Category Archives: Religion

Malaysia: Don’t Send Saudi Back

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From: Yona Maro

(Washington, DC) – The Malaysian authorities should not send a Saudi citizen back to Saudi Arabia to face almost certain conviction and a death sentence on charges of apostasy, Human Rights Watch said today.

Hamza Kashgari fled Saudi Arabia to Malaysia on February 7, 2012, after a storm of outrage erupted over a fictitious conversation between him and the Prophet Muhammad that Kashgari published on his Twitter account. On February 8, an official Saudi religious body declared him to be an apostate for his writings. The body sets out authoritative Islamic law interpretations and although the clerics called for his trial, they also predetermined its outcome.

“Saudi clerics have already made up their up mind that Kashgari is an apostate who must face punishment,” said Christoph Wilcke, senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Malaysian government should not be complicit in sealing Kashgari’s fate by sending him back.”

Kashgari was on his way to another country when security officials arrested him at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 9, his lawyer, Muhammad Afiq Muhammad Noor, told Human Rights Watch. A friend of Kashgari said he is being held at the Travel Control section in the Bukit Amin neighborhood.

The lawyer said that the police inspector general and the Home Affairs Ministry acknowledged receiving his documents seeking access to his client, but that they had not yet granted permission. The home affairs minister, Hishamuddin Hussein, on February 10, acknowledged that the authorities were holding Kashgari. The friend also said that officials for the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, have sought access to Kashgari but so far without success.

Malaysia does not have criminal apostasy laws and Kashgari has not violated Malaysian law, the lawyer said. He questioned the legality of Kashgari’s detention and any attempt to extradite him to Saudi Arabia. Malaysia and Saudi Arabia do not have an extradition treaty, Malaysian lawyers said, but it appears that Kashgari is being held based on a request from Saudi Arabia, which issued an arrest warrant for him.

Saudi Arabia does not have written criminal laws. Apostasy is not a clearly defined criminal offense, but it is one of about six so-called crimes against God (hadd, plural hudud) for which the Quran sets out specified punishments, including the death penalty. Saudi Arabia has sentenced and executed people for this offense.

In a separate case, on February 7, the government released Hadi Al Mutif, a member of the Ismaili religious minority in Najran, a southern province bordering Yemen, after he expressed remorse to chief mufti Abd al-‘Aziz Al al-Shaikh over alleged insults to the Prophet Muhammad.

Al Mutif was arrested in late 1993 and sentenced to death for apostasy in 1996 after a patently unfair trial and remained under the death sentence until his release. Al Mutif told Human Rights Watch in 2006 that secret police beat him and deprived him of sleep during interrogation and that at trial, a witness physically assaulted him.

“If Kashgari is not presumed innocent, he can hardly expect a fair trial if returned to Saudi Arabia,” Wilcke said. “Malaysia should save him from any travesties of justice and allow him to seek safety in a country of his choice.”

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Karibu Jukwaa la www.mwanabidii.com
Pata nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com

WHY POPE SHOULD FEAR FOR HIS LIFE

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From: People For Peace
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012

Although the Vatican has dismissed Pope Benedict XVI’s assassination threat document, the newspaper that published a confidential document dated December 30, 2011 which was apparently sent by retired Colombian cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos to the Vatican warning of unspecified plans to kill the pope, the fact that he has made many enemies since he became a pope is reason enough to fear for his life.

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According to the document the Pope will die within a year. The sensational prediction was allegedly made by Cardinal Paolo Romeo, the archbishop of Palermo in Sicily, on a recent visit to China.

Cardinal Romeo reportedly made the startling prediction of the Pope’s death during a trip to China in November 2011. He seemed so sure of the fact that the people he spoke with, including Italian businessmen and Chinese representatives of the Catholic Church, were convinced that he was talking about an assassination attempt.

The report was written in German, apparently to limit the number of people within the Vatican who would understand it if it was inadvertently leaked. The story was broken on Friday by an Italian daily, Il Fatto Quotidiano, with the headline “Plot against the Pope – he will die within 12 months”.

“During his talks in China, Cardinal Romeo predicted the death of Benedict XVI within 12 months. His remarks were expressed with such certainty and resolution that the people he was speaking to thought, with a sense of alarm, that an attack on the Pope’s life was being planned,” the paper reported.

Cardinal Romeo also named Benedict’s XVI likely successor as Cardinal Angelo Scola, the archbishop of Milan – meaning the papacy would return to an Italian after the German Benedict and his Polish predecessor, John Paul II.

The most recent attempt on a pope’s life was in 1981 when John Paul II was shot and critically wounded in St Peter’s Square by Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turkish gunman with links to a shadowy militant group called the Grey Wolves.

It has been claimed that the assassination attempt was backed by the KGB and Bulgarian secret service, in retaliation for the pope’s support for the pro-democracy Solidarity movement in his native Poland and his opposition to Communism.

For Benedict, the immediate enemies are the victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests who have accused him for cover ups. They have gone so far as to submit a formal complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to the document filed by CCR, the pope, as head of the Catholic Church, is ultimately responsible for the sexual abuse of children by priests and for the cover-ups of that abuse.

The group argues that he and others have “direct and superior responsibility” for the crimes of those ranked below them, similar to a military chain of command.

The others named in the complaint are Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals and former Vatican secretary of state; Cardinal Tarcissio Bertone, now secretary of state, who previously served at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the organisation tasked with handling sexual abuse cases under the pope when he was Cardinal Ratzinger; and Cardinal William Lavada, head of the CDF, whose handling of previous sexual abuse cases has been criticised in the past.

According to Amnesty International Watch, the Holy See is obligated under international law to protect children’s human rights, ensure that perpetrators of child abuse are brought to justice and provide reparations to victims.

“The Holy See must ensure that Catholic Church officials cooperate with criminal investigations, open up records of its internal inquiries, and offer an apology and reparations to all survivors of abuse.”

Amnesty International also called on The Holy See to stop opposing the recognition of sexual and reproductive rights and to support women and men to exercise these rights free from coercion, discrimination and violence.

The organization wrote to Pope Benedict in June 2010 urging full compliance by the Holy See with its international obligations and seeking information on measures taken on this issue, but received no response

The Pope has also been accused of failing to act on accusations of abuse in previous roles as a cardinal in his native Germany, and in Rome. The Vatican has dismissed these claims as “unfounded insinuations”.

Pope’s former archdiocese acknowledged it transferred a suspected pedophile priest while Benedict was in charge and criticism is mounting over a 2001 Vatican directive he penned instructing bishops to keep abuse cases secret.

The revelations have put the spotlight on Benedict’s handling of abuse claims both when he was archbishop of Munich from 1977–1982 and then the prefect of the Vatican office that deals with such crimes — a position he held until his 2005 election as pope.

The Munich archdiocese admitted that it had allowed a priest suspected of having abused a child to return to pastoral work in the 1980s, while Benedict was archbishop. It stressed that the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger didn’t know about the transfer and that it had been decided by a lower-ranking official.

The Catholic Church in Germany has been shaken in recent days by revelations of a series of sexual abuse cases- Close to 100 priests and members of the laity have been suspected of abuse in recent years.

Sarandon, who won an Academy Award for her role in the 1995 anti-death penalty film “Dead Man Walking,” has also said she had sent a copy of the book on which the movie is based to the Pope.

“Susan Sarandon’s ignorance is willful: those who have hatred in their veins are not interested in the truth. The fact is that Joseph Ratzinger (the Pope) was conscripted at the age of 14 into the Hitler Youth, along with every other young German boy.

During much of the Nazi era, Joseph Ratzinger lived with his family in Traunstein, Germany, a small and staunchly Catholic town between Munich and Salzburg. During World War I there was a prisoner-of-war camp located here where, ironically, Adolf Hitler worked between December 1918 and March 1919. The town is located near the region of Austria which Hitler came from.

Resistance to the Nazis was dangerous and difficult, but not impossible. Elizabeth Lohner, a Traunstein resident whose brother-in-law was sent to Dachau as a conscientious objector, has been quoted as saying, “It was possible to resist, and those people set an example for others. The Ratzingers were young and had made a different choice.”

Joseph Ratzinger joined the Hitler Youth in 1941 when, according to him and his supporters, it became compulsory for all German boys. Millions of Germans were in a position similar to that of Joseph Ratzinger and his family.

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US CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ PASTORAL LETTER ATTACKING OBAMA IS FINALLY OUT

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From: People For Peace
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

N E W S J U S T I N

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

The long awaited pastoral letter of the US Catholic Church strongly attacking President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform is finally out. Under the healthcare employers must offer insurance that includes access to contraception. The big challenge is whether the letter will change the conscience of American people who for years have been using the contraceptives despite church’s opposition. Click here for full story US Bishops attack Obama healthcare reforms.

This is not the first time US bishops have attacked Obama on healthcare scheme. In March 2010 despite the fact that the reform would require most Americans to have health coverage that gives subsidies to help lower-income workers pay for coverage and creates state-based exchanges where the uninsured can compare and shop for plans, the U.S Catholic bishops severely opposed to the reform.

The Catholic Bishops’ attack was seen by some black minorities in the US as being racist, arguing that it was one of the reasons why black Catholic bishops are few in the US. Catholicism continues to be a minority religion in the black community, but these clergymen are pushing on.

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry is one of just 16 black Catholic bishops in the United States. “Historically,” he said, “the Church in America has suffered from a lack of outreach to blacks, and the consequences are still with us today.”

About 24 percent of all Americans identify themselves as Catholic, but in the black community, the percentage is far lower. According to a CARA Catholic Poll, just 3 percent of American Catholics, or 3 million Americans, identify themselves as both black and Catholic.

Further, just 250 of America’s 40,000 priests and only 16 of the 434 bishops in the United States are black. Bishop Joseph Perry, 63, is an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He grew up in an observant Catholic home in Chicago. His father was a laborer for the city in the sanitation department, and he also worked on the railroad.

Bishop Perry was one of six children. He attended various Catholic schools in Chicago and from a young age “had an affinity to the Church.” At age 9, he told his mother he wanted to be a priest. At 15, he entered the high school seminary and was eventually ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1975. He became a bishop in 1998 and today serves a region of Chicago that includes many poor, inner-city blacks.

“In the 19th century, Irish and German bishops focused on evangelizing in those communities, but little attention was paid to African-Americans,” he remarked.

“Historically, the Church in America has suffered from a lack of outreach to blacks, and the consequences are still with us today.” He noted that 37 of Chicago’s parishes are predominantly black.

Black minorities and Spanish Catholics received the bill full heartedly because the bill would be in favour of nearly 50 million Americans who do not have health-care coverage.

These are the categories of American poor who cannot afford to go to their doctor when they have symptoms that ought to be investigated. These categories of people cannot even buy simple and effective remedies such as antibiotics.

Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Congo, supported the Oama healthcare scheme. Arguing during the second African synod in Rome he said that the issue of abortion should not prompt the U.S bishops to oppose Obama’s election.

According to bishop Pasinya what was important was the fact that Obama is the man who could signal a major step forward in peaceful relations between people of different ethnic groups and between the North and the South of the world.

Bishop Pasinya suggested that U.S bishops should look at Obama like the Old Testament story of Joseph and his brothers, who had sold him into slavery, could be a key for reading the last 500 years of African history, particularly the slave trade.

Like Joseph he said Obama should be seen as the Africans brought to America against their will as the first contributors to building a nation of people who would learn to accept one another and work together, describing him as a ‘divine sign’ and a sign from the Holy Spirit for the reconciliation of races and ethnic groups for peaceful human relations.

In Kenya some religious leaders opposed the new constitution, not because of abortion, but because politically it has emerged that anything the Prime Minister Raila Odinga supports is opposed to religious leaders who identify themselves with President Kibaki and his PNU Party.

Despite the cal by some of these religious leaders Kenyans still voted 98 percent for the constitution. They voted for it because this was the only constitution that would be the voice of the poor and Kenyans who did not have the voice and their rights continued to be denied.

In the escalating conflict over the new federal requirement that employers include contraception coverage without a co-pay in the insurance plans they make available to their employees, opposition from the Catholic church and its allies is making headway with a powerfully appealing claim: that when conscience and government policy collide, conscience must prevail.

The Obama administration has just told the Catholics of the United States, ‘To Hell with you!’ ”. This is because, while the policy grounds are fully persuasive – the ability to prevent or space pregnancy being an essential part of women’s health care, one that shouldn’t be withheld simply because a woman’s employer is church-affiliated.

Just like Kenya with old constitution where almost 98 percent could not be heard, in America with Obama’s new policy, it is very obvious with the 98 percent of sexually active Catholic women who, just like other American women, have exercised their own consciences and availed themselves of birth control at some point during their reproductive lives, this policy has fulfilled their desires.

The organization Catholic for Choice, whose magazine is pointedly entitled Conscience, is calling on its supporters to “tell our local media that the bishops are out of touch with the lived reality of the Catholic people” and “do not speak for us on this decision.”

Currently a majority (55 percent) of Americans agree that “employers should be required to provide their employees with health care plans that cover contraception and birth control at no cost.” Four-in-ten (40 percent) disagree with this requirement.

According to key breakdowns, 58 percent of all Catholics agree employers should be required to provide their employees with health care plans that cover contraception. That slides down to 52 percent for Catholic voters, 50 percent for white Catholics.

While 61 percent of religiously unaffiliated Americans say employer plans should cover contraception, 50 percent of white mainline Protestants want the coverage. However, for evangelical Protestants, that drops to 38 percent.

And perhaps of greater note among election-watchers: Women are significantly more likely than men to agree that employers should be required to provide health care plans that cover contraception (62 percent vs. 47 percent respectively).

A second poll, also released this week from Public Policy Polling, has similar findings. This poll, conducted at the request of Planned Parenthood, finds…a majority of voters, including a majority of Catholics, don’t believe Catholic hospitals and universities should be exempted from providing the benefit.

Independent voters support this benefit by a 55/36 margin; in fact, a majority of voters in every racial, age and religious category that the polls track express support. In particular, a 53 percent majority of Catholic voters, who were over sampled as part of this poll, favor the benefit, including fully 62 percent of Catholics who identify themselves as independents.

Congressional leaders and Republican presidential candidates joined Catholic religious groups on Wednesday in denouncing the Obama administration’s mandate requiring health insurers to offer birth control coverage.

The issue has heated up since Jan. 20, when Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius issued a final rule requiring that all women have access to free preventive care services, including contraceptives.

The rule includes an exemption for churches and houses of worship, but not for other religious institutions such as hospitals, universities and charities.

The debate began when presidential contender Rick Santorum-himself a catholic-accused President Baraka Obama of “declaring war on the Catholic Church”, when Obama’s policies on healthcare-contraceptives- were being dictated/imposed on Catholics against the teaching of that church.

The Obama administration has said the so-called “Obamacare”was a medical-healthcare policy that seeks to provide/make medical insurance affordable to all, including the poor, women-children. “It is not a law to impose contraceptives use or abortion practices on Catholics,” one democratic congress woman from Texas said (Adds Nyabonyi Kazungu in US).

