Category Archives: Religion

BERTONE’S EXIT AND VATICAN LEAN UP SAGA

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Nyairo bw’Ondieki from Kisii Diocese has written long e-mail following my breaking news on replacement of the Italian prelate who was Pope Benedict’s righthand man in the Vatican during his scandal-dogged papacy, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Bw’Ondieki would like to know what the Institute is for Religious Works and its role in Vatican Bank and the role of Secretary of State to the Holy Father. He would also like to know whether Pope Francis will able to clean up the mess at the Vatican even after Bertone’s exit.

The Institute for the Works of Religion, in Italian: Istituto per le Opere di Religione (IOR) is another name for the Vatican Bank, a privately held institute located inside Vatican City and run by an advisory board who reports directly to a committee of cardinals and the Pope. It was founded by Pope Pius XII in June 1942.

Its role is quite complicated since its assets are not considered property of the Holy See, nor it is overseen by the Prefecture for the economic Affairs of the Holy See. Instead it is listed in the Annuario Pontificio not under “Holy See” or “Vatican City State”.

It was only after the pages on religious institutes, and cultural institutes, it was then placed with charitable foundations. Not until 2012 did the bank give a short presentation on its operations, following the final years of Benedict’s papacy which were overshadowed by scandal, most prominently the so-called “Vatileaks” affair that depicted the Vatican’s swollen bureaucracy as a hotbed of conspiracy and cronyism.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone who was appointed by Benedict in 2006 to occupy a role often described as the Vatican’s prime minister, was blamed for much of the papacy’s disfunction and poor decision-making. Benedict came under pressure from some senior clerics to fire Bertone, but refused.

Bertone has been replaced by Archbishop Pietro Parolin, a career diplomat with a reputation for competence and hard work. He is only 58, the youngest man to hold the office for decade, and his promotion makes him a very strong candidate to be the next Italian pope.

He is a well-prepared bishop with a great capacity to work. He is a very intelligent man with extensive experience in the Church’s international affairs.

During his time as apostolic nuncio to Venezuela, Archbishop Parolin was a great promoter of dialogue. He took part in the meetings between the government of Venezuela and the bishops’ conference, which were very positive for the country.

Archbishop Parolin would continue to carry out his duties in Venezuela until mid-October, when he will move to the Vatican to assume his duties from the outgoing secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

On your second question, the Secretary of State of His Holiness the Pope, commonly known as the Cardinal Secretary of State, presides over the Holy See Secretariat of State, also the Pope’s advisor. In political term, he is the deputy pope.

The office traces its origins to that of secretary intimus, created by Pope Leo X in the early 16th century to handle correspondence with the diplomatic missions of the Holy See, which were just beginning to become permanent postings instead of missions sent on particular occasions.

Historically, most of the secretaries have been Italians. Amleto Giovanni Cicognani (24 February 1883 – 17 December 1973) was an Italian Cardinal. He served as Vatican Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969, and Dean of the College of Cardinals from 1972 until his death.

Apart from Jean-Marie Villot (11 October 1905 – 9 March 1979) who was a French Cardinal who served as Archbishop of Lyon from 1965 to 1967, Prefect of the congregation for Council Congregation from 1967 to 1969, Vatican Secretary of State from 1969 to 1979, the rest were Italians.

Agostino Casaroli (24 November 1914 – 9 June 1998) was an Italian Catholic priest and diplomat for the Holy See, who became Cardinals Secretary of State later on. He was the most important figure behind the Vatican’s efforts to deal with the persecution of the Church in the nations of the Soviet bloc after the Second Vatican Council.

Angelo Sodano (born 23 November 1927) was an Italian Cardinal who has been Dean of the College of Cardinals since 2005. He was Cardinal Secretary of State from 1990 to 2006, under both popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

Outgoing Tarcisio Pietro Evasio Bertone, S.D.B. (born 2 December 1934) is an Italian. The incoming Secretary, Pietro Parolin (born 17 January 1955) is an Italian. Previously, he had served from 2002 as Undersecretary for Relations with States, the highest position in the Holy See’s diplomatic service after those of Cardinal Secretary of State and Secretary for Relations with States. On 31 August 2013 he was named Cardinal Secretary of State, effective on 15 October 2013.

On your third question whether Pope Francis will manage to clean up the mess at the Vatican even with the exit of Bertone, in my own opinion I would say yes, he will. The fact that he formed new commission of inquiry into the troubled Vatican bank is already step ahead.

He has also hired Swiss-born anti-money laundering expert Rene Bruelhart to lead the Holy See’s push for greater financial transparency.

Some of the immediate work of the new team is to look how Monsignor Nunzio Scarano withdrew more than a half-million euros in charitable donations from the bank without any flags being raised, walked out of Vatican City with the cash, and then used the money to pay off his personal mortgage. He was the Vatican’s chief accountant.

Scarano, 61, who worked at Deutsche bank before taking ecclesiastical vows, is accused of fraud, corruption, and other charges, as part of a wider investigation into the IOR Vatican Bank. His nickname in Vatican circles was reportedly ‘Don 500 Euros’

The investigation concerns transactions he made while an official at the Administration for the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, in 2009. He reportedly took 560,000 euros ($729,000) in cash out of his personal IOR bank account and carried it out of the Vatican and into Italy to help pay off a mortgage on his Salerno home.

The case of Monsignor Nunzio Scarano is just one example. Francis announced the creation of a commission of inquiry to look into the IOR’s activities and legal status “to allow for a better harmonization with the universal mission of the Apostolic See.

The fact that it was the second time in as many weeks that Francis intervened to get information out of the IOR, a secretive institution best known for the scandals it has caused the Vatican, is a reason enough that the Pope is serious.

On June 15, he filled a key vacancy in the bank’s governing structure, tapping a trusted prelate to be his eyes inside the bank. He named five people to the commission, including two Americans: Monsignor Peter Wells, a top official in the Vatican secretariat of state, and Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard law professor, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and current president of a pontifical academy.

