Priest urges youth to oppose 3rd term By Alex B. Atuhaire Oct 17, 2003
ENTEBBE � Fr. Lawrence Kanyike of Makerere University has asked Catholic youth to support the cardinal in his opposition to the proposed lifting of the term limit on the presidency.
Kanyike told members of the Young Christian Students movement on Wednesday that although Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala�s views are personal, �his flock has a duty to support him without question�.
�[William] Shakespeare says that a suggestion from a superior is a command. We must support the cardinal,� said Kanyike, who is the chaplain of St. Augustine�s Chapel at the university.
He was speaking at the opening of the five-day 30th national council for the YCS at the Brothers of Christian Instruction, Kisubi, near Entebbe.
Cardinal Wamala recently opposed, publicly, a proposal by Cabinet to lift the two-term limit on the presidency.
If approved, that clause would theoretically allow an incumbent to rule for life.
Some politicians, including Ms Jennifer Namuyangu, the junior Industry minister, have criticised the cardinal�s stand � and advised that the church should not involve itself in politics.
But Kanyike said politicians should not decide what church leaders should say.
�Is it Caesar to tell God what is God or God to tell Caesar what is Caesar?� the outspoken priest said amid applause from the youth.
Kanyike also described Namuyangu�s attack on the cardinal as �unfortunate�.
�This is the lady who was at Makerere about five or six years ago but now she is a minister and she thinks she is on top of the world,� he said.
Kanyike said church leaders should speak out on issues that concern them and their flock.
�A prophet who doesn�t speak is a dead one,� he said.
�A prophet must not remain on the fence, he must take sides and that is the side of the oppressed.�
�It has been unfortunate that all the Presidents we have had since 1966 rule with blood on their hands; it�s time for the religious leaders to play their prophetic role,� he said.
About 130 delegates from 19 Catholic church dioceses and 27 tertiary institutions in the country are attending the meeting.
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
Gook
"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."- Malcom X
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