Since Pope Paul VI issued the papal encyclical letter- entitled Humanae Vitae: On the Regulation of Birth in 1968, the vast majority of Catholics continue to use contraceptives, especially in minimizing the spread of the HIV virus that causes Aids.

Most members of the Pontifical Commission, set up by Pope Paul’s predecessor Pope John XXIII, argued it was time for the Church to face the realities of the modern world. They said that with the increasing emancipation of women and the introduction of safe contraceptives the time had come for the Church to change its position.

Contraception is nothing new; history records people using various methods of birth control four thousand years ago. Ancient people swallowed potions to cause temporary sterility; they used linens, wool, or animal skins as barrier methods; they fumigated the uterus with poison to keep it from bearing life.

Most American Catholics increasingly put more faith in society’s values than they do in the Church’s values. Many Americans still identify themselves as Catholics. However, the spirit of Catholicism is rarely found in contemporary American society.

When John XXIII was appointed Pope in 1960, he felt that the Church needed to become more in touch with the modern world. An ecumenical council was called, and Vatican II lasted from 1962-1965. Vatican II was one of the most important events in the history of the Church.

The Church restructured its philosophy in order to become a more inclusive and open organization. In the mid 1960’s, most American Catholics viewed Vatican II as a positive event. They were hopeful that the Council would strengthen the Church and unite Catholics throughout the United States.

There are two groups of American Catholics who place greater importance on society’s values than on Church values. One group views the doctrine of the Church as an authoritarian list of rules and regulations. Those who follow the rules are the “good” people. Those who do not follow the rules are the “bad” people. This is a superficial way to view the Church.

The second group of American Catholics, who place greater importance on society’s values than on Church values, has a more accurate and profound view of Catholicism. These Catholics recognize that the message of the Church goes beyond a list of “do’s” and “don’ts.” They realize that at the heart of Catholic doctrine lies the authentic message of Jesus.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
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Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

WHY GUIDELINES WON’T END SEX ABUSE BY PRIESTS

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From: People For Peace
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012

As Catholic leaders from around the world meet in Rome from Monday through Thursday for a conference to combat child abuse by clergy, the big challenge is whether such meetings will end the abuse.

Pope Benedict XVI has called for a major renewal of the Catholic Church as the Vatican began a summit on preventing child abuse.’ The church has been rocked in recent years by thousands of paedophilia scandals, some of them dating back decades.

The Vatican is reluctant to change celibacy law drawn from the code of canon law -277 promulgated in 1983 § 1. The law states that clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and therefore are bound to celibacy.

Since celibacy according to the Catholic church teaching is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and are able to dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and humanity is one of the strongest reason the law cannot be changed.

Paragraph- § 2 requires that clerics are to behave with due prudence towards persons whose company can endanger their obligation to observe continence or give rise to scandal among the faithful whereas § 3 requires that the diocesan bishop is competent to establish more specific norms concerning this matter and to pass judgment in particular cases concerning the observance of this obligation.

The symposium which is expected to end tomorrow (Thursday Feb 9) is taking place at the time the Archbishop of New York, Edward M. Egan, has issued a letter of the apology to be read at Mass for the sexual abuse of minors by his priests in the New York Archdiocese.

“It is clear that today we have a much better understanding of this problem,” the archbishop wrote. “If in hindsight we also discover that mistakes may have been made as regards prompt removal of priests and assistance to victims, I am deeply sorry.”

During then-Bishop Egan’s reign in Bridgeport, from 1988 to 2000, dozens of people came forward with claims of sex abuse by priests, some of it having occurred recently.

It is also at the same time about 550 people are asking for restitution for alleged sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee — more than in any of the other U.S. dioceses that have filed for bankruptcy protection, according to a lawyer involved in the Milwaukee case. The Milwaukee Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection last year.

The archdiocese has paid more than $30 million in settlements and other court costs related to allegations of clergy abuse and more than a dozen suits against it have been halted because of the bankruptcy proceedings.

One priest alone is accused of abusing some 200 boys at a suburban school for deaf students from 1950 to 1974. The archdiocese had only $4.6 million in assets to be applied to claims in 2010.

The other seven Catholic dioceses in the U.S. that have filed for bankruptcy since the clergy abuse scandal erupted in 2002 in Boston are in Davenport, Iowa; Fairbanks, Alaska; Portland, Ore.; San Diego; Spokane, Wash.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Wilmington, Del. Two other religious orders have also filed for bankruptcy.

Of the seven other dioceses that also filed for bankruptcy, the number of claims ranged from about 40 to 250. Payouts in the other bankruptcy cases have varied based on the severity of the abuse and the quality of the diocese’s insurance coverage.

For example, cases in Southern California yielded an average of about $1.2 million per claimant, while the amount was far less in Fairbanks, Alaska, where less money was available.

Although it is not known clearly why most of these priests have sex with boys and not girls, according to the psychologist’s published books which include: “Battle for Normality: Self-Therapy of Homosexuality” and “On the Origins and Treatment of Homosexuality” by Van den Aardweg who has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality since the organization was founded in 1992, the “orientation” toward boys or adolescents in priests who have molested youngsters has never originated during their seminary or priesthood years.

In some cases it may initially have been more or less latent, weak; but then, there was always this obvious gap in his feelings, the absence of normal heterosexual feelings.

In certain circumstances, confronted with some youth, or during a period of disillusionment or loneliness, the slumbering homosexual longing may be inflamed. Van den Aardweg is also the European editor of the “Empirical Journal of Same-Sex Sexual Behavior.”

In his interview with ZENIT recently he said homosexuality is more than a sexual problem. It is part of a rather specific variant of personality immaturity, and among its most frequent symptoms are a lack of character strength, inner loneliness, and difficulties in forming mature bonds of friendship, anxiety and depression.

Clergy sexual abuse has been a reality in the Catholic Church not just since 1984 but throughout its history. This terrible dark side was always known by a few but in 1984 it became known to the Catholic and general public, especially with the shocking revelations from Boston in January 2002. Youthful victims generally do not reveal their abuse because of fear, guilt, and confusion and fear that no one will believe them.

Bishops and their representatives from 100 countries and the leaders of 33 religious orders are taking part, as well as the Vatican’s anti-paedophilia prosecutor Charles Scicluna and one abuse victim, Ireland’s Marie Collins.

The symposium comes after the release of a new book this week that quotes Vatican sources as saying the future pope had been concerned about abuse as far back as the 1980s when he was the Vatican’s top enforcer.

Bernard Lecomte’s “The Last Secrets of the Vatican” claims that the then Joseph Ratzinger had noted a “general lack of responsibility” in the Vatican hierarchy and had called for stricter punishment for abusers.

The Vatican is now requesting that all national Catholic bishops’ conferences must submit guidelines by May on how they propose rooting out abusers and cooperating with law enforcement on prevention.

Archbishop Scicluna warned that some of the bishops’ conferences, particularly in Asia, were experiencing difficulties in this task because of “cultural differences” over what exactly constitutes abuse.

This week’s event at Gregorian University in Rome features the launch of a three-year program aimed at setting up “robust procedures” to handle allegations of abuse, according to organizers.

A U.S.-based victims’ group, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, dismissed the event as “window dressing” on Monday, arguing that the very same ‘experts’ and church officials who bear responsibility for the continued global cover-up of clergy child sex crimes are the ones to deliberate on the matter.

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P O Box 14877
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00800, Westlands
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KENYA: DON’T ATTACK NAIROBI MAYOR-FIND SOLUTION TO PROSTITUTION TRADE

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From: People For Peace
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa has become under severe attack from some religious leaders and politicians when he said on Sunday he has appointed a committee to advise whether prostitution should be legalised in Nairobi city. The committee, which is led by assistant town clerk in charge of reforms Daniel Masetu, was mandated to analyse city by-laws that make prostitution illegal and advise the mayor.

Speaking to journalists at the mayor’s parlour in Nairobi, Mr Aladwa said those who are criticizing his boldness are beneficiaries of the sex trade, adding that most of those involved in the trade are not there by choice but due to circumstances. There are some incidences where media has reported that there are some politicians and prominent business men who have been beneficiaries of the sex trade.

Aladwa’s argument was based on the fact that despite the law enforcement by officers swooping on them now and again, the trade is increasingly becoming flourishing with some women waiting for their clients at Holy Family Basilica, Koinange Street and Westlands. They cannot stop even if they are arrested because this is how they are making their living.

That is why the trade does not only attract old women but also minors because of poverty. Take an example of this young lady captured by Daily Nation, Joyce Wangari, 16, and her mother Margaret Wambui crushing stones into ballast at a construction site in Ongata Rongai last week.
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Joyce sat the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams at Bethel Academy in Rongai in 2010 and scored 316 marks out of a possible 500 but lacked school fees to enable her to join Ewaso Girls’ High School.

The story of Joyce is just one of the many children who cannot make the ends meet, majority of whom are coming from single mothers. For a white man what Joyce and probably other young ladies and boys, who try to survive on different ways, including child commercial work is child labour, not considering the hardship they are undergoing.

When some politicians are planning to use billion shillings as portrayed in this cartoon below, for their presidential campaigns many young people like Joyce cannot afford school and probably four meals a day as required by dieticians.
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While white men will condemn such acts as child abuse, black men would wonder why Joyce has joined the work of crushing stones into ballast because traditionally this has not been a girl’s or woman’s job.

Religious, politicians and civil society organizations will condemn the act, but for 16-year-old Joyce Wangari with her mother they are forced to do it to keep her going, especially in fulfilling her dreams that one day she would be able to raise little money to enable her go to school. Her admission letter to Ewaso Girls’ High School lies in the house until she would be able to raise Ksh 26,000 required.

That is why even though prostitution in Kenya is illegal many, thousands of girls and boys are involved in full-time child prostitution due to poverty in the region. Many families see the sex industry as the only way of putting food on the table.

The trade was given a negative concept from Swahili word for ‘prostitute’ (Malaya) when Christian missionaries started to impose western moral values on African tribal structures in colonial Africa. They created instability, including the need for men to spend long periods away from home.

In this context the malaya arose, providing ‘home comforts’ away from home, or for men unable to afford the brideprice. The young girls often wear high heels, short dress and pay a bribe to security to get into the clubs where they can get men for the night.

They like Mzungu (White man) because they generally pay 5 times more for sex than a Kenyan labourer can earn in a day. Some of them have opted to travel abroad to be married by White men for similar purpose.

The issue here is not only prostitution- there are some young people who are ready to kill due to massive unemployment in Kenya. There are about 11 million young graduate Kenyans unemployed. Those who have succeeded to be employed by security guards are paid a minimal wage of about Ksh 6,389 (about 76 US dollars) before taxes.

This money is so minimal that it cannot pay rent- take children to school, medical care, eat and save. Youth and young adults constitute almost 60 percent of the entire Kenyan population. That is why they are forced to join odd jobs like security guards, barmaids, commercial sex, and robberies among others.

Like security guards barmaids are also paid very minimal wages. Majority of them are single mothers who want to educate their children, take care of them and pay rents. A barmaid can earn up to Ksh 4, 800 (about 63 S dollars).

It is against the background that even though the Kenya government blames women for giving birth to too many children as the reason it cannot realize the vision 2030, the fact however, is that the government is to blame for luck of political good will to reduce poverty.

For poverty to be reduced, and for development to be sustainable, there must be a dynamic balance between policies and actions, which promote jobs creation, decent standards of living and a better management of the physical environment.

Such policies must ensure that poor, children, women and minorities have access to the health care, the education and social and economic opportunities. This can only be achieved if the government can act on recommendations made to fight against corruption.

Yet Kenya cannot realise its vision 2030 because much of Kenyan income is to pay debt of about 1 trillion shillings that could not be paid since independence because the money landed in wrong hands and pockets.

It is against the background that over 2.5 million households in Kenya continued to live below the poverty line. Today it is not only one in every two Kenyans is poor, the majority of them are landless and cannot enroll their children to school. This is not to mention infant mortality and life expectancy which have deteriorated to the alarming rate.

It explains why teenage girls who drop out of school due to pregnancy, social, cultural, economics, gender preference- lack of school fees, ill health, and lack of interest or failure to pay non-tuition continue to increase at higher rate.

It is due to economic hardship that many schoolgirls are not only dropping out of school due but also indulge in drug abuse, including illicit brews to suppress the stress. It explains why there are increasing numbers of single mothers in Kenya.

But even those who are married, statistics indicate that money is a major cause of marriage breakdown, accounting for 64 per cent of all divorce and separation cases according to media report.

Even women who earn more than their spouses either through better jobs or doing better in business whose husbands are increasingly becoming dependant on them cannot afford to do that for longer time.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
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Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
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Kenya: Gossi Column

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Forwarded By Leo Odera Omolo

BY PETER OLIVER OCHIENG

The Famous Will

There’s a verse in the bible that says “Wise men know when they are just about to die”.

I believe the author of that verse was utmost inspired by his highness the Almighty Father because that is the simple fact of life.

And that is why most people write down their wills whenever it downs unto them that they are just about to give room for upcoming and future generations.

Otherwise, how can a sensible person write a will when he clearly knows that he’s not better placed to wave bye to this uncompromising world any time soon?

Since I was born more than two decades ago to present date, no one among those who went to hell or heaven before us ever left a famous will. The reason is that most wills range from providing heirs to wives, husbands, children, houses and acres of grabbed land among all other earthly materialistic things in the name of property.

For a very long time now, I have gone through desperate days and sleepless nights. I’ve gone through thick & thin, rain and sunshine. I’ve thought carefully and logically to produce what I now confidently refer to as “The famous will”.

“My dear wives, children, brethren, sisters and villagers (villagers are included chiefly because it takes the efforts of a whole village to raise a child).Time has come when we must call a spade a spade and not a big spoon. After birth, comes marriage and finally death. The writing is on the wall-my time has come, I have to go.

Since I was born almost 100 years ago, throughout my life as a junior, youth, middle aged man and now an old man who is just about to kiss this world an everlasting bye, I have stood the taste of time to witness the power of change on both negative and positive fronts.

Of all the changes, the most negative one has been coming out there in large numbers to feast in funerals of slain men. In the traditional African society, the trend was different as the aggrieved family used to get food donations from well wishing villagers.

From a biblical point of view, there’s no verse in the bible indicating that men ate and drunk heavily during burials. By feasting, will you be mourning or celebrating my death? I hope the point is home with all of you. Cooking food, drinking and feasting in the course of my funeral are condemned with the strongest terms ever.

As always, before the final journey to the land of the chosen few (heaven), there will be sermons and speeches from religious leaders, relatives, friends and foes alike. The holy bible always reminds us of saying only the truth so as to be set free. For those who will get a rare chance to speak, utter only the truth.

The issue of exaggerating every aspect of my life will do me no good. Of what benefit will it be to you if you stand tall and argue that I was holy than thou when all know that the word church never existed in my vocabulary? If you call me honest, many will wonder how because in death, I die with many of my neighbours debts.

How do you stand to gain if you stand before the whole village and falsely testify that I was on the fore front of fighting witchcraft when all know too well that it was not until very late that I relinguished the captain’s arm band to the villages’ witchcraft team. In order to increase my probability of ever shaking hands with those heavenly angels (Gabriel and Mary), do not be tempted to exaggerate anything about my life. Then to all speakers, do not speak to exercise your jaws. Be brief and precise.