Francis opted to appoint an American because American cardinals were among the most vocal in demanding a wholesale reform of the Vatican bureaucracy and the Vatican bank.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

KENYA: NEWS MAKING HEADLINES

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

There are three news making headlines today. One is terrible road accident which took place yesterday night at Ntulele, Narok. This was one of the most disturbing accidents in Kenyan history. About 41 people were killed and several others injured. One family lost 4 sisters. Among the dead were 4 children.

Traffic Police Commandant Samuel Kimaru said the City to City Bus that caused accident was heading to Homa Bay overloaded and did not even have Transport Licensing Board (TLB), a license that allows public vehicles to operate. The Bus is meant to carry 57 passengers but it was carrying 70 at the time of accident.

Second news making headline is about Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejecting Deputy President William Ruto’s request for trial breaks. The judges ruled Ruto’s trial will run daily from September 10 to October 4 and from October 14 to November 1, citing need to ensure a speedy trial.

The three-judge bench led by Chile Eboe-Osuji will issue further sitting schedules in due course. This means the deputy president will be present at The Hague courtroom for the three weeks, with the exception of weekends when court doesn’t sit, and only have 10 days break before the second session begins. Ruto had requested two weeks on and two weeks off in the application that the judges rejected.

Rejection comes shortly Ruto had made a public statement that ICC case against him is to collapse. Ruto made this scathing statement during his three-day tour of Meru, Embu and Tharaka-Nithi counties on Sunday.

Ruto expressed optimism that he would overcome the forthcoming trials at the International Criminal Court, saying his team was secretly working on a strategy which would deal a blow to the ICC prosecutors when the case kicks off.

My take here is that the judges might use these statements against him and jail him. President Uhuru Kenyatta and journalist Joshua arap Sang are silence on the matter and this may work on their favor for their cases acquitted.

Ruto is probably basing his conviction on Dr. Thomas Manton, a regular in making prophesies concerning Kenya who said in February prior to March 4 elections that God had told him that Uhuru Kenyatta had been chosen by God to be Kenya’s next president and Ruto to be his deputy president. This prophesies worked.

Manton also claimed that the same God of his told him that he would soon remove the ICC elephant from Uhuru and Ruto. This case Manton claimed God had told him will not be able to get it through because it is not God’s will that these men be convicted for what they actually did not institute or originate. We only wait to see whether this prophesy works this time.

The third news making headline is to do with Kethi Kilonzo’s case. She is to face charges over IEBC registration forgery. Although the IEBC tribunal also heard a complaint by the Wiper party which wanted Prof Philip Kaloki disqualified from the Makueni senatorial race on basis that he is still registered with the party, Jubilee insisted he must vie.

Rumors are going on that Charity Ngilu approached Kethi that she could vie for Makueni senator with Jubilee ticket. When she agreed she told Ngilu that she was not a registered voter but Ngilu insisted that was not a big deal. It was then that Ngilu helped her to forge the registration certificate.

It was only after Kethi changed her mind to vie on Cord ticket that Ngilu revealed that she was not registered voter. This brings us to a bigger question as to why should Kethi avoid locking horns with Charity Ngilu even though they are both Kamba?

This is because Ngilu is Uhuru’s project. Ngilu is an election loser and for good reason she had to protect her ministry job offered to her by Uhuru even when Ruto did not approve. That is why she also tried to divide Kethi’s family by trying to lure Kethi’s mother-in-law to be Uhuru’s project in Ukambani.

It means that a lot is going to be revealed when the forgery case kicks off. Ngilu is to be one of the witnesses and I tell you this is going to be one of the enjoyable cases to watch. No matter how Jubilee will try to cover up Ngilu truth will definitely come.

I wish Kethi the best of luck-take courage mom!

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

THE BIG DEBATE ON ANGLIACN PASTORS BECOMING CATHOLIC PRIESTS

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

One of our Dispatch News readers would like to know whether it is in order for an Anglican Rev. Jurgen Liias to cross to Catholicism and become a priest. He would also want me to comment on pastors who pray for money and what the government can do about it.

The answer to the first question is yes. In January 2012, Pope Benedict XVI created an ordinariate for North America as a way to welcome former Anglicans, their priests, and their parishes into communion with the Catholic Church.

The Rev. Jurgen Liias, who led Christ Church in Hamilton for 14 years before forming a breakaway Episcopal church in Danvers applied to the Vatican to be ordained into a new U.S. ordinariate.

Pope John Paul II also extended to Anglicans, including married priests, the opportunity to become Catholic in 1980. During the next 30 years, 100 or so Anglican priests entered the Catholic Church and were incorporated into local dioceses.

Liias, 65, is among the first wave of Episcopal priests who have responded to Pope Benedict’s invitation to join the Catholic Church through the ordinariate, which is designed to allow Anglicans to become Catholic while retaining elements of their Anglican heritage. Church officials describe an ordinariate as a parish without geographic boundaries.

Liias is married with two grown children and two grandchildren. Priests who join the ordinariate are allowed to remain married but must submit a written letter of support from their wives in their applications for ordination.

Liias’ wife, Gloria, a member of Christ the Redeemer, is not converting but is supportive of his decision. They have been married for 43 years.

On the second question, pastors who demand money before performing miracles for people in need-Watch Video: Pastor Caught Taking Cash For ‘instant miracles’ are taking the disparate situations of people who need help. Because they need help disparately, these pastors will make sure to use this opportunity to demand for money.

They will do all the type of drama to convince people they can perform miracles. The best example was in 2011 where a pastor paraded a semi-nude boy on TV announcing his HIV positive status before the congregation and programme viewers.

Dr Prophet Victor Kanyari made the young boy walk through a large congregation gathered for a church service/crusade while the boy was only dressed in long pants.

