The bishop of the Lira diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, has publicly criticized the use of family planning pills, describing them as harmful and detrimental to humanity.
The bishop made these remarks 1st January, 2025 while officiating as the main celebrant during the solemn profession of vows of 15 sisters of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (MSMMC) Congregation at the Mother House at Ngetta in Lira City East Division.
Bishop Wanok expressed his concern over the alarming trend of young girls using these pills right from primary school through university, labeling it as an act contrary to God’s law and equating it to a form of destruction.
He advocated for family planning through abstinence instead, emphasizing that the widespread use of these pills is contributing to a decline in population in various regions around the world. He firmly condemned their use, stating that it leads to the birth of children who, while resembling humans, are not fully complete giving a rise in abortions as a way to mitigate the giving of birth to offspring who have not been completely formed and have certain deformities.
Meanwhile, Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki of Arua Diocese announced the upcoming 2025 Annual Peace Week, which will take place at Koboko Parish. He shared that preparations are well underway, with participants expected from Gulu, Nebbi, Lira, and neighboring dioceses in Congo and South Sudan. The event will feature the President of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as the chief guest, and the Chief Justice, His Lordship Alphonse Owiny Dollo, as the guest speaker.
Bishop Odoki indicated that the event is set to attract numerous dignitaries, including Members of Parliament and various religious and cultural leaders. He noted that cultural leaders will take the lead on the first day, demonstrating how peace can be fostered in their communities, while on the second day, political leaders will assume responsibility, focusing on organizing society to promote peace and informing the gathering about their initiatives aimed at ensuring peace in the diverse communities, particularly in Northern Uganda.
The final day of the peace week will feature contributions from religious leaders, with the bishop emphasizing that this will include representatives from various faiths, such as Anglicans, Muslims, and Catholics, among others.
He highlighted that these religious leaders will illustrate the pathways to achieving peace and encourage widespread participation. The 2025 peace week is scheduled to begin with arrivals on January 20th, followed by sessions from January 21st to 24th under the theme “Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace.”
