It’s ‘un-Catholic’ to trash others

By Philo Ikonya and Fwamba N.C. Fwamba DAILY NATIONOp/EdOpinion Opinion Posted Wednesday, October 21 2009 at 18:33 The article, “Catholic Church has no business endorsing the use of condoms”, (DN, October 19) that Henry Munene purported to be a reply to Okiya Okoiti Omtatah’s “Why Catholic Church should allow use of condoms in marriage” (Nation, October 13) was an example of how we stifle individuals who are not pro-status quo. Omtatah’s article dealt with the possibility of Catholic bishops reasoning out more candidly about Aids within marriage (where you often have discordant couples) and was a gentle invitation to reason, exhibiting much respect and love for the Church. He was even critical of condoms, but knows as a thinker and a believer that some people use them. In many countries, this is not a matter Catholics take the cue from bishops about. It is Africa that is worst affected by Aids where people do not question things. The clear ideas Omtatah put forward should have at the very least elicited a reply that recognises Omtatah as an individual who seems to have the courage to examine what many people would not touch, not out of being in agreement but out of fear of what others will think. We reject the attitude that other people must be criticised for their opinions. These would have killed Saul of Tarsus. Munene’s article was in bad taste as it addressed the person of Omtatah more than the ideas Omtatah holds. Why start by complaining about a person’s knowledge and saying what was so logical is illogical? Why finish by attacking Omtatah as a political activist and going on to ridicule this man’s actions politically and to imagine that he has the intention of tying himself to the gates of the Basilica? Was the writer blinded by something so that he dragged in all that he could about Omtatah’s life? Munene, since he is “confirmed” — as he refers to himself — needs to try and emulate the sober analysis of saints such as St Thomas Aquinas and the love of Mother Teresa. HE NEEDS TO LEARN THE PRACTICE of correction in order to win. The Catholic Church is replete with examples of how to differ with an opinion without insulting the image of God in the form of another person. Those aligned with the political status quo do not like Omtatah’s capacity to follow his conscience. On October 6, a lorry-load of policemen arrived outside Omtatah’s home in rural Busia. They wanted to search Omtatah’s house, but could not, because the family demanded a search warrant. There is something to recognise here. But Munene only sees an enemy, both political and religious and trashes Omtatah’s bold acts. He dismisses him and other political activists all because of misunderstood notions on the condom. Omtatah moved many of us when at a moment when our beloved Church and others had lost all moral authority and seemed to have been ripped apart by politics, he defended life by coming out and chaining himself to the gates of Vigilance House. People were being killed and there were no voices of reason being heard. Omtatah did what everyone who believes in the sanctity of all human life should have done. Anyone who acted at this time was not acting for fame. They were risking life and limb. It is sad to see that Munene is not able to respect the dignity of another who is equally enthusiastic in the defence of life; I hope that he edits physics and not the humanities. It is wrong for one to believe they have the power to crush others, and to take for granted that readers will not notice that the article Munene wrote is not a reply to what Omtatah discussed. The writers are human rights activists.