The frail looking boy was then left at the front of the church on full display after he was stripped down to a pair of shorts he was wearing under his long pants as he looked nervously on.

After Pastor Kanyari revealed the boy’s HIV positive status and exposed the boy’s frail body as “evidence”, the pastor proceeded to ask for a MPESA seed of Ksh310 to pray for the boy to be healed.

A cross-section of Kenyans cried foul after watching the programme and blasted Pastor Kanyaru and KISS TV for the programme. Many accused the pastor of child exploitation and endangerment.

In another incident six people with HIV stopped taking their medication and died after churches claimed God could cure them. Undercover reporters who posed as worshippers infected with HIV in south London were told that pastors could heal them.

In 2006 a Kenyan UK self-styled evangelical archbishop Gilbert Deya made the headline news. He claimed he could deliver “miracle babies” to infertile women in Kenya and Britain. He was later to be extradited to Kenya to face accusations of child abduction.

This could not happen because former Prime Minister Raila Odinga defended his miracle ministries, saying Bishop Deya was innocent. His wife had already been charged in court over related allegations over what was termed as the miracle baby scandal.

Mary Deya was sentenced to three years in prison over the theft of a child at Kenyatta National Hospital. She was to serve another two years on each of the two counts of giving false information.

Kibera senior principal magistrate Grace Nzioka said she was satisfied that the wife of Bishop Deya stole the child and gave false information that she had given birth.

The court heard that Ms Deya stole the baby boy from Kenyatta National Hospital on September 10, 2005.

Deya’s removal from Britain would mark the end of an extraordinary and long-running saga which saw him repeatedly claim in front of a devoted congregation and a sceptical media that he had helped give “miracle babies” to women who had been told they could not have children.

Guilty or not Guilty, Deya is perhaps the most controversial preacher in Kenya’s history ever since scores of children were found in his Nairobi home only for them to be traced from different parts of the country where they had been allegedly abducted from.

In a similar story, a video had been leaked of a couple of inglorious Nigerian pastor having sex with a woman who had issues with childbirth in a secret place! In the video as she was being slept with, you would hear her saying the prayers in the delta state language after the evil pastors: “Power, Enter, Claiming her spiritual pregnancy!

Similarly, in 2011 a Nigerian pastor promised to find husbands for women through prayers for money. Pastor Chris Ojigbani immediately blamed the press for misreporting his previous find-a-husband day of prayer which took place at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi last year. Each woman was required to pay Ksh 10,000 for prayer.

Pastor Chris Ojigbani came to Kenya in September 2010, when he was commonly known as the ‘Apostle of marriage’. Thousands of women flocked the KICC to get a glimpse of the pastor. Some of course wanted a taste of the promised blessings; ‘marriage proposal after proposal.’ None of the woman got a husband.

One year later, he was back, with a message to the singles. He had the ‘right knowledge for singles’. This was the year as he said the media attacked him with the ‘wrong publicity’ saw he could not make good harvest as the first prayer.

Two weeks a go 2 people died at Prophet Dr Edward David Owuor’s crusade healing prayers in Nakuru. Although Owuor agrees there is no conventional cure for HIV/Aids, but has been preaching to all and sundry that, through a series of amens and intercessory grunts, he can cure the disease.

Pastors are to target people with Aids because this is real business. In Kenya an estimated 2.3 million people out of a population of 40 million are infected with HIV – the virus which leads to Aids.

The vast majority of these cannot afford the drugs which help prolong the lives of many sufferers. In Nairobi there are many fake pastors who claim they can cure Aids through the power of prayer for some fee.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

BISHOP OBALLA’S MESSAGE TO THE YOUTH ON MORAL VALUES

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Bishop John Oballa Owaa of Ngong Catholic Diocese yesterday told youth to keep to moral values and self-discipline. He said if youth are not careful they can be mislead by mass media, especially mobile phones which is easily accessible to children.

Bishop Obala said this during his homily at St Thomas Catholic Church, Magadi Soda, Kajiado County. He came to confer the sacrament of confirmation to about 71 confirmands.

Moral values and self-discipline he said are slowly diminishing over the years, as most of the younger generation are gradually disregarding these ethics. People who do not have base values he said are not even able to feel good about doing something right, that explains why the statistics of abortion among teenagers in Kenya is worrying.

Since children and adolescents are constantly watching those around them, especially the adults who are most present and significant in their lives, bishop Oballa said it is, therefore, extremely important for parents to model the kind of actions they want youth to engage in.

Because children observe and imitate the behavior of adults, adults must be sure to demonstrate consistently appropriate behavior at all times. Parents should guide their children how to get rid of negative media which can ruin their moral values, especially pornography.

Because generations of young people today have grown up with computers, the internet, email, chat rooms, social media, cell phones, etc, children are encountering pornography at younger ages and more teens are becoming addicted to it.

The average age when a child first encounters hard-core pornography today is 11. Their use of the internet, email, texting, social media websites, video games, and chat rooms make them more vulnerable to exposure to pornography and to sexual predators.

Exposure to pornography can affect a child’s psychosexual and spiritual development. This is because they are introduced to a world they are unable to understand. That is why for example, for boys the message is that “girls are to be used for men’s sexual pleasure.

When it comes to abortion, young girls in Kenya were more afraid of carrying a pregnancy to term than contracting sexually transmitted infections like HIV/Aids. They with pregnancy, most people disown you including parents and it is seen as shameful.

The main determining factor for termination of pregnancy amongst these women appeared to be the fact that it was unwanted and/or unplanned, either because of inappropriate timing, the type of man responsible, the relationship itself and the social and economic implications thereof.

As a result, at least 2,600 Kenyan women die in public hospitals each year after having botched backstreet abortions. Many more die at home without seeking medical care. This is despite the fact that Kenya is a deeply religious Christian country where the church is vocal in its condemnation of abortion.

