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Pro-condom group protests Cardinal’s visit to Sydney - By Milton Olupot - Published: 4th Sept, 2004

A PRO-condom Catholic AIDS agency in Australia has protested the invitation of Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala to Sydney because of his opposition to the use of condoms.

Wamala is expected to travel to Sydney for the Catholic Mission Week this month. Brian Haill, the president of the Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated, in statement on Thursday said, “the attitude of Cardinal Wamala was most unwelcome in this part of the world, especially with Australia’s neighbour, Papua New Guinea, poised to suffer an African-style HIV/AIDS devastation.” “He should not see his invitation as an endorsement by Austarlian Catholics or the Catholic church in Australia for his attitude on sex in marriage which is against the use of condoms even when one of the partners is infected by HIV,” Haill said. He said Wamala’s stand cut across the catholic mission’s vision of “Life for All and of a world in which all people, free from any discrimination and all barriers to life, can reach full happiness, allowing them to live their lives in full dignity, as the creator God intends. His position sets both life and dignity at naught.” However, Kampala Archdiocese information officer Fred Sekitto on Thursday declined to comment on the matter.

Emmanuel Wamala, Archbishop of Kampala

“I have not seen the statement and I do not know if it is anywhere here. I do not want to engage in commentaries,” Sekitto said.

The statement said the Catholic mission and its arm in Australia was highly regarded and fully deserving of every support, but “the choice of cardinal Wamala is most unfortunate having regard to the 2004 Appeal theme of ‘Trust and Love’ and the focus being Papua New Guinea.

“The partnership that Catholic missions seek to embrace with our Papua New Guinea neighbour is beautifully encapsulated in its ‘mi bilong yu – yu bilong mi’ slogan, but that it is at odds with the attitude of Cardinal Wamala in responding to the plight of people seeking to live with HIV/AIDS. It suggests a preference for some to share a shroud in death rather than a bed sheet in life.”

He said the Australian Catholic hierarchy had an obligation to make its position clear and simple in regard to the use of condoms. Haill urged the Australian Catholic hierarchy to publicly distance itself from Wamala’s stance.

“As a Catholic AIDS agency that has worked hand in hand with Australia’s most senior catholic leader, Cardinal Pell, we condemn the Uganda Cardinal’s attitude without reservation. We express our concern for the safety and well-being of his people,” Haill said.