Over the ages, there has been a raging debate as to whether women should be equal to men. Some male chauvinists argue that since Eve was constructed from Adam’s rib, there’s no way women can become a dorminant species. Irrespective of the chest thumping men, women have so far tried to hold their own account. They are nowadays fighting men left, right and centre on all professional fronts.

Leave alone professionalism, games and sports previously dictated by men have been ‘invaded’ by women. Take for instance women soccer teams like Brazil, Germany and Nigeria. These women play football like nobody’s business. All the same, they are still not equal to men.

What brings out the distinction is simple. Whereas men can dig graves, women have been denied that privilege by barbaric and superstitious beliefs imposed by men. My will is gender sensitive. Women are better placed to dig up my grave since they are the ones who toil the farms while men traverse the villages in search of drinking dens.

Women, permission is granted, brace yourselves up and dig my grave.

This is an opportunity that is extremely up for grabs. Come one, come all and prove to your male counter parts that what men can do, women can do it better and what women can do better, men cannot do. In deed, I’m bound to rest in peace if my grave is exclusively worked on by women.

Lest I forget, I’m leaving behind my pretty last wife. Although when I married her I said ‘till death do us apart’, she is not for inheritance. Not even over my dead body. I hope to meet her in the spirit world when her time expires on earth. And again, I do not need a coffin in order to go to heaven. Bye and may God bless you all.

KENYA: ICC IS THE ONLY HOPE THAT CAN BRING JUSTICE TO ORDINARY CITIZENS

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

As International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova ruled that the deputy prime minister, Uhuru Kenyatta, the former education minister, William Ruto, Francis Muthaura, and Joshua arap Sang, a radio presenter are accused of crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI ruled that the Bishop of Toowoomba, Bill Morris was dismissed.

In May last year Bishop Bill Morris, was involuntarily removed from his office by Pope Benedict XVI on the grounds of “defective pastoral leadership”. He had used in his diocese the Third Rite of Reconciliation, which offers participants general absolution but whose use had become limited following John Paul II’s 2002 apostolic letter, Misericordia Dei.

The Diocese of Toowoomba is vast; priests are few and ageing; there are 66,000 Catholics; 36 parishes are served by 28 active priests. In the circumstances, pastoral visitation and celebration of the sacraments are rare in many places. The bishop explained that in these conditions, some flexibility was needed if the sacraments were to be available.

Despite his dismissal, Bishop Morris affectionately regarded for his pastoral style, he was loved by his flocks. They regarded him as a true shepherd and indeed they are going to miss him greatly.

The allegation could be legally challenged if the Canon Law was in favour of the ordinary Christians. In Roman Catholic Church powers are vested on high church authorities whose decision are final and can never be challenged. This is the only different from the ICC and other civil laws. In other words, unlike ICC the ruling of the Pope is final and cannot be the subject of legal review.

Such decisions which can never be challenged can be compared to the vocal Islamist group whose leader has been appointed to represent an al-Qaida-linked Somali militia aimed at attacking Kenya for its decision to send troops to Somalia in October last year.

The leader, Ahmad Iman Ali who was elevation to become the supreme Amiir of Kenya for al Shabaab is a Kenyan who has been based in Somalia since 2009 and commands a force of 200 to 500 fighters, according to the July U.N. report.

The report said that “he now intends to conduct large-scale attacks in Kenya, and possibly elsewhere in East Africa.” He is fighting against the kuffar, an alternative spelling of kafir, an Arabic word meaning “unbeliever.”

Muslims at the Coast have always complained that they have been marginalized and therefore would like to have the Coastal Kenya be a country of its own separate from Kenya.

Ali warned in a statement rife with spelling errors: “The Muslim lands will once again rule with Shari’ah and your kufr democracy will be dumped in the seewage.” The Muslim Youth Center is the best-known of the Kenyan jihadi groups.

Since its troops entered Somalia, Kenya has suffered more than a dozen grenade attacks. Four explosive devices targeting police have been planted in a northern refugee camp housing Somalis, and gunmen have also shot residents in northern Kenya towns. Somali fighters also raided a Kenyan police camp earlier this month, killing six people and kidnapping at least four.

It could explain why despite the call by Pope Benedict XVI on Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws, which can carry a death sentence for insulting the Prophet Muhammad has not been listened to. The Pope wants the law repealed because it served as a pretext for acts of injustice and violence against religious minorities.

The Pope who was quoted by press as referring to Pakistani governor Salman Taseer, whose assassination recently was blamed on his support for changes to the blasphemy laws made his remarks during a New Year address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican. A bodyguard of Mr Taseer confessed in court to his killing.

On Wednesday just as the Pope had addressed the Diplomats, a reporter for the Voice of America, Mukarram Khan was shot repeatedly by the Pakistan Taliban in the northwest Pakistan as he prayed at Mosque. The Taliban have warned that American journalists would be targets in the future.

The killing underscored Pakistan’s reputation as the world’s most dangerous beat for reporters, and it raised fresh questions about the future of American-financed journalism in the region. Taliban consider their reporting propaganda against them.

In Egypt there is already fear that Muslim Brotherhood who won the majority of votes in recent general elections will enforce sharia law on non-Muslims. The brotherhood is known in history for assassinations.

On December 28, 1948 they were accused of assassinating Egypt’s prime. In 1952 they were accused of taking part in arson that destroyed some “750 buildings” in downtown Cairo — mainly night clubs, theatres, hotels, and restaurants frequented by British and other foreigners.

In 30 April 2011 when the group launched a new party called the Freedom and Justice Party, which reportedly planned to “contest up to half the seats” in the Egyptian parliamentary election in September 2011, the party “rejects the candidacy of women or Copts for Egypt’s presidency” but not for cabinet positions.

In Nigeria the Muslims are persecuting Christians because militant Islamist group Boko Haram wants the country to be ruled by a Muslim who will enforce sharia law. At least 15 people were killed on December 25 when a bomb exploded outside a church in Madala, a satellite town of the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

In Syria it risks plunging deeper into violence and even civil war because according to Muslim militias President Bashar al-Assad listens to nobody inside or outside the country. The group has called for change according to Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.

The rise of Islamist political forces in North Africa following last year’s revolutions in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia has also raised concern in the Vatican over the future of Christian minorities in the region.

The world however waits to see whether in Ivory Coast the ICC will bring into justice when ex-president Laurent Gbagbo who on November 30, 2011 became the first former head of state to be transferred to the ICC will be convicted.

Gbagbo is facing four counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and inhuman acts, over post-election violence from December 2010 to April 2011, which the UN said cost about 3,000 lives. Gbagbo had refused to concede defeat in November polls.

The same court also issued the warrant of arrest since June 27, 2011 to Seif al-Islam Kadhafi, the son of Libya’s slain despot Moamer Kadhafi. He was eventually arrested on November 19 and the ICC has given Libya extra time to mull whether he should be handed over to be tried for crimes against humanity committed during the rebellion which took place from February 15-October 23. Seif was arrested after the ICC announced it was formally dropping the case against his father after seeing his death certificate.

Others who are wanted by ICC include Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the western region of Darfur, a war that since 2003 has claimed some 300,000 lives according to UN figures.

The ICC also at the end of its first trial in August, 2011 issued the warrant of arrest against former militia chief Thomas Lubanga, accused of war crimes for enrolling child soldiers in 2002-03. He is awaiting a verdict.

Others who are already before the court for an attack on a village in 2003 include Congolese militia leaders Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Senior Rwandan rebel leader Callixte Mbarushimana, suspected of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Kivu provinces in the eastern DRC, was released on parole in France in December, 2011 after the ICC dropped charges against him.

Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been in detention in The Hague since 2008, suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by his Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) rebels in the neighbouring Central African Republic between October 2002 and March 2003. Bemba’s troops supported CAR President Ange-Felix Patasse against a rebellion led by Francois Bozize, now the country’s president.

The ICC in 2005 issued arrest warrants against Joseph Kony and other top commanders of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) for crimes against humanity and war crimes including the enlisting of child soldiers and sexual slavery, committed between 2002 and 2004.

But even when Muslims are fighting to control Africa through sharia law, some violence in the continent is caused due to the increased cost of living, which has become a big test to African governments’ capacity to manage their own affairs.

In the recent past, tens of thousands of people across Burkina Faso have marched in protest against the high cost of living. Uganda has witnessed bloody skirmishes in a civil society-organized ‘walk to work’ protest.

Even Kenya is not left out. In a Synovate survey released in Kenya recently, majority of Kenyans identified the high cost of living as the main problem facing the country. In a system where the majority of citizens are excluded is why people take street protests for the ruling elites to discover that their system has flopped.

Uganda’s Walk to Work Campaign was launched on Apr. 11 by a group drawn from various opposition parties and calling itself Activists for Change. The violence led to eight deaths, including a two-year-old child, and at least 250 injured as security forces have used teargas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to turn protesters back on each day of action.

In Burkina Faso as IPS reports, members of the presidential guard caused chaos in Ouagadougou on Apr. 14, 2011, demonstrating for an increase in their housing allowances and a daily food subsidy.

They set fire to a building in the presidential compound, freed several comrades being held on rape charges, and targeted shop-owners in a rampage through the city, carrying off goods and destroying kiosks.

In Kenya, the outspoken opposition MP for Gichugu and presidential candidate, Martha Karua, says corruption and inefficiency by regulators were key parts of the crisis. Her call, for example on government “to clean up the National Oil Corporation, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company and the Energy Regulatory Commission to protect the common man from these surging prices” seems to be working but not yet to the full expectations.

Even though the official unemployment rate in Kenya is currently 40 percent, those with jobs are hardly better off. It explains why when Labour Minister John Munyes announced a 12.5 percent increase in the minimum wage at a May Day rally, raising the recommended minimum salary in Kenya’s major urban centres to roughly 90 dollars a month: workers did not even wait to hear the end of his brief address.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail- ppa@africaonline.co.ke
omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

KENYA: AVOID THINGS THAT CAN MAKE US HATE EACH OTHER-LENTEN CAMPAIGN 2012

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012

The theme of this year’s Lenten Campaign is “Towards a Transformed Kenya”, Let Light Shine out of Darkness (2Cor.4:6). The Kenya Episcopal Conference Catholic Secretariat Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has chosen this theme because as Kenyans we must remind ourselves that we have a duty to transform Kenya into a country where human dignity, human rights, equity, responsibility and equality are the core values. This is the basis of the social teaching of the Church.

The campaign begins with the preamble that in order to transform Kenya we must to transform our conscience. This will enable Kenyans to avoid those things that have made us hate each other. We must coexist as a country. As Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Traditional religious and people of good will, we are all called to be the salt and light of the world.

We are all invited to be witness of the Kingdom of God which is already here with us and the Church is symbol of that Kingdom. Transformation means that we reclaim our humanity from false doctrine and ideologies that have infested our society. Our Lord told us that only truth will set us free (Jn. 8:32).

The first week begins on Sunday February 26 after Ash Wednesday, February 22. The first week shall discuss the General Elections, how we are expected to elect good leaders and how we shall avoid rigging and violence like 2007 and several previous elections which were mired in irregularities and characterized by violence in many parts of Kenya.

The fact that at the heart of the electoral violence in 2007 and 2008 was the question of land allocation and the particular nature of Kenyan political contests, through which ethnic loyalties are rewarded, in order to avoid future electoral violence, the issue of land must be tackled.

For Muslims the most contentious issue is the question of ancestral land in Coastal Province, which many Muslim leaders claims was reallocated illegally. This has motivated some Islamic organizations to use the debate about “majimboism” as a platform to advocate the implementation of Shari’ah law which they believe is the only solution to their problems.

Despite that fact that land rights have been a hotly contested issue since independence where the Kalenjin, Masai and other smaller communities have consistently tried to reclaim land that was taken from them during the colonial period, instead illegal farm invasions continue to take place.

Questions of land allocation, which are ultimately linked to questions of wealth, have never been handled appropriately. The political instrumentalization of the uneven distribution of land has led to widespread ethnic violence, which has flared up several times after the return to multiparty democracy in late 1991.

Both during the period of first de facto and later de jure one-party rule (1963 to 1991) under the reign of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the former ruling party, and during the period of multiparty competition (1992 to present), politics has been characterized by strong ethnic undercurrents.

Under the country’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta (1963 – 1978), most prominent cabinet positions were given to his Kikuyu community, which, according to the 1989 census, represent 21 percent of the population and the largest ethnic group.

Yet still, despite the fact that in the fertile Rift Valley, both Kikuyu and Kalenjin have aspired to claim land that was previously under colonial occupation, competing demands for land were never solved and thus became a latent source of conflict between the two communities.

It is against the background that in 1964 when the Kenyatta government altered the independence constitution by abolishing the federal institutional system (“majimbo constitution”), the debate about “majimboism” (Swahili for federalism) has since returned to the political agenda and was frequently accompanied by ethnic clashes. It also emerged in the run-up to the 2007 elections.

In the second week the campaign will look at the issue of food security. As Kenyans we have an obligation to make sure that we have enough food, especially by seeking to strengthen our economy by buying our own produce. In other words, for us as a country to have food security, we must be patriotic and put Kenya first.

We must also compel our leaders to have policies that spell out the availability of seeds, accurate weather forecast and good food storage. The problem of food insecurity needs to be addressed within a long term perspective, eliminating the structural causes that give rise to it and promoting the agricultural development of poorer people.

This is because according to the constitution of Kenya, the government of Kenya has constitutional responsibility to protect the human dignity of Kenyans (Art. 26(1) and Art.28); and free them from hunger and to have adequate food of acceptable quality (Art. 43(1) c.

The third week will discuss the Devolution. This is according to the Kenya Episcopal Conference is because it is a very important for the transformation of Kenya. It means allowing or giving powers of decision making to smaller or local units that have means to implement the decisions both at political, economic, social and cultural spheres.

Technically, devolution can be defined as a governance tool based on the principle of subsidiarity. This means that the central government and the devolved government will have distinct functions to perform that will add up to the common good of Kenyans.

Even though under Daniel arap Moi (1978 – 2002), the allocation of public resources was biased in favor of his Kalenjin group and several pastoral communities, this has never changed with Mwai Kibaki.

It explains why economic recovery has failed to realize their goals in Kenya since independence. This has opened the way for corruption to continue to be widespread. It is also why the resettlement of thousands of innocent victims has not yet been realized. This cannot improve because of the ongoing bad governance.

With the implementation of the new constitutions Kenyans hope that these vices will end once and for all. We need Kenya where the constitution recognizes the cultural values and ethnic diversities in the pot which is Kenya and not ethnic.

The Kenya Episcopal Conference believes that with the implementation of the new constitution Kenyans will be able to share the national resources at both national and at county levels. Where there will also be county resources to be shared within the counties.

This of course will depend with the type of leaders Kenyans will elect. Leaders, who are ready to dialogue with the community, bring investments in the county and who are ready to adopt pro-good policies. All these processes require citizens’ participation as provided in the constitution.

Because the constitution has never been implemented is why, even though the fight against corruption was a major theme in Kibaki’s successful 2002 election campaign, this could not work.