Basing his homily on the first reading from Isaiah 66:18-21: “They shall bring all your kindred from all the nations as an offering to the Lord”, the bishop said we must co-exist as one family of God. He said we should not allow politicians to divide Kenyans along tribal lines.

“It did not matter whether you are a Luo, Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Kisii, Kamba, etc, what matters is that we are Kenyans, and above all children of God”, bishop said amid cheers from the crowd.

And on the second reading from Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13, the bishop said that as Christians we should endure trials. He said nothing should separate us from God, whether hunger, poverty, unemployment, etc.

“God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed”.

On the Gospel taken from Luke 13:22-30 -the bishop said since salvation is a process, no one can claim that he/she is saved. Giving the reason why God created us, “to know him, serve and live with him for ever in eternal life”, the bishop said we must works hard towards our salvation.

“Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

Kenya: Kimisho visits The Communication Centre

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From: odhiambo okecth

23rd August 2013

Dear Members, Friends and Partners,

Today at 11.00am, we paid a Courtesy Call at The Communication Centre where we were received by Ms Faridah Karoney- the Editorial Director- Royal Media Services Ltd and taken round by Ms Winnie Kungania- Head of Radio Muuga.

Our Treasurer Mr. Fred Banja and I had gone to The Royal Media Services Ltd to appreciate and acknowledge The Media House for her outstanding, educative, innovative and transformative ways of News Anchoring and Journalism.

[image]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cw_C1HZ3du0/UhhtlAUNEAI/AAAAAAAADrM/qrwjqD8RGlg/s1600/PICT0179.JPG

Odhiambo T Oketch presenting a Cerificate and Letter of Appreciation to Ms Winnie Kungania for The Royal Media Services Ltd. Mr. Ben Oluoch Okello and Mr. Fred Banja look on

All the Stations run by the Royal Media Services Ltd have maintained decent levels of civility and decorum and are a joy to Family Listening. You will never be ashamed listening to their programmes even in the company of your Mother-in-Law.

Secondly, The Royal Media Services Ltd, especially The Power Breakfast Show and Radio Ramogi have hosted Odhiambo T Oketch several times on topical issues that have impacted very positively with many Kenyans and it is out of such partnerships that The Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC, Kimisho Community Development Network-KCDN and Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd have been born.

We hence decided as The Kimisho Family to also show our appreciation by offering the following;

To The Royal Media Services Ltd- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring how they have maintained civility and decorum in the way their Journalists anchor their Programmes.

To The Power Breakfast Show- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring their incisive news analysis and programme hosting.

To Radio Ramogi FM- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring their incisive news analysis and programme hosting. Besides, we presented Mr. Ben Oluoch Okello with 19 Bibles in support of his weekly morning devotion. This has been really uplifting to many.

To Radio Citizen- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring their incisive news analysis and programme hosting. Mr. Lincoln Njogu has been outstanding here with his witty analysis.

To Cheche- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring their incisive news analysis and programme hosting.

To Mr. Ben Oluoch Okello- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring his morning devotion and Ramogi Baraza Talk Show which has been very informative and educative.

To Mr. Charles Odhiambo- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring his late night programme and the Talk Show which has been very informative and educative.

To Mr. Felix Oguyo- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring his witty and very informative day time programme.

To Ms Josephine Sirega- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring her witty and very informative day time programme.

To Ms Betty Oketch- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring her witty and very entertaining weekend late night drive.

To Ms Kanze Dena- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring the way they took News anchoring in Kiswahili by storm, and

To Ms Lulu Hassan- our Letter and Certificate of Appreciation in honouring the way they took News anchoring in Kiswahili by storm.

[image]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guA2RFl55dQ/UhhuuFaUV3I/AAAAAAAADrU/Vz6_mp1Axwk/s1600/PICT0180.JPG

Odhiambo T Oketch presenting Mr. Ben Oluoch Okello with a Certificate and Letter of Appreciation as Mr. Fred Banja and Ms Winnie Kungania look on.

We are One Family who believe that we can unite as a People and make it happen. At Kimisho, we will not seek what the Government can do for us. We will initiate our own process that can compliment what the Government is doing for us. And we will work closely with such Media Partners in driving our Programmes across Kenya.

The Bibles we presented to Mr Okello were graciously donated by the following Kimisho Members;

Ms Claire Obiero- Kshs 700.00,
Mr. Mourice Okwaroh Nyateng’- Kshs 1,000.00,
Mr. Isayah Odhiambo Bwana- Kshs 5,000.00,
Ms Winfred Mwajuma Ochieng’- Kshs 1,000.00,
Ms Caroline Achieng’ Juma- Kshs 1,000.00,
Mr. William Ogutu- Kshs 2,000.00,
Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch- Kshs 1,000.00,
Mr. Fred Banja- 6 Bibles,
Ms Mary Asiko- Kshs 1,000.00,
Ms Millicent Akoth Ogwel- Kshs 2,000.00.

We are still receiving more donations and we will pass all these to Radio Ramogi for their morning devotion.

It is with this in mind that we have rolled the following Programmes;

Kimisho Savings and Credit Co-operative Society Ltd- KSSL- where all Registered Members of KCDN are saving as a Family Unit. We are rolling out a process that will see us recruiting a General Manager for this Unit in September 2013. We will invite for Qualified Personnel at the right time.

Kimisho Table Banking Units- KTBU- We have set aside funds for this Initiative and Kimisho Members are encouraged to form themselves into Units of 9 Members and below with a Unit Team Leader for effective management of this Initiative.

Kimisho Investment Club-KIC- This is an Exclusive Club of Kimisho Members who want to invest. I am happy 24 Members have so far Registered with us and Membership is strictly regulated with Terms and Conditions.

All these Initiatives have been duly Registered with the relevant Government Agencies.

