The Masaka Diocesan Bishop Serverus Jjumba has expressed the need to equip more priests with sign language skills to ease administration of sacraments and evangelization among people with hearing and speaking impairments.
According to Bishop Jjumba, the diocese which is made up of 64 parishes has only three priests skilled in sign language out of the 302 currently serving in the diocese.
Bishop Jjumba observed during the commemoration of Persons with Disabilities Day in Masaka Diocese at Divine Mercy Parish Kyabakuza in Masaka City over the weekend.
He also asked the government to consider investing in the construction of secondary schools for children with special needs so that they also fully enjoy the right to education.
Bishop Jjumba rallied parents to children with disabilities to accord them equal treatment like other youngsters by providing all basic needs for their holistic development.
According to Joseph Walugembe, an activist of disability-inclusive development and a Projects Coordinator at Stromme Foundation, there are various structural limitations against persons with disabilities in Catholic Church which should be waived to allow them exercise their unique potentials in serving the faith.
According to the Canon law, rule (canon) 959 about the sacrament of penance, the faithful must confess their sins to a legitimate minister, which attest that language barrier deters impaired faithful from receiving sacraments with an element of interaction.