That is also why, despite the fact that in 2003 and 2004 when the government enacted several laws designed to curb corruption, including the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, the Public Officer Ethics Act and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act, corruption is still widespread.

Even with the re-launch of Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Agency (KACC) which required MPs and civil servants to provide evidence of their source of income has never been realized. In addition, the position of a permanent Secretary for Ethics which was established in the president’s office never worked either.

The outcry has been that, even though the KACC is legally obliged to hand over evidence to the attorney general’s office, their efforts have been limiting them to free itself from executive pressure. This is because AGs have been the presidential appointees.

That is why it admitted to suffering from a lack of capacity to act in a meaningful way to punish those who fail to comply with the law. For example, in January 2009, former Finance Minister Amos Kimunya, who was involved in the dubious privatization of the Grand Regency Hotel, was re-appointed to his previous positions despite a parliamentary vote of no confidence against him.

The fourth week will discuss the family matters. The Kenya Episcopal Conference has chosen this topic given that the family is a threatened institution today. Without sound families the society will disintegrate.

In Kenya today the family is facing significant challenges and the role of parent is in jeopardy as parents continue to compete with various influences from our world. What is happening is that we have defiled our families.

We have allowed the father of the home to disappear. Many children are suffering a ‘father wound’. Many children do not have an adequate father figure in their lives, and this has really distorted the society.

The fifth and last week will discuss peace and cohesion. Kenyans are called to look for means of bringing justice and peace to our society. This can only be achieved when we have let our light to shine.

While many Kenyans continue to suffer violence in their communities, press freedom still exists in Kenya on paper as well as in principle. In the past, journalists have become the victims of governmental pressure and state violence.

During the counting of the 2007 election results, various media houses were forced to stop reporting incoming election results, which made it impossible to confirm official results released by the Electoral Commission of Kenya.

Recently local and international journalists have protested Kibaki’s support of the Kenya Communications Amendment Bill (2008). The so-called “ICT Bill” which, if it was passed it was going to provide for heavy fines and prison sentences for press offenses.

It could give the government authority over broadcast license issuance and the production and content of news programs. It further allowed the government to raid media offices- tap phones and control broadcast content for purposes of national security.

Although sizeable group of Kibaki’s grand coalition also opposes the law, according to the worldwide press freedom index, Kenya’s position has fallen from position 78 in 2007 to position 97 in 2008 (out of 167 countries).

Yet still, the 2007 elections and their aftermath have illustrated the deep ethnic divisions between various communities. No political party has ever managed to include representatives of all major communities in leading positions for a significant period of time.

The inability of political leaders to engage in efforts to defuse the violence was manifest in their readiness to accuse each other of fostering ethnic genocide. This has raised new doubts about their willingness to contribute to democratic stability.

Thanks to International Criminal Court (ICC) that Kenyans are now cautious. It explains why, despite Mr Peter Otieno appearing at the ICC as a witness, the residents have accepted his role and he has been welcomed back to the fold. Some people tried to create rumours that his house had been torched, but they failed to incite the community to take the law into its hands.

Otieno was a trade unionist who, as a witness for former police commissioner Maj-Gen (Rtd) Hussein Ali, testified how police rescued him and his family in Naivasha. Reports that his rural home in Migori County could be a target for attack following his testimony at The Hague turned out to be unfounded.

The fact that Ruto, Uhuru, Muthaura and arap Sang have been charged for full trial by the ICC and no violence has taken place is an indication that Kenyans are now trying to coexist. It is an indication that there will be no violence in the future.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail- ppa@africaonline.co.ke
omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

WHY CONFLICT BETWEEN SECULARISM AND THE CHURCH IS NEVER ENDING

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from ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012

Pope Benedict XVI warned against the grave dangers that “radical secularism” posed to the Catholic Church and society in general during a meeting Thursday with US bishops. This is according to the pope is because the United States was founded “on certain ethical principles” that have “eroded significantly in the face of powerful new cultural currents.

These trends, the pope says directly opposed to core moral teachings of the Judeo-Christian tradition, thus increasingly hostile to Christianity as such. This is because secularism is purely human, and intended mainly for those who find theology indefinite or inadequate, unreliable or unbelievable.

The tradition is drowned from James 4:1-10 where Jesus has been alleged to have warned his followers not to be of the world. The “world” is in opposition to Christ and Christ is in opposition to the world. Those who become friends with the world become enemies of God.

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are yet war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:1-10).

Based on this trend, Judeo-Christian is a belief in the biblical God of Israel, in his ten commandments and his biblical moral laws. It is a belief in universal, not relative, morality.

In 1 Timothy 6:9-11 it warns: “Those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursuer righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness”.

In other words, there are many things in this world that can bring us temporary joy and happiness – sufficient money, business success, and good health, loving family, loyal friends. But no worldly thing can bring enduring joy and happiness.

We might become poor, fail at business, lose our health, or, by separation or death, lose our spouse or our friends. Even if we gain all of these, and more, and keep them, sooner or later we must leave them all behind and “go the way of all flesh”.

It means that religiously human beings are spiritually oriented-this could explain why before Vatican Council II many churches did not have toilets. The idea being that once you are in church you are no longer human being, therefore you do not need to go to the toilet.

Today, the trend of thinking and approach has changed. Many people today have not only preferred secularism than Judea-Christian tradition, but also resorted not to go to church. For example, in some of Catholic Europe’s largest dioceses in Germany, France, Italy, and Ireland, the percentage of Catholics who attend Mass regularly has slipped to as low as 20 percent, and in a few cities, like Paris, has reached as low as the single digits, according to figures compiled by the church.

In Italy, where 97 percent of the population considers itself Catholic, church attendance has fallen to 30 percent, according to figures compiled by Famiglia Cristiana, a popular Catholic weekly magazine. In large cities such as Milan, the figure is no more than 15 percent.

In France, where 76 percent of the population considers itself Catholic, only 12 percent say they go to church on Sunday, according to Georgetown University’s Center for the Study of Global Christianity, and Vatican officials say the percentages attending Mass drop as low as 5 percent in cities, such as Paris.

In Ireland, where 90 percent of the population is nominally Catholic, less than 50 percent attend Mass even once a month, according to church officials’ estimates. That figure is more dramatic given that 91 percent of the country attended Mass regularly just 30 years ago, according to a recent church study.

Even in Africa where Africans have been considered notoriously religious, it is no longer the case. In spite of all this, Pope John Paul II, in his Post-Synodal Exhortation after the African Synod, Ecclesia in Africa, pointed to the growing threat of secularism in Africa.

This is because the rapid evolution of society has given rise to new challenges linked to the phenomena notably of family uprooting, urbanisation, unemployment, materialistic seductions of all kinds, a certain secularisation and an intellectual upheaval caused by the avalanche of insufficiently critical ideas spread by the media” (Ecclesia in Africa, 14 Sept. 1995, no. 76).

In such a state, religious faith, for one reason or another, is felt to be superfluous. It is a state in which organised religion loses its hold both at the level of social institutions and at the level of human consciousness. As such, secularism is a datum of modern society. It is a world view which, in theory and/or practice, denies the immanence of God.

NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS PRESS RELEASE.

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from: Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede

January 17, 2012

GENERAL ELECTIONS

WE as the Nyanza Council of Church Leaders representing 200 Churches are appealing to Kenyans to pray for our Nation and to be patience during this time of election mood.

We are also appealing to the two principals in the Grand Coalition Government to allow the next General Elections to be held in December this Year. This is because Kenyans are normally familiar with December as General Election Period.

By December this Year, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) shall have put all the necessary preparations for the General Elections hence making the elections to be held at that time.

December is a Holiday where all schools across the Country are closed and if elections are held in March next year as recently ruled by the three High Court Judges then learning activities maybe disrupted because most of the schools are normally used as Poling and counting Stations.

The International Community has also said they are comfortable with December this year General Elections and can finance it.

At the same time, we the Church Leaders in Nyanza condemn in the strongest term possible the utterances made against the Prime Minister Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga especially by his former advisor on Coalition Affairs Mr. Miguna Miguna.

We are kindly asking Mr. Miguna Miguna that should he have a personal grudge against the Prime Minister’s Leadership, then he should settle it in an amicable way but not wash his dirty linen in public.

The office of the Prime Minister is not the first office to suspend or fire Government Officials, this has even been done at the Office of the President but Kenyans have never heard anything like name calling from those officers who have since been suspended or fired from the office of the President attacking the Head of State through the Media. The Prime Minister should be respected by all loving citizens of this country.

We are also asking Mr. Miguna Miguna to stop out dated and mischievous Politics that cannot be accommodated in a New Kenya especially at this time of new Constitution Dispensation.

The Prime Minster is a Reformist who has suffered for the change that Kenyans have been yearning for thus smearing his name with dirt Politics should not happen.

We the Church Leaders cannot sit back and watch Politicians smearing other colleague’s names with dirt.

SIGNED BY: –

BISHOP DR. WASHINGTON OGONYO NGEDE.H.S.C.

CHAIRMAN: NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS

KENYA: THE WEEK THAT WILL SEE RUTO AND UHURU CHARGED OR CASE DISMISSED

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ

NAIROBI-KENYA
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012
ICC-TAKE 1

Last week the talks in Kenya were about Eldoret North MP, Mr William Ruto launching a new party that he believes will take him to State House and Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta with PNU-Alliance, a bus he believes will also taking him to State House.

This week however, the talks are on The Hague, whether the charges against the duo would be dropped come January 23. The school of thought is that should the charges be dropped it would mean that the history of impunity that stretches back to the colonial days will continue.

That is why Kenyans opted for the International Criminal Court (ICC) because Kenya does not have leadership that can deal with them fairly and justly. For example, those who perpetrated ethnic clashes in 1991, 1992 and 1997 have never been punished, including those responsible for extrajudicial killings of hundreds of youths, or those associated with the infamous “Goldenberg” and “Anglo-leasing” corruption scandals.

The ICC will determined whether post election violence was planned as contained in the evidence tendered by the Commission of Inquiry into the Post Election Violence (CIPEV) chaired by Justice Philip Waki.

The evidence is also contained in the Kenya National Commission on the Human Right (KNCHR). According to the report former Agriculture Minister William Ruto held a meeting in August 2007 with other senior Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders in Kipkelion near Kericho to out mass evictions of non-Kalenjins from their homes in the Rift Valley, particularly the Kikuyu and Abagusii.

Uhuru Kenyatta with other Party of National Unity (PNU) on diverse dates during January, February and March 2008 attended meetings to plan for retaliatory violence. The report states that local politicians received support from Kikuyu elite from outside Naivasha to mobilize local jobless youth who were bolstered by Mungiki followers from Nairobi and Central Province.

The KNCHR’s list of ‘alleged perpetrators’ includes six cabinet ministers: Uhuru Kenyatta from President Mwai Kibaki’s PNU, Sally Kosgei, Henry Kosgey, William Ruto, Najib Balala and the late Kipkalya Kones from Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM.

It also included allegations against a bishop and several preachers, Christian and Muslim, some of whom include Rev. Kosgey, a preacher who sometimes preaches on Kass FM, Mr Benjamin Murei, a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church elder. He offered prayers and read a verse from the Bible to the youth attackers in support of the violence and Pastor Isaya Nyongesa in Likuyani for saying that Kikuyus must go back to ‘their’ Central Province.

MP William Ole Ntimama, for warning non-Maasais that they would be evicted from Enoosupukia, according to the 1990s Akiwumi Commission’s investigation into tribal clashes which also accused government administrators of being untruthful and attempting cover-ups. The report argues that the police and security agencies adopted a shoot-to-kill policy, mainly in Kisumu and parts of Nairobi.

According to the report, the late Lorna Laboso M.P, Sotik Constituency would be tried for planning and incitement to violence. She was accused that on the third week of January 2008 that she attended a purported peace meeting at Manaret Society, where she incited local community against the Kisiis.

Franklin Bett, M.P for Bureti Constituency is accused that during a public meeting in Kiptororo in Kuresoi in December 2007, he reportedly urged the Kalenjins to fight the Kikuyus until they leave Molo area.

He is also accused that together with the late Kipkalia Kones and the late Kimutai Too they financed the Kalenjin youths who attacked the Kikuyus and Kisiis in Kericho. He gave them transport, fuel and food and held meetings at Kericho Tea Hotel and other places.

Again, together with the late Kipkalia Kones and the late David Too, they organized and facilitated the youths to be transported from Trasmara and Bomet by Lorries through Silibwet to go and chase Kikuyus from Kuresoi.

It is reported that on the 23rd November 2009 he went to Stagemart in Kericho and addressed a crowd asking residents to remove all the stains/spots (madoadoa) from the region.

In January 2008 while addressing youths Too is reported to have told the youths :”When we tell you to block, make sure you block the road, and when we tell you to remove, make sure you remove them.”

Other inciters include Boaz Kaino MP Marakwet West constituency and Fred Kapondi MP, Mt. Elgon constituency. Kapondi said that Luhyas should be expelled from Trans Nzoia.

Omondi Anyanga MP for Nyatike constituency for participating and funding of violence, hiring of Lorries to loot cereals depot, funding the violence, John Pesa MP, Migori constituency-he is reported to have said at a campaign rally that ‘visitors’ had taken away the businesses of local people). He named the said ‘visitors’ as ‘Oriah’ (understood to mean Somalis, Kikuyus and Kisiis).

Ramadhan Kajembe MP, Changamwe Constituency for hosting a number of people at his home on the day violence erupted. He “commanded” the youth that was looting in Changamwe area.

Chris Okemo, MP, Nambale Constituency- he told the public that he does not want the Kikuyu votes and also intimated that it is the Kikuyu who are barring them from developing themselves. Elizabeth Ongoro MP for Kasarani-supplied money for petrol used to burn down houses and property in Kijiji cha Chewa.

Maj..G en Hussein Ali Police Commissioner-Some police officers under his command as the Commissioner of Police were involved in use of excessive force leading to deaths and injury, some officers were partisans, and others neglected their duties.

Peter Kavila, Wainaina and Njoki and Peter Matu, PPO, Western Province, OCS Malava and two other Officers respectively for excessive use of force shooting and killing peaceful demonstrators, Mr Ngugi, OCS Langas Police Station and officers under his command, Mr Alfred Chepkwony Assistant chief, Chemamul Sub-location in Tinderet, Nandi South for participating in the violence-he was among the attackers on the morning of 31st December 2007.

Mr William Sang, the Chief of Chepkoilel Location near Eldoret for participating and organising the violence-He was seen directing the attackers on 31st of January 2008 at Kimumu. OCS Endebess Police Station for leading a group of police officers and Kikuyu attackers to Turbo area in Endebess on 6th January 2008 at around 11.00 am, shooting and injuring people in the area.

Dr. Jacob Bitok A lecturer at Moi University for organising, planning, funding and participation in the violence- He ferried Marakwet warriors to attack and drive Kikuyu out of Rock Centre in Eldoret and in Kipkaren areas. He was the custodian of the funds collected to finance the violence within Mosop area.

Thomas Cheruiyot Sirikwa Agricultural/ Veterinary Officer in Sirikwa- He threatened the headmaster of Sirikwa Primary School (a kikuyu) and asked him to leave arguing that the school deserved a Kalenjin headmaster. This was during a public meeting convened by the Kamara District Officer held on 27/11/07.

