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June 27, 2023By Fr. Julius Ntalo, OCD
I am Fr. Julius Ntalo, a Discalced Carmelite from Uganda serving Santa Cruz Parish.
To me, religious freedom means the liberty to practice my religious belief without intimidation.
As we in the United States celebrate religious freedom in the spirit of prayers and dialogue, back home in Uganda a military rebel group claiming to be affiliated to a network of Islamic terrorist groups attacked a high school and did a massive shooting.
On a couple of occassions, this military rebel group have given religious reasons for their attack. This is a challenge we face and pray about as we celebrate “Religious Freedom” week. This group does not reflect the general experience in Uganda of the harmony between Muslims and Christians.
Uganda, like many other countries worldwide, is a multi-religious country; 41% Catholic, 42% other Christian dominations (Anglican, Pentecostal, etc.), 12% Muslims, 3% traditional religion, and 0.9% Indian Hindu.
In Uganda, we have an umbrella group where all the religious groups meet. It is called the Inter-religious Council. The Inter-religious Council is an initiative that brings together different religious institutions to address issues of common interest and differences. This group was formed in 2001. It’s affiliated with the World Council of Religions to promote peace and in the spirit of the second Vatican Council.
Its mission is to mobilize all Ugandans through its leadership structures and network; to work for harmony, unity, peace, prosperity, good health, and freedom for the common good.
The Inter-religious Council is known to encourage healing and reconciliation while finding lasting solutions to religious conflicts, especially like the case of the high school attack on Friday, June 16, 2023.
Through the intercession of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher, we pray that the world may embrace the Divine Gift of Freedom.
Fr. Julius Ntalo, OCD, is a Discalced Carmelite from Uganda who serves at Santa Cruz Parish in Tucson, AZ.