Kampala — A new church, the Catholic Apostolic National Church, which is said to be a breakaway sect of the Roman Catholic Church, recently registered with the Government as an independent church. The church has attracted sharp criticism from the leaders of the mainstream church, who question its doctrinal authenticity. Mathias Mazinga spoke to Rev. Fr. William Obonyo, a priest of the 'breakaway' church.

Why did the Catholic Apostolic National Church break away from the Roman Catholic Church?

First of all, I must first correct the false impression created in the media that we are a sect. The Catholic Apostolic National Church is not a religious faction. It is an independent church in its own right. You need to know that the Catholic Church is wide, which is why nobody should claim monopoly of its doctrine. Catholic is a broad doctrine, which is observed by numerous churches, among which is the Catholic Apostolic National Church.

So, what exactly is your doctrine?

Our church is Catholic and apostolic. It comes from the 12 apostles. So, our teaching is based on the Apostles Creed.

But that sounds like the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. Don't you think people are right to be suspicious of your faith?

True, our doctrine is the same as that of the Roman Catholic Church. But we differ in the way we practise this doctrine. For example, we in the Catholic Apostolic National Church allow our priests to marry. We also disregard the dogma of the infallibility of the Pope.

Of course we acknowledge and respect the Pope. But we take him only to be an elder among other elders.

Just use the imagery of the family to understand this issue. You may have an elder brother in your family. In principle, you are obliged to respect your brother. But I don't think you will allow him to give you orders on how you must run your family.

So, we are not against the Roman Catholic Church. Nor are we against the Pope.

We recognise and love the Church, but we have a different way of doing things.

So, it is wrong to assume that we are a breakaway church with ill-motives of power and money. Ours is an independent church like any other. Our Metropolitan Archbishop is in the US.

But how do you claim to have 10,000 members when you have been in the country for only two weeks?

No, it is the registration that has took place about a couple of weeks ago. But I assure you, we have been around for some time.

Where do you conduct your services from? Have you built churches?

To us, the Church is the people of God, not the buildings. When we gather together to worship, we are already a church. So, it doesn't matter where we meet. It may be under a tree or inside a house.

Do you also say Mass like the Roman Catholics?

Everything is the same. We even have the seven sacraments.

But I understand you allow divorce. Isn't this a contradiction of the teaching of Jesus, which outlaws divorce?

No, we don't encourage divorce. We are just being true to reality. Believe me, divorce is a reality of life. You know our ministry is for human beings, who have their respective weaknesses. So, you must look at this issue from a pastoral point of view.

Is it right for us to exclude believers from sacramental life if they had genuine reasons to divorce?

Remember that Jesus accepted sinners and he related with them, during his ministry.

Is it true that you were a Roman Catholic priest?

It is true. I was ordained on April 4, 1998 at Pagwat, Orussi Catholic Parish in Nebbi by Bishop John Baptist Odama. I worked in Ghana as a priest for the Missionary Society of the White Fathers, until I decided to leave the congregation in 2006. Before I left, I first discussed the matter with my superior.

Don't you have nostalgia for the Roman Catholic Church and in particular your confreres in the Society of White Fathers?

I don't have any regrets. I am happily married with children. I am a lecturer and administrator at the Kampala International University branch of Tororo.

Of course, I still love the White Fathers because they nurtured me and also gave me the priestly training. Once in a while I visit the them and we share a cup of tea. Just believe, they love me and I love them.

You should know that I made a personal decision. My conscience was clear. So, I have no reason to hate the Roman Catholic Church, to which I owe even my background.

Even you can visit me at home if you want. My wife will prepare a meal for you and we shall celebrate Mass together.

Where did the other Ugandan priests in your church get their priestly training?

They were trained here in the seminaries of the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, they are 20 Catholic priests. They would not like their names to be published in the papers though.

Where did you put the alba, stole and chalice that the Archbishop Odama gave you when he was ordaining you?

I use them when I am saying Mass. You know when I was leaving the Society of White Fathers, I did not leave my priesthood behind. I went away with it.

The only difference is that I now practise it in another church. And it is my right to serve as a priest in another church.

I did not have to throw away my priestly vestments, since we observe the same rite of worship.

Where do you get funding?

We don't get any funding from anywhere. We just use our personal means to survive. I am a university lecturer, for example, and I get a salary. My brother priests are also working. So we use our personal incomes to run the activities of the church.