Cheruiyot further reportedly incited the Kalenjin parents to withdraw their children from Sirikwa Primary and Secondary Schools. As a result the Secondary school was reportedly closed down.

Sammy Ng’etich Acting chief for Chemaner Location- he told the Kisiis and the Kikuyus that they must vacate the area whether they like it or not. Sometimes in September 2007, he reportedly held a meeting which was attended exclusively by Kalenjins and the night after the meetings, a group of youths attacked Kamwaura shopping center whereby two people were killed and several houses burnt.

Inooro FM Radio station which broadcasts in the Kikuyu language for incitement via calling programmes, aired highly emotional and distraught victims of the violence- Kameme FM Radio station, broadcasting in the Kikuyu language for perpetration of hate speech, engaging in ethnic propaganda campaign against ODM and the Kalenjins.

Kass FM Radio station broadcasting mainly in Kalenjin languate for incitement and hate speech in its programmes -KASS FM broadcast hate speech and materials meant to incite communities against each others.

Radio Injili station for incitement and hate speech in its programmes- The station broadcast on several occasions material that amounted to incitement. Coro FM Radio station which broadcasts in the Kikuyu language for incitement through its programmes.

Councillor Ochola-Utalii Ward in Kasarani Consitutency and lives in Kijiji cha Chewa, for financing local youth to purchase petrol between 29th December 2007 and the first week of Jan 2008 to make petrol bombs and paying arsonists Ksh 400/day. He also provided food, shelter weapons and transport to attackers.

General (Retired) Koech who contested for the Ainamoi Parliamentary seat in 2007 General Election organised the Kalenjin attackers in South Rift. David Njuguna alias “Zebra”, Councilor for Londiani town ward organized retaliatory attacks against the Kipsigis. He organized youths of the Kikuyu Community to burn down the shops and businesses of the Kipsigis community.

Martin Odhiambo Insurance Broker, Kericho Town, alleged to have financed the violence and supplied youths with petrol to burn homes of members of the non Kalenjin communities, Nyabuti Moseti Businessman provided Matatu to ferry the chinkororo attackers to “defend” Kisiis.

Jack Sokouhuru, a businessman and owns butchery was one of the attackers who were involved in the burning of kipsigis shops, Zebra (alias David Githunguri or Njoroge), Councilor Chepkongoni Ward participated in torching of houses belonging to the Kipsigis Community on 20th of January 2008.

Other inciters include Faruk Kibet, Enoch Sugut, Mr Thomas Koech and Solomon Tilawen, former nominated councilor for Wareng County Council in Eldoret, ODM youth leader and headmaster of Kaptebee Secondary school, CDF Treasurer Eldoret North Constituency, and another ODM activist in Turbo, respectively.

Continues tomorrow—–

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WOULD GOD BE DISAPPOINTED WERE A BLACK POPE TO EMERGE?

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY DR JOHN ESIBI
NAIROBI-KENYA
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012

With due respect to the high and mighty office of Holy Father and without prejudice; I respectfully wish to make the following observations in this regard in good faith. I note with regrets that Pope Benedict’s latest appointment of fresh Cardinals around the world, seriously pre-excludes the African continent despite that this continent is the only place in the world where Catholicism is growing fastest! How is this?

With these new appointments which apparently exclude Africa, Italy, currently has a slot of 30 Cardinals, making it emphatically clear that Benedict’s successor, again, most likely will emerge from there as has always been the tradition before Pope John Paul II reversed the trend during his reign. Based on this grim reality, I submit again without prejudice, that this trend does undermine the faith. Let me hasten to take you back to the scene, at which Benedict emerged the current Supreme Pontiff in 2005.

With his election as Pope Benedict XVI, when this 266th pontiff succeeded the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican City in Rome on April 19, 2005 the world was emphatically being informed that it was not yet time for an African pope. Benedict XVI, formally Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, a European of German pedigree, was preferred to the only African candidate Francis Cardinal Arinze, amid disillusionment from black world following the death of John Paul II, who passed on April 2, 2005.

Benedict was elected by majority of 78, out of 115 voting Cardinals during that controversial conclave. Africa in particular, and the black world in general was not amused, but stunned, following this development. He emerged the winner after the first three abortive rounds in which, Arinze, was the front runner, but being disqualified on whatever grounds.

The black world in particular, was utterly flabbergasted apparently, because, in the initial first three aborted votes cast, majority were in favour of Cardinal Arinze, were it only, not for prejudice which was blocking his victory. All this time, it was the “black smoke” that billowed, signifying the division.

It was when Cardinal Ratzinger’s name was fronted as a possible compromise, that it received support from 78 Cardinals, ostensibly, because he was a European. It was then only that the “white smoke” billowed signifying to the rest of the world that a new Pope had emerged.

Does it imply really, I ask, that God might have been disappointed were a black Pope to emerge in the process! In fact, the very idea of associating the “white smoke” with positive vote, whereas the “black smoke” associated with negative vote, speaks volumes about the procedure followed when electing the Pope.

It smacks of Western chauvinism all through, and through. Probably, time has come when in modern era, that the right chemicals were burnt to produce right smoke, switching from the use of so-called, “black smoke,” to “red smoke,” signifying a negative vote.

In “a civilized world” including the soccer game, it is the red card, and not the black, which signifies somewhat negative incidence. It is time the next Vatican Council considered revising this seemingly out-dated procedural requirement in electing the supreme pontiff. Reference to “black smoke” implying negative results, is offensive, if not mocking the African race. This is outright racism, I submit.

Benedict XVI Was In Favour Of ‘A Black Pope!’

Prior to his election, Benedict XVI himself, did concede that “electing an African pope would be positive sign for the whole Christendom.” Speaking prior to the elections — in his capacity as Cardinal Ratzinger, he is on record, having admitted that, “for all its condemnation of racism, the Western World still has reservations about the Third World and Africa in particular.

We do have truly great figures in Africa whom we can only but admire. They are fully up to the task just as well!” This was the public confession of the incoming Pope, and is to be appreciated.

Even in matters of faith, one needs dignity, respect, decency, fairness or justice for that matter. No any dignified race or nation around the world would tolerate being belittled or even offended while spiritually praying to God, as often is the case to the African race.

The African race has had enough humiliation, and should now say “no,” to further insults. If we believe that God created us, as human beings equally in his image, then we must stand up to humiliation of any form. Yes, we should share faith, but with dignity also.

Denial of victory for Arinze was a replica of what happened in FIFA elections in the year 2000 in Seoul, South Korea; when South Africa was unfairly denied chance to host the next World Cup soccer Extravaganza by the year 2006, prejudicially in favor of Germany again, on racial grounds! It was an ugly scene in which, Germany peeped South Africa with just a lone vote through similar intrigues.

This nasty drama ended after three rounds of abortive voting with Germany “landing the right” to host the biggest sport in world by the slimmest of margins, 12 votes to 11 votes. The one delegate that should have cast a tie, was prevailed upon (read bribed) in the last hour, only to go into hiding, to abstain from casting his vote. Not being amused, South Africa had patiently to wait for its turn to come by the year 2011!

Benedict’s election likewise, proved in particular the age-long-suspicion. That; at least psychologically and (unfortunately) also spiritually, the Western world isn’t ready yet to entertain “a black pope” in modern times unless, attitudes change. Benedict himself, admits it above, that Africa as a region, has been treated prejudicially. So what is the problem with having a successor of St. Peter, from black Africa!

Is it that black Africa as a region is less qualified to produce a pope, or just that it lacks candidate(s) for the papacy? Sub-Saharan Africa is just as prepared, if not better qualified to produce a pope, were it not for prejudice, on the part of College of Cardinals.

At the last conclave that elected Benedict XVI, Africa fronted a candidate by the name, Francis Cardinal Arinze, from Nigeria, who not only was qualified for the job, but also topped in opinion poll during the ensuing process. It was like a stolen papacy from Africa this time round, through the ballot. Were it an open popular vote, it is now generally agreed; Arinze might have won hands down.

Currently, there is one Peter Kodwo Appiah Cardinal Turkson from Ghana, waiting for his turn, should a vacancy arise in St. Peter’s seat of authority. Serving as the relator for a synod of bishops in Rome, Turkson is only heart-beat away from the papacy. Even though Francis Cardinal Arinze from Nigeria missed it by a whisker; Cardinal Turkson is ready for the contest, provided the rules and playing field are fair to all.

Turkson’s approach is simple and practical. He says, after President Barack Obama made history by becoming the first African-American to enter White House in the US in 2008, it’s about time for an African to occupy St. Peter’s seat. It is not impossible, but with Benedict’s latest appointment; it puts one step back on the issue. Hence the black world now is crying foul.

The following is the Catholicism growth rate worldwide. Africa: Catholic population: 250 million. Growth rate 150%. Europe: Catholic population: 282 million. Growth rate 5%. Americas: Baptized Catholic population: 541 million. Growth rate since 1978: 45%. Asia: Catholic population: 113 million. Growth rate: 74%. Oceania: Catholic population 9 million. Growth rate: 49%.

Breakdown per individual countries with majority Catholics around the world is as follows. Nigeria’s national population: 157 million, out of which more than 30 millions are Catholic, which is about 45% being Catholic. DRC’s national population is:53 million out of which 30 million are Catholic.

This works out roughly at 58% being Catholic. Brazil, which is for all practical purposes black, has 180 million population. Of these Catholic faithful accounts for 186 million people, out of which 151.2 are Catholic (85%). Mexico’s population stands at 109.7 million, out of which 93.6 million (89%) are Catholic. Argentina has 39.1 million, out of which 36.0million (92%) are Catholic.

The United States’ population is 296 million people of which the Catholic are about 66.3 (22%). French population is 60.4 million people, of which 48 (79%) are Catholic. Spain has 41.1 million of which 38.5 (94%) are Catholic. Italy has 57.6 million of which 55.8(96%) are Catholic. Poland’s population is 38.6 people of which 36.9 (95%) are Catholic. In Asia, Philippines with national population of 81.1 million people, is the only nation with majority Catholics numbering about 66.4 (81%).

Dr. John Esibi is a journalist cum author.
E-mail: jesibi1@yahoo.com

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
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Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
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Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

Rev. Fr. John Obala Owaa appointed as the new Bishop of Ngong

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

B R E A K I N G N E W S

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Rev. Fr. John Obala Owaa as the new Bishop of Ngong. Fr Obala succeeds Bishop Cornelius Schilder who resigned. Until his new appointment Fr Obala was the Rector of St Thomas Aquinas National Seminary in Nairobi.

Previously Pope had also appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Mbatia as the new Bishop of Nyahururu. Fr. Mbatia succeeds Bishop Luigi Paiaro who has attained the retirement age. The Bishop-elect has been the Vicar General of the Diocese of Nyahururu since 2005 as well as a Parish Priest in Manunga.

Pope has also named 22 new cardinals on Friday, including Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, in a set of appointments that reflected the pope’s reliance on Italians and Vatican insiders at a time when the church’s population base has shifted to the Southern Hemisphere.

Among the 18 new cardinals under age 80 — the age group eligible to participate in choosing the next pope — seven are Italians and only two came from dioceses in developing countries: India and Brazil (another came from Hong Kong).

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P O Box 14877
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NEW BOOK REVEALS HOW FATHER KAISER’S SUPERIORS WANTED HIM LEAVE KENYA

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012

The new book by Christopher Goffard: ‘You Will See Fire’ describes how American Mill Hill Father John Kaiser was a disturbed man after one of his catechists, Lucas, handed him a hand-delivered letter all the way from Nairobi, a summon letter from an authority he could not refuse—Giovanni Tonucci, the papal nuncio, the Pope’s representative in Kenya.

When Francis Kantai, one of his catechists—a young Masai he had enlisted as a helper and a cultural bridge to the local people—would describe the priest’s sudden unease as he opened the letter. What is it, Father? What does it say? As Kantai recalled, Fr Kaiser gave a curt reply—I don’t give a damn—and took the letter down the hall to his room and closed the door.

Tonucci summoned him to report to him immediately since the matter was apparently urgent, though unspecified. After the summons, his mood changed. He wept at Mass. He asked for prayers. He grabbed his duffel bag then climbed into his truck with his axe and his rosary beads and his Bible and his neck brace and his shotgun, disappearing down the red-dirt road on the half-day trip to Nairobi.

His bishop and regional superior was afraid that Father Kaiser could find himself into big problem if he continued naming names—a roster of the regime’s untouchable potentates, Julius Sunkuli being one of them. He was a politician prominent among the untouchables.

Despite the warning and fear Father Kaiser was never cowed-he exercised his prophetic role to name-names of corrupt and evil minded leaders. Kaiser courageously went on to do the unpardonable: He even named Moi himself. He testified for two days, sparring with government lawyers, trying to distill the dark knowledge he had absorbed.

In the eighteen months since then, he had been upping the stakes, demanding not just that Moi be prosecuted at The Hague, where he vowed to serve as a witness, but pressing for criminal charges against Sunkuli, as well.

His superiors believed the tribunal was a waste of time since he was dealing with untouchable, and for that matter Kaiser’s intention to name names was a pointless provocation to Government authorities.

It was due to his courage that even though, according Goffard any of his superiors could have ordered him out of Lolgorien, back to the States, Kaiser could refuse to adhere to the call because of his prophetic role to be the voice of the marginalized.

In recent years we have seen some priests and religious who advocate for justice and peace being ordered to leave Kenya by their superiors through the advice of the local church authorities.

Father Kaiser was not only a courageous priest-he was truly a man of God who would always want God’s will be done and not the will of his superiors. God’s will to him was to be a major voice in opposition to the Kenyan dictator Daniel Moi.

It is against the background that even though in 2000, while preparing to speak against the regime, he received a letter telling him Utaona Moto – You Will See Fire, this did not stop him from advocating justice and peace.

On August 24, 2000, the body of Fr John Anthony Kaiser was found at 6am near two acacia trees on the Naivasha-Nakuru highway. Six days later was his requiem mass at Minor Basilica presided over by Tonucci, the very man who together with his superiors wanted him to leave Kenya.

Father Kaiser’s lawyer, Charles Muthi Gathenji could not believe as he listened as the papal nuncio—the man who’d issued Kaiser’s final summons to Nairobi—stood before the crowd, extolling the American priest’s crusade for justice and declaring him a martyr to the faith. To him this was hypocrisy of the first class.

A Kenyan Mill Hill priest from Ukwala parish-Kisumu archdiocese, Fr James Juma who took the government of Moi to task over the mysterious death of Fr Kaiser was forced by his superior to leave Kenya to South Africa.

The regional superior during Kaiser and Juma who later became the bishop of Ngong was a Dutch priest, Fr Cornelius Schilder who was secretly advised to leave Kenya after it emerged that he sexually molested underage boy.

The alleged offences were committed in 1993 when he served as a priest in Ngong diocese in the outskirts of Nairobi before taking over as Bishop in November 2003. According to the Dutch media, Bishop Schilder is now living near the Dutch village of Oosterbeek.

