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“We must teach, defend life’s values”: Catholic Bishop in Uganda Cautions against Negative Media Influence on Children

Bishop Sanctus Wanok Lino of Uganda’s Lira Catholic Diocese

By ACI Africa Staff

Kampala, 24 July, 2024 / 9:43 pm (ACI Africa).

Christian Parents and guardians have the duty to teach their children the values of life that are in conformity with the teaching of Jesus Christ even as they compete with other institutions, including media that has a great variety of content, Bishop Sanctus Wanok Lino of Uganda’s Lira Catholic Diocese has said.

Bishop Wanok, who was presiding over the belated celebration of the Missionary Childhood Day at Christ the Redeemer of Mankind Apac Parish of his Episcopal See cautioned against uncontrolled children exposure to media, Uganda’s Monitor reported on Monday, July 22.

In many countries of the world, the Missionary Childhood Day is marked on Epiphany of Our Lord, the January 6 Feast marking the many ways that Jesus Christ has made Himself known to the world in manifesting His mission and His divinity:  the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12), the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:9-11), and the miracle at Cana (John 2:1-11). 

Established by Pope Pius XII introduced on 10 December 1950, the World Missionary Childhood Day was first celebrated on 6 January 1951. According to Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), “Children and young people around the world often celebrate it on different dates depending on local circumstances.” 

This year, the day dedicated to prayer and solidarity is celebrated under the theme, “spiritual cooperation”.

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In his homily during the July 21 celebration in his Episcopal See, Bishop Wanok noted that “children see wars, quarrels, and vices on Television, and families fighting and using vulgar language.”

“There is war, killings, and teaching children to harm each other,” he lamented, adding that “this contradicts Christ’s values.”

The Ugandan Catholic Bishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry as Local Ordinary of Uganda’s Catholic Diocese of Nebbi appealed for responsibility on the part of parents and guardians, and emphasized, “We must teach and defend life’s values ... The family should stand together to teach children.”

Also speaking during the July 21 celebration, the Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Uganda said he finds it regrettable that some parents have neglected their duties of nurturing children into responsible adults.

“Indeed, some parents observe that a big gap between them and their children has made the families lose value in bringing up children,” Fr. Steven Odongo has been quoted as saying in Uganda’s Monitor July 22 report.

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“Parents should pray together with their children, eat together and also work together as a team in the gardens, kitchen and other domestic work to instil in them the spirit of hard work and teamwork,” a community member has been quoted as saying.

ACI Africa Staff

ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.

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