Couples flee church over request to wed

The church that was packed to capacity as hundreds of Christians turned up to witness the baptism of 21 children and conversion of 15 adults to the Catholic faith soon turned almost empty as some parents sneaked out.

What you need to know:

  • In June 2014, while presiding over the baptism of 17 children at Kaler Catholic Church, Fr Joseph Oliach Eciru, now the bishop announced as his last baptism of children whose parents are not wedded.

Tens of couples on Sunday fled St Pius Catholic Church, Gweri Sub-county in Soroti District, after parish priest Fr Michael Otim threatened not to baptise children whose parents have not wedded.

The church that was packed to capacity as hundreds of Christians turned up to witness the baptism of 21 children and conversion of 15 adults to the Catholic faith soon turned almost empty as some parents sneaked out.

The Mass was expected to start at 10am, but Fr Otim arrived 30 minutes late due to what he said was a busy schedule as he had to preside over another Mass at Gweri Catholic Mission where he is resident parish priest.
“I’m happy that you, unlike other churches have started the construction of a big church…Now [have] more children and fill the church,” Fr Otim said as he commenced Mass.

Fr Otim is the first priest of Gweri Catholic Mission, which is among the 16 newly created parishes by Bishop Joseph Echiru Oliach, the third bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese.

“…But before I go ahead with the baptism, I would like to get among you at least three names of couples willing to wed on November 29,” he said.

November 29 is the Parish Day for Gweri Catholic Mission. “I am not going to baptise these children (21) and the adults (crossing from other religions-15) or even eat your food, I know you are cooking, not until you give me the names to go along with,” the priest said.

After seeing that nobody was willing to come out voluntarily, he then turned to the parents who had brought their children for baptism, calling them out one by one, but none of them, not even those who had stayed in marriage for more than 20 years, were ready.
“I decided to leave because I did not want to be embarrassed. I have no money for hosting the visitors during my wedding day and that’s why I did not want to commit myself,” Mr Moses Opio said.

Only one couple accepted to wed and the whole wedding budget, including food, clothes, shoes and gown were pledged by the Christians.
Fr Otim said the church would not allow church marriages continue to collapse due to cohabitation, and “casual sex,” and divorce.

Previous incident

In June 2014, while presiding over the baptism of 17 children at Kaler Catholic Church, Fr Joseph Oliach Eciru, now the bishop announced as his last baptism of children whose parents are not wedded. “I will not accept this anymore and I want men with pregnant women who are here to consider their children,” Fr Eciru is quoted to have said.