The accuser who by then was now 32-year-old Michael ole Uka came forward in 2005 and informed the church authorities of his allegations when he suffered such severe injuries from abuse that he required urgent medical treatment. The treatment was paid for by the Mill Hill Missionaries, the congregation to which the accused priests and Dutch bishop belong. Mr Uka also received financial compensation and further aid.

Since 2009 Bishop Schilder has not been allowed to carry out the duties of a bishop and as a priest he has been placed under supervision of Mill Hill. To cover up Vatican’s official line has been that Bishop Schilder was retired on health grounds.

Fr Kaiser was born in Perham, Minnesota, USA, on November 29, 1932. In 1960 he came to Mill Hill to study theology and on July 11, 1964, he was ordained a priest at St. Louis. After his ordination Fr Kaiser was appointed to Kisii Diocese; in 1993 he was transferred to Ngong Diocese, where he remained until his death.

His superiors wanted him to leave Kenya after realising that during the last years of his life, he lived surrounded by controversy, clashing with high-level government figures over his fight for the poor. In 1998, he testified before the Akiwumi Commission and accused the government of Moi of atrocities against the population.

Christopher Goffard is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and the author of a novel, “Snitch Jacket.” The title of his new nonfiction book, “You Will See Fire,” is taken from one of the many threats that Kaiser received, a warning whose seriousness Kaiser never doubted.

Goffard skillfully assembles the details of his life and death, counterpointing these narrative strands with the story of Charles Mbuthi Gathenji, a Kenyan attorney who was determined to discover the truth about the case.

Goffard describes in the book how Kaiser spent hours in his room, reading, poring over documents, making notes in his journal. For some time, he’d been anticipating his violent death, warning friends and family in the States to expect it.

“Goffard writes. Kaiser had grown up on a farm in backwoods Minnesota. He’d learned to hunt and had spent three years in the Army, serving as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, before he decided to become a priest and enrolled in Jesuit missionary school.

Kaiser wanted adventure and headed to Africa, where the work exhilarated him. He undertook herculean building projects as well as baptisms and sick calls. He traversed the countryside on his Honda motorcycle.

“He took confession in the shade of eucalyptus trees and threw up churches across the countryside, quick, crude structures of red earth and river-bottom sand,” Goffard notes.

A crack shot, Kaiser hunted for meat that he distributed to his parishioners. “He earned a nickname, ‘Kifiaru wa Maskini’: Rhino for the Poor.”

During Moi regime corruption became endemic, likewise torture, conveniently timed car crashes that wiped out opponents, and bungled robberies in which everybody, including the apparent criminal and the apparent victim, conveniently lost their lives. Moi kept a million dead Kenyans on the electoral rolls, ensuring that democracy tilted his way.

Kaiser witnessed land grabs, murder, rape, horrors of a refugee camp under dictator Moi. He was against these ills of which he spoke openly even though he that might well be risking his life for his faith. But for his role as a prophet he took courage to be the voice of the victims.

Fr Kaiser went as far as defying his superiors in the church, and instead took the fight so effectively to the Moi regime that he became a threat. His superiors pressed him to leave, but the headstrong Kaiser plowed on. He was among the few courageous prophets who had dared to oppose the sinister and all-powerful Moi.

Father John Kaiser was a figure larger than life. He was fierce in his commitments, devoted to the poor and displaced, and fearless—what some would call reckless—in the pursuit of justice.

To unearth the truth, the Government of Moi invited Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) detectives from Washington. They were led by Mr Thomas Carey. After extensive investigations, they concluded that the Mill Hill missionary had committed suicide.

One of the reasons the FBI gave in their report was that Kaiser probably decided to commit suicide instead of being forced by his superiors to leave Kenya. The initial post-mortem conducted by Kenya government concluded that Kaiser, a complicated man, committed suicide.

The post-mortem conducted by FBI also concluded that Kaiser killed himself, despite major discrepancies in the evidence. But his lawyer maintained hi investigation pointed to a potentially explosive cover-up by both the Kenyan government and the FBI.

Father John Anthony Kaiser was found dead along the Naivasha-Nakuru road, on August 24, 2000. The death raised a hue and cry among fellow clergymen and wananchi. People were saying that his head had been blown apart, that his own shotgun lay nearby.

The shotgun would stay with Fr Kaiser as he walked the grounds at night, locking the church, shuttering the windows of his home, double-checking the locks; it stayed with him as he walked down the long, shadowed hallway to his room, the last on the left.

According to Gathenji however, Kaiser’s death had the feel of a classic state-sanctioned hit, carried out by a cadre of professional assassins. It was the work of what he called “Murder, Inc.”—a vast apparatus of spies, security forces, and hit men with links to State House.

A team of FBI agents were summoned by the U.S. ambassador Johnnie Carson. The ambassador had promised the Bureau’s investigation would be an independent one. Not like a decade earlier when Moi had invited New Scotland Yard in to investigate the murder of his foreign minister, Robert Ouko, but had curtailed the probe when it pointed to members of his inner circle.

The president had used the legendary British agency as an unwitting pawn in his cover-up. The investigation had supplied the illusion of the pursuit of justice while anger abated and memories faded and witness after witness died, some of them mysteriously.

Even Gathenji thought the FBI investigation was in good hands since the Americans wouldn’t permit themselves to be Moi’s dupes, and they would raise hell if they were trifled with. So seriously was the case being treated in the United States that senators there were taking to the floor of Congress to demand justice for Kaiser.

Other reasons the FBI gave as the reason why Kaiser committed suicide was that he had a history of depression in his family that is why he could cry during mass or feel uncomfortable.

Goffard in his book however, sees Kaiser’s bipolar disorder as “a condition that informed his courage, his sense of justice, his fearlessness. I read about Lincoln and Churchill suffering from depression, and I think it gave them insight into human suffering they couldn’t have had otherwise.”

Kaiser, he says, was a devout Catholic but also “someone who was never really comfortable with authority. He had not only denounced (then President Daniel) Moi but had fought to bring rape charges against one of his top ministers…“In life, Fr Kaiser had been a troublemaker, an obstinate and single-minded man who railed against church passivity and clashed with his bishops, his missionary bosses, his fellow priests.

Four FBI agents fanned out across the country, accompanied by plain clothes men from the Kenyan police. It was to be a joint investigation. The Kenyans would translate the words of Kiswahili-speaking witnesses.

They would provide helicopters to reach remote villages. They would sit close during interviews. This presented an obvious problem- who would risk telling the Americans anything in the presence of Kenyan policemen, for decades an integral part of Moi’s apparatus of fear?

This conclusion was clearly against the ballistics evidence and also against the character of a strong man who wrote: “I want all to know that if I disappear from the scene, because the bush is vast and hyenas many that I am not planning any accident, nor, God forbid, any self-destruction”.

Yet still, when Mwai Kibaki won the election in December 2002, a new government was in place and, at the request of the Kenyan Episcopal Conference, this new government reopened the case to start fresh investigations, Kaiser’s death mysteries still persists.

The inquest begun in 2003 and many witnesses were heard: one of them was Mr Julius Sunkuli, a minister who was accused of raping two girls, Florence Mpayei and Anne Sawoyo.

At the end of the inquest, presiding magistrate, Maureen Odero, concluded that Fr Kaiser was murdered, ruling that the “Suicide Theory” was based on a pre-conceived notion, but stated that “she could not — on the basis of evidence tabled before her in the inquest — point out with certainty who the priest’s killers were”.

“If Sunkuli wanted to eliminate a person because of these allegations, then in the court’s view, he would have targeted the girls themselves or his named political detractors and not Fr Kaiser who was not the source of the allegations.

“It is probably true that Sunkuli may have been unhappy that Fr Kaiser supported these girls but then many other people offered support to the two girls including the officials at FIDA who filed cases on behalf of the girls. Why would he target Fr Kaiser whose role in the whole thing was peripheral?” the court wondered.

“You Will See Fire: A Search for Justice in Kenya” tells the story of John Kaiser, a Minnesotan and former Marine who spent most of his life in rural Kenya as a priest. Most writers wouldn’t resist so many bridges of familiarity, but Goffard dares us to think differently.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
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Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

Kenya: THE SIXTH WEEK THAT WAS WITH FATHER OMOLO AT HOME

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
SIGAMA VILLAGE-HOMABAY COUNTY
MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2012

This week I was honoured and privileged to celebrate mass in honour of Paramount Chief and the first Luo leader, Gor Mahia Kogallo at his grave site in Sigama Village, upper Kayando Sub-location, Kanyame West location, Ndiwa District, Mirogi Catholic Church on December 31, 2011.

Born a famous Luo medicine man in 1797 at Sigama village, Gor Mahia was known to possess mystical powers. According to his grand son mwalimu Joseph Ogada, Gor was baptized Petro Gor three days prior to his death. He died on May 15, 1920 at the age of 126 years old.

To prove that Gor new about God SDA Pastor Isaac Okeyo writes in his book Adventism in Kenya (Africa Herald Publishing House- Kendu-Bay 1989): “In 1912 when we took one of our teachers Mr Samuel Dola to go and teach at Kanyamwa we met a certain old man called Gor. We talked with him.

He was one of those who used magic to foretell some future events. He was sone of Ogalo. He told us that somebody would come whose name is migoyi. Migoyi is one who knows his dwath. We then taught Gor about Jesus. He told us that Jesus was the Migoyi he had informed us about. He confirmed that Jesus knew his death. Among the Luo there were those who were able to perform some magical practices.”

He gave sites where churches could be built- some of them include Rapedhi for SDA and Asumbi for Catholics. When Gor was searching for the true church to embrace he went to Asumbi where he used his magical powers to turn into anti-hills and blocked the door of the church-this according to Fr Skefas who started Asumbi told Fr Gabriel Atieno that this was to attest Gor found true church to embrace. Gor then directed his family to embrace that church. Since then the vast majority of his extended families are Catholics.

Gor had mystical powers which enabled him to change from any form- a bull, old mama, tree, wild animal etc. If he were to be approached by enemies bees would come from nowhere for his defense—during the mass a miracle happened- at his grave site there were swamp of bees-but this time they were very friendly to us-it means that he appreciated the holy mass.

There is a mausoleum proposed to be erected at his grave site at a cost of about Ksh 5 million- it will include hall, office, store, and a wall mat containing his brief life history. Mwalimu Ogada appealed to good wisher to contribute generously towards the building.

The building would also serve as a library and a research centre where some oral literature about Gor’s life would be searched and published. For example there are several elders who have a lot about Gor but are not written down.

Presently there are some tools he used such as spear, animal horns, some clothing, etc, which are just kept within the homes of his extended families. A picture taken by German colonialist is present and was shown during the mass.

Senior ex councillor Akech Chieng seconded the idea and suggested that Gor Mahia club should be involved towards the project, however according to Ker Luo Mzee Meshack Riaga let the Luo elders begin the foundation first.

Some of his sons and daughters remembered during the mass included, ex-chief Joseph Ogutu Gor, Augustinus Nyamunga Gor, ex-chief Christopher Ogada Gor, Patrick Marienyo Gor, David Nybuche Gor, Vincent Asango Gor, Daniel Aroka Gor, Silfanus Oulo Gor, Oloo Gor, ex-chief Oswago Gor, Miyoka Gor and Ologi Gor.

Daughters were mama Omusi, Otuoma, Regina Mwanda, Otete, Mapil, Leonora Ogalo, Abonyo, Katherina Ngadho, Parasia Odhuno, Esther Onyiero and Marcella Oduogi.

The mass was attended by Ker Luo (Luo President) Meshack Riaga Ogallo, Chairman Luo Council of Elders, North and Central Karachunyo Mzee Nyandiko Ongadi, Luo council of elders Secretary, Mzee Adera Osawa, Luo council of elders organising secretary, Mzee Odote Wanga, Homabay governor aspirant, Mr George Opiata Ogada, opinion leaders from Kiancha, Kabondo, Kasipul Kayambo and Senior ex-councillor Akech Chieng.

Luo elders proposed that Ruma National Park, Mirogi University and Moi Stadium in Kisumu to be named after Gor. They also proposed that Gor foundation trust is started which will serve to cater for orphan children.

Luo traditional religious leaders, Bishop Richard Opiyo of Joka Ramogi Ajwang who claims to get his inspirational powers from Gor claimed Gor told to him recently that Luo people should marry many wives like Gor-he also said wife inheritance should continue.

He claims to be having charts with Gor very frequently. He gets his information from Ramogi hills inSiaya County. Also present was Paul Ogada son to Miyoka Gor among others.

Absent was grand son, Mr Silvester Ochieng Ogutu who would have loved to be there but mysteriously disappeared. Mr Silvester Ochieng Ogutu had some magical powers which he inherited from grand father Gor-he was becoming famous and somewhat feared by some prominent Luo politicians who have been yearning to get bit of the mystical power from Gor Mhia. He disappeared around Kisumu- his wife Magdalina Nyakwaka appealed to anyone who could assist her get her husband back, alive or dead.

This is the area where Fr Gabriel Atieno who made it to priesthood in 1940, making him one of the first African priests from Western Kenya. He was ordained at Yala by bishop Stam-he hails from Mirogi Parish where he is buried.

It is also under Mirogi Catholic Church that famous Luo polygamist, Mzee Akuku Danger comes from. Ezekiah Ochuka, the mastermind of the 1982 aborted coup against President Moi studied (Mirigi High School)- he fled to Tanzania when he realised that the coup was failing but was extradited and, together with Pancras Oteyo Okumu, found guilty of treason and hanged in 1987.

Gor Mahia FC opted to steep the name ‘Mahia’ in 1980, when the club was ordered to change its name as part of the disbandment of tribal associations. Abaluhyia FC changed its name to AFC Leopards.

Historically the original club was known as Luo Union FC formed in the 1950s as the brainchild of freedom fighter Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. The club finished second in the first ever Kenyan national league held in 1963 and then won the league in 1964 with players like the legendary keeper James Sianga, Stephen Yongo, Fred Siranga, and Daniel Nicodemus “Arudhi”. In 1965 they finished second to Feisal of Mombasa on goal difference.

Luo Union FC had a major split in 1966 with another faction giving its name to Luo Sports Club (also known as Luo Stars). The split weakened the team and as a result Abaluyhia FC (now AFC Leopards) dominated the league in two years consecutively.

Some players opted to join Kisumu Hot Stars. These included William Ouma “Chege” James Sianga, Joseph Okeyo, Josphat Okello “Smart” and John Otieno “Hatari”.

The club was now unable to retain most of the good players who leave soon after their arrival in search of greener pastures or due to frustrations caused by lack of payment of allowances. Several outstanding players came and went within a year unlike in the past when players stayed on for several years thus building familiarity.

It was one of the reasons why Luo Union FC officials led by Mahallon Danga who had played for the club in the early 60s approached Minister for Economic Planning, Tom Mboya for unification intervention. The two clubs agreed to unite on February 17, 968 with a new name-Luo United FC.

The word ‘Mahia” in Luo describes wonder and mystery and that is why it steeped its name to Gor Mahia to naturally possess these mystical characteristics of the legend it was named after.

The early 1990s saw the departure or retirement of most of the players who featured in the crack squads of the 1980s. David Ochieng, Onyango Fundi, Odembo Nyangi, Ochieng Pierre and many others retired from active football. Austin Oduor and Abass Magongo left for the Middle East while others like Sammy Onyango joined other clubs.