[image]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiUkLdPKA44/UhhyHkNf_uI/AAAAAAAADrg/hwc0-906pV8/s1600/PICT0181.JPG

Odhiambo T Oketch presenting the 19 Bibles and Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Ben Oluoch Okello as Fred and Winnie look on.

In partnership with Radio Ramogi Sports Desk, we have also launched Operation Gor Win League 2013. Gor Mahia last won the Kenya Premier League in 1995 and this time around, they are sitting pretty well, and the players need our support and motivation.

We want to support and appreciate our Players as a Family Unit. This year we are supporting Gor Mahia. Next year, we will support another Team, because, we want to invite all of us to love sports and discourage violence during our games. We will be sensitizing our Members and the Football Fans to be good ambassadors of this beautiful game.

Operation Gor Win League 2013 is an open invitation to all lovers of sports regardless of any form of partisanship. We want to appreciate the following for their generous donations so far;

Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd- Kshs 50,000.00,
Radio Ramogi Sports Desk- Kshs 10,000.00,
Mr. Tom Kodiko- Kshs 10,000.00 and Goods and Materials for the Club,
Mr. Ogalo Jakatolo- Kshs 2,000.00,
Juliet Bimo- Kshs 50,000.00,
Eng James Onyango- Kshs 10,000.00.

[image]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz3Fm7WzOMA/Uhh2nv3H7WI/AAAAAAAADrs/gNQ6C0RXbRE/s1600/PICT0184.JPG

Odhiambo T Oketch presenting a Certificate and Letter of Appreciation to Mr. Robert Karanja- News Director TV at The Royal Media Services as Mr. Willis Raburu and Mr. fred Banja look on

We want to wish Gor Mahia a fruitful outing as they face our Brothers from the AFC Camp in the Mashemeji Durby at Moi International Sports Centre tomorrow. And we want to invite the Fans to Unite as One Family as we watch the best Team win. Let there be NO Violence.

We are now set and on the 31st August 2013, we are starting our Massive Recruitment and Sensitization Programmes across Kenya in the following manner;

31st August at 10am- Garden Square in Nairobi,
2nd September at 9.00am- Zion Temple in Busia,
2nd September at 2.00pm- ACK Cathedral in Siaya,
3rd September at 9.00am- ACK Cathedral in Bondo,
3rd September at 2.00pm- Kisumu Sports Ground in Kisumu,
4th September at 9.00am- Homa Bay,
4th September at 2.00pm- Migori,
4th September at 4.00pm- Muhuru Bay,
7th September at 10.00am- Egerton University Campus- Mombasa,
28th September at 10.00am- Kimisho Investment Club Meeting at Majiwa in Bondo

If you like what we are doing, you are hereby invited to join us by simply Registering at Kshs 500.00 through our KCB Mpesa Pay Bill Number 522522 to our Account 114 2400 913. Monthly Subscription is at a Monthly minimum of Kshs 200.00 and the maximum of what you can afford. Then, all our Registered Members are asked to make a mandatory Monthly Contribution of Kshs 20.00 to support our office, logistics and administration.

The Treasurer will acknowledge all payments and issue receipts for the same.

Let us all join hands and resources in this Journey of Hope across Kenya.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Team Leader/Secretary/ Executive Director,
KCDN, KSSL, KIC,
PO Box 47890-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel; +254 724 365 557,
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
Mailing List; friendsofkcdn@yahoogroups.com friendsofnyanza@yahoogroups.com

————
From: Stephen Machua
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 5:26 PM
Subject: Kimisho is now set, ready and able

Congratulations Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd,

I reaffirm my commitment towards growth and prosperity of this Sacco.

Together we can do more.

Regards,

Stephen Machua
Management Committee Member
Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd
www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmachua

————
On Tue, 8/6/13, odhiambo okecth wrote:

Subject: Kimisho is now set, ready and able
Date: Tuesday, August 6, 2013, 6:11 PM

Dear Friends,

Kimisho Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd- KSSL was formerly and legally constituted today during our 1st Annual General Meeting hosted at the YMCA State House Road in Nairobi and attended by almost 100 Registered Members from across Kenya.Loud and Clear

The Elections of the Management Committee was conducted by Mr. Paul Kibugi- a Co-operative Officer representing The Commissioner of Co-operatives Development.

Our Guest of Honour was Mr. George Ototo- Managing Director for KUSCO.During the Elections, the following Members were elected to the following offices;

Chair- Mr. Dismus Omondi Obondo- proposed and seconded by Mr. Philemon Ouma and Ms Everlyn Akumu. Vice Chair- Ms Merab Adongo Akuom- proposed and seconded by Ms Phoebe Adhiambo and Ms Julia Onyango.Secretary- Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch- proposed and seconded by Ms Claire Obiero and Mr. John Otieno. Treasurer- Mr. Fredrick Omondi Banja- proposed and seconded by Ms Christine Mogalo and Mr. Kenneth Opondo. Committee Member- Mr. Stephen Obala Otieno- proposed and seconded by Mr. Atito Milton and Ms Christine Orata.Committee Member- Ms Rose Mboya Dwalo- proposed and seconded by Mr. Henry Omondi and Ms Lilian Akoth.Committee Member- Mr. Joel Akama- proposed and seconded by Ms Judith Ombok and Mr. Henry Omondi.

Committee Member- Mr Stephen Machua- proposed and seconded by Ms Everlyn Akumu and Ms Emily Odhiambo.

Committee Member- Ms Christine Mogalo- proposed and seconded by Mr. William Ogutu and Mr. Nicodemus Wangla.Mr. Paul Kibugi- Co-operative Development Officer hands over the Certificate of Registration of Kimisho to Mr. Dismus Omondi Obondo- Chairman Management Committee KSSL. Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch and Mr. George Ototo- partially hidden, witnessed flanked the presentation.

