the Catholic Church has already paid fines in multi-million dollar settlements to many sexually abused claimants. The Associated Press estimated that the settlements of sex abuse cases from 1950 to 2007 totaled more than $2 billion in the USA alone. Bishop accountability put the figure at more than $3 billion in 2012. So, let’s not hide our heads in the sand, and pretend as if it is Fr. Musaala who has “spoilt the good name of the Catholic church.” More damaging to the church is the culture of hypocrisy, silencing critics and covering up such cases, than honest revelations.

Address the message, instead of killing the messenger. Instead of only investigating Fr Musaala, investigate the cases he has revealed as well. The more honest and truthful the leaders of the church become about these issues, the better for the health of the institution itself. As the Lord Jesus says, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Fred Kitimbo-Mugalu,
fkitimbo@gmail.com