Coach Len Julians returned briefly in 1991 and managed to steer the club to yet another League title. Among the players paraded by the club in the early 90s include goalkeeper Charles Omondi “Korea”, Jared Ochieng Achieng , Sammy Omollo, Allan Odhiambo, Paul Ochieng , Felix Otieno and Mike Otieno.

One of the clubs biggest highlights came in 1992 when they eliminated traditional giants Canon Sport if de Yaounde in the Africa Champions cup. After settling for a barren draw in Nairobi, most pundits had written them off. However they managed to force a 1-1 draw in Cameroun thanks to a stellar defensive effort by among others Otieno Zico, Paul Ochieng, Tobias Ocholla and Allan Odhiambo. This enabled the club to reach the quarter finals.

In 1994 saw a re-match with Egypt’s Zamalek who exactly 10 years earlier had eliminated them under dubious circumstances. In 1995 was a relatively successful year for the club as they won the national league title as well as regaining the Moi Golden cup in grand style. Players like Dan Ogada, Allan Odhiambo, Steve Odiaga and Tom Okaya spearheaded this campaign.

In 1996 was the most disastrous year in the club’s history. They were eliminated in the 1st round of the Africa champion’s league by Zimbabwean outfit, Dynamos, leading to the worst riots ever seen in Nairobi. In the League they finished 8th which was unprecedented in the clubs history.

In 1997, the club recovered and almost won the National League, only losing by goal difference to eventual winners, Utalii. Among the players who were instrumental in that campaign were Victor Onyango in goal, Josiah Ougo and Tillen Oguta in defence, Frazier Ochieng and Dan Ogada in midfield and Bonaventure Maruti, Steve Okumu and Steve Odiaga in attack.

In 2001, when Raj Binder Singh became the first Kenyan of Asian origin to became chairman of Gor Mahia there was a high expectations from the players that he would get sponsorship so that they could earn allowances. When this could not materialize the morale of the players went down.

Raj became the third club chairman in two years. His main brief was to secure sponsorship for the club. The sponsorship never came to fruition. This saw in 2002 the club going down as the worst in the history of the club.

However, in 2009, Gor Mahia sought to star a fresh. Coach James Sianga went about recruiting young players to build a team for the future. In came players like Ibrahim Kitawi, George Odhiambo, Duncan Owiti, Chris Wekesa amongst others.

Fr Patrick Lumumba Nyarombo of the Homa-Bay Catholic Diocese on the other hand recruited Black Berry, Otieno Fardinand, Roy Okal for Gor Mahia and Michael Boro for Thika United.

Ramogi FM senior Radio presenter, Mr Ben Oluoch Okello who was also present during the mass revives the club from failing.

Note: This is to wish all Regional News readers a blessed 2012- I am back to Nairobi tomorrow Jan 3, 2012- God bless you all.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail- ppa@africaonline.co.ke
omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

KENYA: THE FOURTH WEEK THAT WAS WITH FATHER OMOLO AT HOME

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
BONDO-SIAYA COUNTY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2011

Today is fourth and last Sunday of Advent- I celebrated two masses at Bondo Township Parish. Just as the Jews have been longing for Jesus the saviour who would get rid of corrupt and exploitive leaders, my message today as Kenyans are preparing for presidential and parliamentary elections was that Kenyans must be prepared to get rid of leaders who for many years have not only been corrupt but also exploitive.

In Bond Constituency for example, despite the fact of CDF funds which would be used to build dumps to store water, the problem of water here is pathetic-you can imagine the whole District Hospital is run without water-this is only an example of many other constituencies that many of the leaders, some of whom have been recycled years after years have never minded about their electorates.

Since I have been on my holiday at home, the fourth week now I have practically travelled far and wide in Luo Nyanza and interacted with opinion leaders about the politics, what many have been tired of is the tradition where a leader is pointed for them.

If he is a leader from Bondo, Gem, Mbita, Ugenya, Muhoroni,-name them, they must be recycled despite the fact that people are tired with them. The vast majority in Luo Nyanza want such type of politics be buried once and for all.

Another concern I learnt from people, is that it was time for Luo people to accept other leaders from different parties other than ODM. It makes Luo people to look a fool, for example to stone former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Raphael Tuju simply because he is of a different party and that he is challenging Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the president.

In 2007 Tuju was not only re-elected as Member of Parliament for Rarieda, but even water projects he initiated for the people in the region were destroyed, simply because he ditched PM party ODM to Kibaki’s PNU party-even the house he had built for widows were burnt.

Some historians and political experts argue that Luo people cannot allow leaders who come with strange party because Joka Omolo, Joka Owiny, Joka Okech, Joka Ojok, Jo Padhola, each had a leader whom they were to obey and follow.

All these groups came from South Sudan and settled first in Kenya at Emanyulia, where Prime Minister Raila Odinga claims his ancestral root came from. It was from here they later called themselves Abamanyulia.

PM’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga whose Kowak clan is one of largest clans in Luo land, extending to Rorya district in Mara region, northwest Tanzania claimed to have been anointed Luo leader is the reason why the Luo communities believe that if Raila does not anoint any leader, even when he was not developed minded that leader must be elected-and recycled.

The major clans of Kowak comprise of Kakibira, Kachiemo, Kotho, Kamot, Kanyaguti and Kanyagak. Other clans include the Saramba clan, the Rucho clan, and the Awuor clan. That explains why when Jaramogi passed on in 1994, there was feverish activity to succeed him and who did that is his eldest son, Assistant Finance Minister, Dr Oburu Odinga as the MP for Bondo Constituency.

That may also explain why when Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died and Michael Wamalwa Kijana succeeded him as FORD-Kenya chairman, Raila challenged him for the party leadership. The elections were marred by controversy after which Raila resigned from FORD-Kenya to join the National development Party (NDP).

It is against the background that political experts argue that when Raila Odinga first ran for president in 1997 and in a merger with KANU in 2001 and was made the minister for energy in the Moi government, he was hopeful that Moi would nominate him to be his successor and when it did not go as he thought, he turned against the Moi team to form the Rainbow Coalition that eventually became part of the winning NARC coalition.

It is also why in the NARC government when he served as the minister for roads he eventually walked out of government when President Mwai Kibaki did not keep his side of the infamous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

It is also to be noted that when multiparty politics was introduced in Kenya in 1992, Jaramogi Odinga differed with Kenneth Matiba over leadership for the original Ford party. There were outbreaks of violence, especially in Lang’ata constituency, where Raila hoped to be selected as Ford’s parliamentary candidate against intense opposition from Kimani Rugendo.

There were also several serious clashes in Kibera, the constituency’s largest shanty town. One of the clashes left an Odinga supporter dead, and during the Ford primaries, a supporter of Rugendo was stabbed to death when he tried to run off with some ballot papers.

When Ford split to Ford-Kenya and there was elections for official members, elections that Raila lost in Thika, on March 19, 1994, it resulted in violence. There are other examples. But the point is that it was time Luo people destroyed this tradition.

One fact however, remains that Raila still commands a very loyal crowd behind him. He is enjoying good support from many regions in Kenya even though he faces a hard fight in the Central region despite the fact that two of his sons have married from there.

Political experts see the move for these marriages as Raila’s strategy of an attempt to appease the Kikuyu community and their wealth in voting power. The first born Fidel Castro Odinga married Veronica Shiro Ng’ng’a ahead of 2007 presidential elections.

Raila Junior also married Yvonne Wambui Kibukosya this year prior to next year presidential elections. Yvone is the great-grand daughter to Peter Kibukosya, a patriotic Kenyan who helped in writing the national anthem.

Retired President Moi, Moi’s former aide Joshua Kulei, Attorney General Githu Muigai, Central Bank Governor Njuguna Ndungu, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, several Cabinet ministers, and MPs attended the wedding.

Another fact is that of late Raila has also come under severest criticism for having failed to recognize the existence of the Luo-Abasuba community inside Luo-Nyanza. The Abasuba are Bantus who were coined into Luo communities to make them behave as if they were Luos but not. They feel they have been marginalized.

The criticism emerged after meeting at Sindo trading center in Kaksingiri Location, Gwassi constituency within Homa-Bay County where the Suba Council of Elders led by their chairman Mzee Apollo Okeyo Omuga who said it was time Raila Odinga accepted and acknowledged- recognized the existence of the Suba community.

The Suba elders accused the Prime Minister of trying to antagonize the Suba people with the aim and objective of marginalize them and hence his distortion of the community’s history in every funeral gathering as witnessed in the recent past as reported by veteran journalist Leo Odera Omolo.

The issue here is not only the Abasuba people who feel marginalized-in fact the entire South Nyanza people feel the same, especially when Raila was being accused for having allegedly favoured his relatives and friends as well as the financial heavyweight luos in the recent cabinet appointment to the grand coalition government, leaving out South Nyanza equally attended to.

All those who have been favoured are from Siaya and Kisumu Counties respectively. They include Caroli omondi, a former banker and a lawyer- Appointed the administration permanent secretary in the office of the prime minister.

Prof Jacquiline oduol, although married to Raila Odinga’s uncle in kaka sub-clan, she hails from Siaya County. Dr Oburu Odinga, Raila’s brother also comes from Siaya, James Orengo and Phillip Onyango, all from Siaya as well as Dr Nyikal.

Although in South Nyanza Dalmas Otieno and Gerald Otieno Kajwang are full ministers whereas Orua Ojode is Assistant Minister, this according to Luo people of South Nyanza is an insult.

If it is true in what is reported in one of the gutter newspapers that Mbadi and Ojode are contemplating to join Tuju’s support for presidency then it explains well how South Nyanza leaders are fed up with Raila’s leadership.

It explains further why Ojode’s wooes is said to have culminated from his disagreement with Raila’s elder brother Dr. Oburu Oginga, the MP for Bondo, who at one time attacked Ojode publicly during a funeral gathering in Kanjita village West Karachuonyo in Rachuonyo district- South Nyanza.

It was during the burial of the late Mama Phoebe Rege, the step mother of the Karachuonyo MP Eng James Rege, when Oburu from the blue moon burst into scathing criticism of Ojode before a large crowd of mourners who also included his brother Raila who did not utter a word.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail- ppa@africaonline.co.ke
omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

THE THIRD WEEK THAT WAS WITH FATHER OMOLO AT HOME

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
BONDO-SIAYA COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011

This week I will comment on the news that made the headline recently on Mr Gordon Oyoo, a polygamist from Rabuor Village, Kisumu County whose Msanda Holy Ghost Church in East Africa with its headquarters in Butere has no problem with polygamist members.

One of the reasons given is that polygamy discourages promiscuity and guards against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/Aids. Oyoo is only 54 with 15 children out of which 10 are in primary school, four in nursery, and his last-born child is yet to begin going to school.

Although the church follows African tradition where polygamy is not a sin, the Msanda Holy Ghost Church in East Africa teachings state that one can be polygamous but cannot marry additional women once you become a church elder.

According to the church’s Bishop Tom Oraga, his church allows polygamy marriages, not only because it is African tradition but because the Bible is not against polygamy, citing Paul in the Bible who even though later on was against polygamy, but had 21 wives.

Most of the men mentioned in the Bible he says had many wives, including Solomon, the son of King David and later King of Israel who had 700 wives and 300 concubines, arguing that monogamy is only Western concept.

Oyoo who is a freelance photographer at Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground is not alone. The practice of polygamy is legal in Kenya, and such unions are fully recognized by the courts under customary law.

However, the debate as to whether the civil marriage can be legalized to allow polygamy is still pending in parliament due to political and religious resistance. Re-introduced in early March 2009, “Marriage Bill 2007”, which would effectively legalize civil polygamous marriage in Kenya.

It explains why, while Kenyans were struggling to do away with colonial rule in the country, they wanted to be free from everything that was Western. Among the things they wanted to do away with was the Western concept on religion.

The first breakaway church from the colonial was Nomiya Luo church founded by John Owalo. Owalo had just left the Church of England to become a Muslim; he later left Islam to join catholic mission on his return to Nyanza from Mombasa where he was working as a house servant. It was in Nyanza that he abandoned Catholicism to found Nomiya church in 1907. Nomiya in Luo means, “I was given”.

It then followed by Dini ya Roho (Holy Ghost Church) founded in Maragoli location in October 1927 by Jakobo Buluku and Daniel Sande after they had broken away from the American friends’ mission at Kaimosi. Buluku and Sande preached against foreign religious leadership and advocated the expulsion from Kenya of the American missionaries.

The African Israel church was the third one founded in 1940 in Nyangori location near Kisumu by Kivuli. He broke away from Pentecostal assembly and preached the expulsion of foreign missionaries, advocating leadership of the church by Africa Christians.

The foruth African independent church was Dini ya Msambwa founded by Elijah Masinde- So called Dini ya Msambwa because it adapted to African tradition, cultures and customs. The kingdom of Africa he said had been ruined by the British Empire.

The British accused him of preaching politics and wanted him being arrested and charged in court of law for misleading people. The more the British stopped him from preaching the more he had many followers. His sect became so popular, spreading all over Western Province and between the Kalenjin and some parts of Uganda.

The fifth African Independent church was founded by Bildad Kaggia of Central province. Kaggia had just come from military service in Middle East and Europe in the Second World War. He founded an independent church because he was embittered by racial discrimination and inequality between Europeans and Africans in the British forces.

Kaggia claimed that the greatest bondage on Africans was the foreign religions. His aim was to liberate Africans from such bondages. He broke away from church missionary society (CMS). The church spread fast in Central Province and Ukambani.

Some Luos who were working on the sisal estates near Kandara were also converted and later spread the church in Nyanza province on their way home. It was with this in mind that some Pan Africanism charismatic leaders abandon their Christian names in 1940’s to 1960’s.Christian names were termed as Euro-Heraic.

The first Vice President of Kenya, Mzee Jaramogi Oginga Odinga had to change his Adonija Oginga name to Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga. Johnston Kenyatta to Jomo Kenyatta, Emilio Mwai to Mwai Kibaki, James Ngugi to Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Francis Kwame to Kwame Nkuruma among others.

The problem of foreign religions was not only a Kenyan problem. It was indeed entire African problem. It explains why Kabaka Mwanga II was not pleased in the manner foreign religions were brought to Africa. He saw such religions as a threat to African values and cultures.

Although polygamy is forbidden in statutory marriages, it is allowed in Muslim and customary marriages, as such according to Muslims God does not condemn polygamy, never calls polygamy adultery, wickedness or a fleshly perversion.

It is against the background that Catholic Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania),

Polycarp Pengo argues that celibacy in the form demanded of the Roman Catholic priest, namely, a life-long abstinence from marriage, is probably foreign to all human cultures.

It explains why from the social point of view, priestly celibacy seems to find even less backing from the surrounding human cultures. That is why in realizing that celibacy is unnatural to African culture, advocates of inculturation are proposing total elimination of priestly celibacy in the Church of Africa- introduction and acceptance of traditionally accepted marriages for priests.