The Supervisory Committee will be composed of the following Members;

Chair- Ms Lillian Mola Nyawir, Secretary; Mr. Victor Onyango Kasera, and Member; Mr. William Ogutu

Mr. George Ototo addressing Kimisho Members. With him L-R are Odhiambo T Oketch, Mr. Paul Kibugi and Mr. Dismus Obondo We also unveiled our Board of Directors for Kimisho Community Development Network- KCDN and the following Members will serve as Board Members for the next 3 Years;

The Rt Rev Johannes Angela- Bishop of the ACK Diocese of Bondo- ChairMs Janet Winnie Ogot- MemberMs Mary Akello Omollo- MemberMr. Fredrick Omondi Banja- MemberMs Judith Anyango Ombok- MemberMr. Dismus Omondi Obondo- MemberMr. Elijah Agevi- MemberMs Claire Obiero- MemberMr. Isayah Odhiambo Bwana- MemberMr. Odhiambo T Oketch- Secretary

The Kimisho Management Committee joins in a Group Photo with Mr. George Ototo and Mr. Paul Kibugi immediately after the Elections.

We also have a Team of Strategic Partners whom we will be consulting with from time to time as we walk in this Journey of Hope across Kenya.In the US, Kimisho will be headed by Mr. Joe Omanya while Mr. Dickson Aduong’a will head our UK Team.

We are now set and ready to roll. Membership Registration to Kimisho is now Kshs 500.00 payable through our KCB Mpesa Pay Bill Number 522522 to our Account Number 114 2400 913, or through our Treasurer Mr. Fred Banja.Kimisho Team Members in a Group Photo after the AGMI want to sincerely salute Mr. George Ototo for gracing our 1st AGM and for offering to present us with a Register for Members- which I will pick tomorrow from his office, and for inviting 2 Kimisho Members- one from the Board and the other from the Management Committee for a Training Programme on Sacco Management, besides really motivating us into action. I want to sincerely thank the Ministry of Co-operatives Development and the office of the Commissioner for Co-operatives Development for their guidance and support so far. We are going to walk in this Journey of Hope across Kenya together as a Team.The Kimisho Family is growing

Lastly, I want to sincerely salute the following Friends, Members and Partners for the support they gave to us towards hosting our 1st AGM;

Mr. Alfayo Ondego- Kshs 1,000.00,
Mr. Dismus Omondi Obondo- Kshs 2,000.00,
Mr. Steven Obala Otieno- Kshs 2,000.00,
Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch- Kshs 2,000.00,
Ms Merab Akuon- Kshs 2,000.00
The Rt Rev Bishop Johannes Angela- Kshs 2,000.00,
Ms Mary Asiko- Kshs 2,000.00,
Mr. Jairus Gilbert Omondi- Kshs 3,000.00,
Mr. Isayah Odhiambo Bwana- Kshs 10,000.00,
Ms Everlyne Akumu- Kshs 2,000.00,
Mr. Fredrick Omondi Banja- Kshs 5,000.00,
Mr. Tubmun Otieno- Kshs 3,000.00.
Mr. Joel Akama- Kshs 1,500.00,
Dr Abraham Korir- Kshs 2,500.00,
Ms Claire Omollo- Kshs 2,000.00,
Ms Judith Anyango Ombok- Kshs 2,000.00.

Let us now roll out across Kenya.May the good Lord Bless and Support Kimisho in this Journey of Hope across Kenya.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
The Team Leader/Executive Director,
KCDN, KSSL, KIC,
PO Box 47890-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel; +254 724 365 557,
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
Mailing List; friendsofkcdn@yahoogroups.com friendsofnyanza@yahoogroups.com

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Thanks for Supporting the National Youth Sector Alliance
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IS MEDIA TO BLAME FOR DECLINE OF VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD?

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Following my Molo workshop take-3 dispatch one of the readers writes: “Father Beste your Molo workshop was indeed inspiring- I was touched by your take-3 dispatch how some propagandists use social media to tarnish the faith of the young.

It is not only Facebook father but media in general. In February I was in one of the parishes talking to youth and when I asked them why many young people are not pursuing vocation to priesthood and religious life as used to be before. One of them told me is because of sex abuse of minors by clergy.

When I asked where they are getting these information one told me he had just read on the Standard about the son of late Martin Shikuku who is suing a bishop who worked in Kenya for abusing him. These are just few examples how media can ruin the youth unless we find a new way to evangelize them”.

The said newspaper was the Standard published on February 9, 2013. It exposed the story of son of late prominent politician, Martin Shikuku alleging years of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in Kenya and abroad.

According to the story, Emmanuel Shikuku, 45, has filed a case in the UK against six men who were part of the Mill Hill Missionaries order. He claims he was a victim of a series of rapes and other forms of abuse between 1978 and 1994.

One of the men he names is former bishop of the Ngong Catholic Diocese Fr Cornelius Schilder, a Dutch national stripped of his duties as a priest in 2009 for allegedly abusing a Maasai herds’ boy.

Emmanuel did not attend his father’s funeral as he was in Germany at the time pursuing his claim. After spending much of the last two decades in Europe, Emmanuel is back in the country to record a statement with police over the alleged crimes.

He has sued six Mill Hill priests — four Dutchmen and two Britons — over sex attacks that allegedly began when he was a nine-year-old altar boy in Mumias.

Speaking exclusively to The Standard on Saturday, Emmanuel described what he termed “the haunting memories of a painful childhood” he suffered as a result of the abuse.

Asked why he has decided to file a complaint after such a long time, he said “shame, guilt and a fear of not being believed” had held him back until recently. He abandoned priesthood training at St Joseph’s College in London in 1994, due to an addiction to alcohol. He says he started drinking to cope with the assaults.

Emmanuel’s claim becomes the third prominent incident of sexual abuse leveled against foreign Catholic priests in Kenya. In 2005, Moses Ole Uka from Ngong accused Fr. Schilder and other Mill Hill priests of abusing him.

