Africa-Press – Uganda. Seven out of eight priests who had fallen out with Arua Diocese Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki, have reconciled and been reinstated to the service of priesthood.
Four of the priests were suspended by Bishop Odoki on various accusations including not being in communion with the Bishop and disobedience. Three of them were left without any appointment.
The suspended priests went back to their homes because they did not have parishes to reside in and were barred from conducting Mass and carrying out any other priestly duties.
On November 9, the reconciliation meeting chaired by Lira Diocese Bishop Santos Wanok was witnessed by Gulu Archbishop John Baptist Odama, Lira Bishop Emeritus Joseph Franzeli, and diocesan administrator of Nebbi Catholic Diocese Emmanuel Odaga.
Speaking to Sunday Monitor on Friday, Fr Nakari Adiga, one of the suspended priests, said: “We agreed to put behind our differences and the bishop also apologised for some of his actions. Reconciliation is a virtue where a priest is to live in harmony with the bishop and the Christians in the diocese. The most important thing is to say sorry.”
Fr Adiga said at the end of the reconciliation, he made the promise of obedience together with his colleagues who have been appointed.
“We all spoke on why we disagreed with the bishop and what caused the suspension. Although we spoke tough, eventually we agreed to return and serve the people of God, which the bishops and witnesses accepted,” he said.
Fr Adiga has now been appointed to serve the community of Ovujo under Maracha Parish. Before his suspension, Fr Adiga was a curate at Micu Parish.
Some of the suspended priests had accused the bishop of financial mismanagement and being authoritarian, something the bishop has vehemently denied, saying his actions were disciplinary in accordance to Canon Laws.
Fr Caesar Dralega, another of the suspended priests, told Sunday Monitor that: “I believe it was movement of the Holy Spirit because nobody expected it (reconciliation), how it happened. But many of us were pessimistic that this would materialise. We had to sit for meetings several times before we could agree.”
He added: “We realised that something would be wrong if we continued like this. The initiation of meeting by the ex-seminarians put everything right up to the time we reconciled.”
Fr Dralega is waiting to be posted to a parish by the bishop.
The reconciliation process was made possible by the ex-seminarians, who felt the continued fallout was scandalous and tainted the image of the Catholic Church and setting wrong precedence for the Christians in the diocese.
However, Fr Lazarus Ijoyi, who is still on suspension, said he was not ready for the reconciliation and asked for more time. Fr Ijoyi’s hand was broken in a fight with Vicar General Casto Adeti.
A source who attended the meeting said the chairman of the reconciliation, Bishop Wanok, and the witnesses agreed that this was an unconditional reinstatement to the service of priesthood.
In a phone interview on Friday, Bishop Odoki said: “It was done and in church spirit. We think that is a good way forward. We are happy that they have come back to resume the priestly ministry.”
He added: “The Church is about reconciliation and the priests are supposed to be ministers of reconciliation. They have done very well to embrace reconciliation and now they can also invite other people to be reconciled with one another. We thank the Lord for inspiring them. People should continue giving them words of encouragement.”