It explains further, why in African culture, priestly celibacy considered from the religious point of view presents a theological problem just opposite to that of the Manicheans. Unlike the Manichaean dualist who wants to realize his own salvation by liberating the spirit from bodily imprisonment by abstaining from procreation, the African traditionalist in his religious faith believes that he can avoid having his life end up in a meaningless existence after his death by continuing to live in his children.

It is against the background that the African traditional believer holds that a person who dies without begetting any children has no chance for a happy meaningful life beyond the grave. Thus failure to procreate is equivalent to failure to attain salvation in the life after death. That is because humanity is through procreation.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail- ppa@africaonline.co.ke
omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

THE SECOND WEEK THAT WAS WITH FATHER OMOLO AT HOME

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
MIRUKA-NYAMIRA COUNTRY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2011

This week I was privileged to spend the night at St Joseph’ Milimani Catholic Parish, Kisumu-this is the parish that served as the headquarters for the Mill Hill Misionaries in Upper Nile and Kavirondo.

The first bishop was Dr Henry Hanlon-Vicar Apostolic of the Upper Nile (7 January 1862-18 August 1937) was an English Roman Catholic bishop, belonging to the order of the Mill Hill Missionaries.

He was ordained Priest on the 21 September 1889 for the Mill Hill Missionaries and travelled to Northern India, where he served until 1894 when he was recalled to Rome to be appointed the first Vicar Apostolic of Upper Nile District of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tororo in Uganda, being consecrated 17 July 1894 and taking the title of Titular Archbishop of Teos- 1895-1911.

He was followed by Bishop John Biermans- Vicar Apostolic of Upper Nile-1913-1924. He was Bishop between 1912 and 1924.Bishop John Biermans was one of the pioneer evangelists in this part of the country.

Bishop Gorgniuos Brandsma- Prefect Apostolic of Kavirondo from 1924-1936, Bishop Nicholas Stam- Vicar Apostolic of Kisumu from1936-1948, Bishop Frederick Hall- Bishop of Kisumu from 1948-1964, Bishop Jan de Reeper-Bishop of Kisumu from 1964-1976, Bishop Philip Sulumeti of Kisumu from 1976-1978 and Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth- Archbishop of Kisumu from1978 to current.

Until last year the parish was run by white Mill Hill Missionaries before it was taken over by the first African indigenous priest, Kisumu archdiocese Fr Mose Omolo, who is also the Vicar of Kisumu archdiocese. Opposite Milimani parish was the bishop’s house, now known as clergy house.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu is the Metropolitan for the Ecclesiastical province of Kisumu- in 1925.07.15 it was established as Apostolic Prefecture of Kavirondo from the Apostolic Vicariate of Upper Nile in Uganda.

In 1932.05.27 it was promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Kisumu, 1953.03.25- promoted as Diocese of Kisumu, 1990.05.21 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kisumu comprises of Suffragan diocese of Bungoma, established in April 27, 1987 from the diocese of Kakamega with Longinus Atundo as its first bishop and Bishop Norman King’oo-1998vto current.

Diocese of Eldoret, established as Apostolic Prefecture of Eldoret from the diocese of Kisumu in June 29, 1953-promoted as Diocese of Eldoret in October 13, 1959- Bishop Joseph Brendan Houlihan, Archbishop John Njenga and Bishop Cornelius Kipng’eno arap Korir since 1990 to current.

Homa Bay Diocese from the Diocese of Kisii, established in October 18, 1993 with Linus Okok Okwach as its first bishop-1993-2002- Bishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo-2003 to current, Kakamega Diocese, established in February 27, 1978- Bishop Philip Sulumeti, Kisii Diocese from the Diocese of Kisumu, established in May 21, 1960 with Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga as its first bishop followed by Bishops Tiberius Mugendi-1969-1993 joseph Mairura Okemwa, 1994 to current.

Diocese of Kitale, established in April 3, 1998 as diocese of Kitale from Diocese of, Diocese of Lodwar, established in January 11, 1968 as Apostolic Prefecture of Lodwar from the Diocese of Eldoret- January 30 1978 promoted as Diocese of Lodwar Eldoret with Maurice Anthony Crowley as its bishops to current.

Although training for priests was encountered with difficulties and hardships during this time, with many young men who aspired to become priests dismissed on petty things, among the first native priests ordained by the Mill Hills was Gabriel Atieno who made it to priesthood in 1940, making him one of the first African priests from Western Kenya. He was ordained at Yala by bishop Stam.

Among seminarians who followed thereafter were Bishop Tiberius Mongendi of Kisii Diocese, Maurice cardinal Otunga of Nairobi archdiocese and Bishop Philip Sulemeti of Kakamega.

On Thursday December 8 I attended the final profession at Lwak Mission of Sr Albertine Atieno Umaya- St Andrew Bondo Parish, Sr Ancila Akoth Abonyo- St Michael Sigomre, Sr Basillica Achieng Odette- St Joseph Nyabondo, Sr Christa Achieng Omondi-Holy Cross Ramba Sr Clarish Akatch Nyang’idi-St Sylvester Madiany, Sr Dorothy Awuor Odundo- St Sylvester Madiany, Sr Emma Karuana Njogu- St Kangaita-Muranga Diocese, Sr Francine Atieno Omollo Holy Trinity Rang’ala, Sr Melannie Atieno Omollo-St Sylvester Madiany, Sr Paula Atieno Ounga- St Paul’s Kisumu, Sr Veronica Akoth Illa-St Pau’s Homabay, and Sr Vita Achieng’ Odhiambo- Holy Trinity- Rang’ala.

On Friday December 9 I was privileged to say opening prayer for the Metropolitan see of Kisumu Catholic Choirs Association 2011 advanced music festival at St Mary’s Yala High School. Eleven choirs representing Kisumu, Eldoret, Kitale, Lodwar, and Homa-Bay.

St John Kasawai from Kitale Diocese emerged the winner followed by St Teresa’s Kibuye-Kisumu archdiocese and St Paul Cathedral position 3 from homa-Bay- Bungoma Diocese was represented in special class.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
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Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

VATICAN PROBES SEX ABUSE BY PRIESTS AS POPE PRAYS FOR EXPLOITED CHILDREN

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From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
MIRUKA-NYAMIRA COUNTY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

A probe by the Vatican into the handling of clerical child sex abuse in Ireland which will be published and not kept secret according to a senior aide to the Pope is not only going to reveal more how priests have been abusing children but also how Ireland will run short of priests since almost every priest may be found guilty of the offence.

The report of the Apostolic Visitation ordered by the Pope in 2010 is expected to be published next year February 2012 at the time the Vatican will hold an international conference of experts on sex crimes at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

The Congress “On the road to recovery and renewal” intends to help the church authorities to develop a system of guidelines for dealing with such crimes and their avoidance.

The probe will indicate that Ireland, which once exported Catholic clergy around the world, including Africa, is running out of priests. It means that the faithful will now be in deep trouble of getting priests to serve them.

The probe is announced in December when the Missionary Intention of the Pope is that children and young people may be messengers of the Gospel and that their dignity may always be respected and preserved from all violence and exploitation.

Pope’s intention is also considering millions of children throughout the world who are being bought and sold like chattel and used as sex slaves, which according to the experts is due to poverty, gender discrimination, war, organized crime, globalization, greed, traditions and beliefs, family dysfunction, and the drug trade.

The probe and Pope’s intention has been initiated at the time cases of child rights violation continue to rise along the Kenya-Tanzania border. The most common child rights violations include defilement, early marriages and sexual exploitation where underage girls are trafficked from Tanzania and rural Nyanza to work in towns as prostitutes.

A recent case in Gucha where a pastor was arrested for allegedly facilitating child trafficking has added a new dimension. The pastor who operates a church in Kenya and another branch in Tanzania was involved in the trafficking of an 11-year-old girl from Tanzania according to press report.

Investigations by The Underworld reveal the church has previously been involved in trafficking children from Tanzania to Kenya and handing them over to homes to work as house helps or farmhands.

Through church faithful, vulnerable children are identified and promised good education once they arrive in Kenya only to be handed over to families seeking house helps.

It is also at the time computer technician Ken Kes who was supposed to be repairing a laptop for a local priest as part of his work for a Catholic Diocese in Kansas City found pornographic images of young children.

By the time Kes got to a graphic photo of a little girl on a bed, exposed below the waist, his hands were shaking and he was in full panic. The laptop was for Father Shawn Ratigan, 46-year-old.

It is again at the time Brazilian prosecutors have charged a Roman Catholic priest with possession and exchange over the internet of pornographic images of mainly male adolescents in the latest such scandal to rock the Brazilian church.

Prosecutors in the north-eastern state of Alagoas early this year identified the priest as 41-year-old Benedikt Lennartz the parish priest in Craibas, 160km from the state capital. “An investigation (by federal police) of the priest’s residence revealed the existence of a computer hard drive with 1 300 photographs of explicit sex scenes or pornography involving adolescents, most of them males,” an official statement was quoted to have said.

The latest charge comes after three other Catholic clergymen in Alagoas were formally accused of paedophilia, one of them after being filmed in sexual acts with minors. The Brazilian cases were part of a larger wave of child abuse allegations that have raised questions about how the church hierarchy, including Pope Benedict XVI, has dealt with the problem of paedophile priests.

SBT television had earlier aired hidden camera footage in which father Luis Marques Barbosa, aged 82, was seen having sexual relations with a male youth.

Although Bishop Valerio Breda of Penedo, Alagoas called for “justice and reparation” if the accusations of sexual abuse were confirmed, sexual abuse among the clergy in Brazil is rampant.

According to the SBT network, the altar boy had been working for the priest for more than four years. Monsignor Luis Marques Barbosa, Raimundo Gomes, 52, and Father Edilson Duarte, 42, have been suspended by church authorities for allegedly having sexual relations with boys and young men.

Apart from the probe, the Vatican has also directed bishops around the world to develop a comprehensive guide on combating sexual harassment by next year. American Organization of survivors of the clergy has already condemned the move, because it provides no sanctions for bishops who violate their own rules.

With consistent abuse it will also mean that the Catholic Church in Ireland is coming to terms with the fact that almost no one in country wants to be a priest any more. Even though Ireland still has thousands of priests, the fact that they are ageing and many are in ill-health, is threatening the future of the Church in Ireland.

The Irish Catholic newspaper estimated in 2008 that 160 priests have died in the past year. The paper’s verdict that this is a crisis which is affecting morale around the country is readily confirmed by many clerics. The irony is that Protestant churches report no such problems.

Although vocation to priesthood in Africa is said to be booming, the continent is not also spared of the abuse according to Archbishop of Johannesburg Buti Tlhagale. He said last year that sexual abuse by Catholic priests is a scourge in Africa.

According to the bishop it simply means that the misbehavior of priests in Africa has not been exposed to the same glare of the media as in other parts of the world. Given that Africa is one of the fastest growing regions for the Church and ever more important as the number of practicing Catholics in the developed world declines, it means the faithful will suffer most if such probes are done in Africa.

The abuse has reached into the climax to the extent that Vatican and Catholic bishops in Europe and the United States will no longer protest against what they have been saying is a media campaign against the Church.

The probe will mean that all the priests would be investigated of the abuse and those having mistresses and fathering children- If found in any category of this order it will mean that the particular priest would be sacked immediately. It is believed that pedophilia of priests is closely related to their homosexuality.

The probe is also coming at the time two German lawyers have initiated charges against Pope Benedict XVI at the International Criminal Court (ICC). As one of the reasons for the charges they referred also to the “strong suspicion” that Joseph Ratzinger, as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, covered up the sexual abuse of children and youths and protected the perpetrators.

Starting in the 1990s, a series of criminal cases and Irish government enquiries established that hundreds of priests had abused thousands of children in previous decades. In many cases, the abusing priests were moved to other parishes to avoid embarrassment or a scandal, assisted by senior clergy.

By 2010 a number of in-depth judicial reports had been published, but with relatively few prosecutions. In March 2010, Pope Benedict XVI wrote a pastoral letter of apology to address all of the abuse that was carried out by Catholic clergy.

On Monday, May 31, 2010, Pope Benedict established a formal panel to investigate the sex abuse scandal, emphasizing that it could serve as a healing mechanism for the country and its Catholics.

On Wednesday, July 20, 2011, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny launched a blistering attack on the Vatican, accusing it of “dysfunction, disconnection and elitism” in its failure to tackle clerical child sex abuse.

However, the ordination of a married father of two as a priest by the Catholic Church in Germany recently after receiving an exemption to priestly celibacy from Pope Benedict XVI sheds light that very soon churches in Europe and USA will be served by married priests as one way of curbing the abuse and shortage of priests.

Harm Klueting, 61, a theologian and former Protestant pastor, will not have to adhere to the Church’s celibacy law for the duration of his marriage according to the Diocese of Cologne. Harm was a professor of theology at universities in Cologne and Switzerland and his wife served as clerics in the Lutheran church before they converted to Catholicism several years ago.

Since then, Klueting’s wife, whose name was not given, has become a nun in the Carmelite order. Klueting was ordained by Archbishop Joachim Cardinal Meisner during a private ceremony in Cologne. The case was so rare that it required the special permission of Pope Benedict XVI (Reuters).

Klueting is not the first married priest in the Catholic Church. A little known law enacted during the reign of Pope Pius XII in 1950s allows married clergy from other Christian faiths to be ordained priests. The guidelines are strict, though and each case must be approved by the pope.

Last year, a married father of four was ordained as a priest in Regensburg and married priests have also been ordained in Hamburg, according to the Associate Press.

The recent ordination of married men comes as the church is loosening its rules to make it easier for Anglicans to convert to Catholicism.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail- ppa@africaonline.co.ke
omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

VENUE OF THE INTER-DENOMINATIONAL PRAYER DAY ON 10TH DECEMBER 2011

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from AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Dear Fellow Kenyan,

Compliments of the Season.

My earlier email on the above subject matter refers and wish to
provide the following further information regarding the prayer day:

Venue: The High Commission Chancery, Kacyiru (Opposite Laico Hotel)

Start time: 2.00 pm

Date: Saturday 10th December 2011

Note: Kindly liaise with your respective representatives as indicated
below for any further clarifications and contributions towards success
of the occasion.

Carol.

—–Original Message—–
From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:10:33
Subject: WELCOME TO AN INTER-DENOMINATIONAL PRAYER DAY ON 10TH DECEMBER 2011

Dear Fellow Kenyan,

The AKR Executive Committee invites you to an Inter-denominational
Prayer day to be held on Saturday 10th December 2011. Let us all meet
and pray for our Country Kenya and for our brothers and sisters
fighting in Somalia as well as give thanks for the mercies visited on
us throughout the year and for peace and prosperity of our host
nation.

The following will help the EC coordinate:
(1) The Catholic Community – Carol Ndinya and Sam Kebongo;
(2) Pentecostals – Rebson Dzala;
(3) SDA Community – Mark Rachuonyo and Mike Mutisya;
(4) The Muslim Community -TBA.

The program is planned to start in the afternoon. I will share with
you the finer details and advise of the Venue in due course.

Further, be advised that, AKR shall not participate in this month’s
Umuganda as earlier planned. You are however encouraged to join your
local community and do the needful.

THE FAMILY THAT EATS AND PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER !

Carol.