MBARARA – Mbarara Archbishop Elect Lambert Bainomugisha has challenged media to promote the message of peace and goodness amongst Ugandans during and after COVID-19 lockdown in order to have a society of good intentioned people.
Archbishop Bainomugisha, speaking at his maiden press conference at Nyamitanga in Mbarara on Wednesday, since his appointment by Pope Francis on April25, said the media plays a very important role in shaping the society today most especially when people are locked in their homes as church lacks direct contact with lay faithfuls.
He said the church too relies on the media to connect but the media must rise to the occasion and be seen as interments of goodness.
‘’Direct human contact may not be there but you (media) are here, you are now the preachers, movers, you are the ones to influence positively so I throw this challenge back to you, media. You cannot just leave it to the religious leaders. It is you and I that are going to influence the people of God positively to form their conscience to say no to what is not holy,’’ said the Archbishop elect.
In his the first indication of what his episcopate may espouse, the Archbishop elect challenged the media to join the crusade of Pope Francis in preserving and caring for the environment, delivered through his encyclical, ‘Laudato Si’.
‘’I have talked a lot about environment and there is Pope’s encyclical — Laudato Si. How I wish that media will promote this message of Pope Francis. Let us read it and propagated it. The few schools I have visited, I have talked about starting Laudato Si Clubs that promote environment and two schools have already started it. So, let us read it, analyse it, promote it and follow it because it is non-denominational, it is going to help us as humanity to improve our environment,” he said.
Pope Francis in his Encyclical “Laudato Si” (Praise You Lord) reiterates the duty humanity owes towards the environment and calls on the universe to protect “Mother Nature”. The Pope appeals to our conscience as believers and people of good will to protect mother earth and planet from destruction, warning against the adverse effects of climate change.
Archbishop Bainomugisha also rallied the media to promote the Church’s message against domestic violence in order to create peaceful families in the country.
“I will now give you an assignment. Go and preach against domestic violence. When we put hands together, because we all come from families, it is all for our own good,” he said.
Archbishop Bainomugisha’s installation for the Mbarara Metropolitan seat will happen in two months, at a date to be announced by the Archdiocese.