In 2009, Fr Renato Sessana, famously known locally as Fr Kizito from Comboni Fathers, was accused by a group of young men of abuse. The case was later thrown out of court due to lack of evidence.

In 2011, he was once again thrust into the limelight on the same charges after one of personal assistants accused him of abusing him after lacing his food with sleeping pills. The police later released him without preferring a charge.

By the time he secured a place at St Joseph’s College in September 1993, Emmanuel said his alcohol abuse had increased to an unmanageable level. Even there, he was also allegedly abused by another priest, a staff member at the college.

While these allegations could be true, I think we should tell our young people that the sin of few priests cannot discourage them from pursuing priesthood and religious vocations. Furthermore, catholic clergy are not more likely to abuse children than other clergy or men in general.

Sexual abuse of a minor by anyone is intrinsically evil according to the moral law and a serious crime according to the civil law. No situation, no motive, or no excuse can justify it—ethically or legally—under any circumstances.

While the injury done to the victim’s spiritual well being is likely to be serious and might well be pastorally irremediable, media is to blame in a way for mainly focusing on sexual abuse by Catholic clergy to a greater extent than they focus on other perpetrators of sexual abuse, in fact a much greater percentage of sexual abuse takes place within families than by clergy of any denomination.

None of this is to suggest that the vast majority of allegations aren’t truthful. But the conclusions that are routinely drawn from revelations of sexual abuses are often wrong e.g., celibacy is the problem, or sexual-abuse rates are higher among the Catholic clergy than, say, rabbis or public-school teachers.

One thing that is often forgotten is that not every allegation is true, and a priest, like anyone else who is falsely accused, deserves the opportunity to defend himself. Indeed, canon law, as much as civil law, gives him that right.

The Catholic Church has a membership of approx 1.2 billion people world wide with about 400,000 priests. If you compare the number of priests accused of sexual abuse to the above numbers it is only a very small percentage.

Young people should therefore know that the majority of priests and religious within the Catholic Church are wonderful, loving, giving people who spend their lives caring for others.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

ILLUMINATI CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT THE POPE

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste

MOLO WORKSHOP TAKE- 3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2013

As we were discussing about the digital parenting and use of social media among the young, this issue of illuminati conspiracy theories about the pope and the Roman Catholic Church emerged.

Rose Cherono, a student from Kenyatta University expressed with concern how some enemies of the Catholic Church post in Facebook to make young people believe that Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI were members of illuminati.

Catholicism has long been the target of rumors that it is a key player in a wide-ranging conspiracy that alleges that there is a global organization of powerful elites called the Illuminati that controls world events and is working to establish a New World Order government to rule the world.

Contributing to the debate, students from Kenyatta University said that the enemies do not only target young people, they want them join their club so that they can become members of such propaganda.

Twitter, a reliable hotbed for the latest assertions by conspiracy-watchers around the world, was on fire with such rumors throughout the day on Thursday when Pope Benedict was resigning. One of the most popular tweets connecting the pope to the Illuminati came, unsurprisingly, from the popular @TheIlluminati account.

“The pope resigned because he’s joining the illuminati,” the account wrote, garnering 70 retweets within two hours of the message being posted.

The propagandists also try to identify the current pope, Francis with illuminati because of being a Jesuit. The propagandists argue that the Jesuits are in firm control of the faith and of the mind because of their underground network of Masonic Illuminati linked to Black Magic circles and all these new religious movements through people like Massimo Introvigne and the Opus Dei.

They argue that Opus Dei is the real Catholic Masonic lobby of today, working at very high levels in the Government and political parties like Alleanza Nazionale.

The Jesuit Order, the propagandists argue is now promoting a specific Rite of Freemasonry called the Rectified Scottish Rite, which is a more Christian Rite.

A variety of conspiracy theories about the Catholic Church has also gained international attention when author Dan Brown’s popular novels, including 2003 best-seller “The DaVinci Code,” discussed a number of conspiracy theories about the founding of Christianity and the history of Catholicism, including the concept that there was a fight between the shadowy Priory of Sion and Opus Dei groups over the possibility that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene.

Yet still, relativistic statements such as, “You’ve got your truth and I’ve got mine,” or “Jesus was just one of many great spiritual leaders,” are becoming accepted in our society.

Are our youth fully trained in how to respond to these challenges? How can they be fully prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within them? How better are they equipped in knowing why they believe the claims of Christianity rather than those of some other belief system?

If these problems are not addressed properly, as a result, the young are in danger of either leaving the church altogether or exploring other avenues to satisfy their spiritual appetites.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

BJPII EVANGELIZING PARISH TEAM NATIONAL WORKSHOP

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From: Ouko joachim omolo; The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
TAKE 1
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013

Blessed Pope John Paul II evangelizing parish team national workshop took place at Ukarimu Centre in Molo, Nakuru Diocese from August 15-18, 2013. I shall be releasing parts of the outcome of the workshop in takes, beginning with my presentations.

I presented 3 talks, one on transitional justice, second on challenges of new evangelization and third one on digital parenting.

Since one of the purposes of transitional justice is to hold the wrongdoers accountable, address the needs of victims and restore their dignity and end impunity, our challenge here was to find out whether the current government have the will to do this when most of the named wrongdoers are unfortunately big ‘fish’?

How can this government encourage people to trust each other, have faith in the law, remove or amend the laws that made it possible for wrongs to happen, guard the unity and stability of the country, promote reconciliation between groups, prevent return to violence or repeat of human rights violations?

Is the government willing to help people change negative attitudes to positive, beliefs, feeling and actions, build relationships between opposing sides and to ensure justice is done, accept truth about the past and offer apologies and forgiveness to Kenyan people?

TJRC recommends that the president offers a public apology for all the injustices and violations of human rights committed by successive governments within six months of the release of the report.

The report also recommends that the police, Kenya Defence Forces and the National Intelligence Service apologise together with the president for acts of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary and prolonged detention, torture and sexual violence.

The list of some key figures implicated in the report and the atrocities they committed include;-

1. President Uhuru Kenyatta – incitement during the Post election violence (PEV)

2. William Ruto Land Grabbing and PEV

3. Kalonzo Musyoka land grabbing

4. Daniel Arap Moi land grabbing, political assassinations

5. Mwai Kibaki land grabbing, political assassination and PEV

6. Elizabeth Ongoro incitement during the PEV

7. Najib Balala incitement during the PEV

8. Francis Nyenze land grabbing

9. Beth Mugo land grabbing

10. Mary Wambui incitement during PEV in Central

11. G G Kariuki Wagalla massacre

12. Joseph Nkaisery financed militia in operation Nyundo

13. Bethwel Kiplagat Wagalla massacre and land grabbing

14. William Ole Ntimama incitement to violence in Narrok Rift Valley

15. Joshua Kuttuny incitement during the PEV in Cherangany

16. Franklyne Bett incitement during the PEV

17. Sally Kosgei `Incitement

18. Henry Kosgey incitement

19. Stanly Githunguri incitement

20. Ramadhan Kajembe incitement

21. Nicholas Biwott land grabbing, political assassinations and incitement

22. Noah Wekesa incitement in Bungoma, and Trans Nzoia

23. Chris Obure incitement

24. Julius Sunkuli incitement

25. Norman Nyaga murder of the late Chrispin Ojiambo Mbai

26. Kalembe Ndile land grabbing

27. Omondi Anyanga incitement in Nyatike

28. Micah Cheserem land grabbing

29. Fred Kapondi financing SLDF militia in Mt. Elgon

30. John Serut Incitement

31. Grace Kaindi gave shoot to kill order during the PEV

32. David Mwiraria Wagalla massacre

On challenges facing new evangelization today, the challenge being, in this era of globalisation, how can one best safeguard African cultures, while integrating the best of what comes from outside the continent?

Do the people know how to choose what comes from the outside, or do they indiscriminately take everything offered by the mass media, particularly violence, consumerism and moral corruption?

How can a strong sense of family have a part in proper personal advancement when many parts of Africa still witness sexual discrimination against women, who are deprived of rights which are due to every human being, how can approach to new evangelization address this issue, especially where some societies still treat women like slaves?

How should the Gospel be proclaimed in an Africa marked by hatred, wars and injustices? How can we tackle the negative aspects of globalisation? How can the Church remain faithful to the Lord’s command and contribute to the promotion of reconciliation, peace and justice in Kenya?

On digital parenting my focus was on the ‘Y’ generation. These are children born between 1980 and 1994. They have always known cable television, cellular phones, pagers, answering machines, laptop computers and video games and technological advancements in real-time media and communication.

Our challenge was how cab we use social media, especially Facebook to evangelize the youth? This is given that this generation spend part of their times on social media. Again that this is the generation that view marriage sorely as an economic partnership, how can we help them change this attitude?

Common medical issues of this generation include pregnancy, single parents (mothers). Educating young people about the immediate and longer-term effects of their behavioural choices enables them to make responsible decisions and their ability to make informed choices, to fulfil their individual potential and contribute to economic development.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

MY HOMILY ON TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

My homily today is given at Ukarimu Centre in Molo, Nakuru Diocese to the Blessed John Paul II Parish Evangelizing Team. Next Sunday August 25, 2013 Bishop John Oballa Owaa of Ngong Catholic Diocese will come at Magadi Soda, St Thomas Catholic church for confirmation rite. It means I shall not have my homily.

The first reading of today is taken from Jer 38:4-6, 8-10. It narrates how prophet Jeremiah was maltreated and imprisoned, but being a man of God full of faith he endured suffering all his life for the sake of the true religion.

Jeremiah was called to prophetic ministry in c. 626 BC. The Lord had Jeremiah speak against false prophets. After Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would be handed over to the Babylonian army, the king’s officials, including Pashur the priest, tried to convince King Zedekiah that Jeremiah should be put to death because he was discouraging the soldiers as well as the people.

The second reading from Heb 12:1-4 and the Gospel from Lk 12:49-53 are similar. They narrate how our Lord Jesus Christ endured the cross for the sake of the joy which lay before him. Jesus came not to bring peace but to set the earth on fire.

Household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of Jesus, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Whoever acknowledges Jesus before others he will also acknowledge before his Father in heaven- But whoever disowns Jesus before others, he will disown before his Father in heaven.

He warns scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy-For they cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Jesus wants us first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish that the outside of them may be clean also.

His first condemnation is in 23:13, related to the fact that they did all they could to shut out others. False religion and pretense are always the worst enemies of the truth and are far more dangerous than immorality or indifference. As the religious leaders of the Jews, they were held guilty before God of blocking the way for others seeking to enter into the kingdom of God.

Yet, Jerusalem, which means “city of peace,” was the scene where the blood of the prophets was spilled, and stones were cast at those who brought a message of love.

Again and again, prophets had been killed and stoned, and the end was not yet.

They taught about God but did not love God. They preached God but converted people to dead religion. They taught the law but did not practice some of the most important parts of the law — justice, mercy, faithfulness to God.

They exhibited themselves as righteous on account of being scrupulous keepers of the law, but were in fact not righteous: their mask of righteousness hid a secret inner world of ungodly thoughts and feelings. They were full of wickedness.

They professed a high regard for the dead prophets of old, and claimed that they would never have persecuted and murdered prophets, when in fact they were cut from the same cloth as the persecutors and murderers: they too had murderous blood in their veins.

Jesus message was clear, that all of us are sinners. John says: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves”. One may say that “I have no sin” with reference to his standing in Christ Jesus as a forgiven sinner.

In 1 John 1:10, the apostle said: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar.” Before the all-searching God, are we without sin? If there is no sinner, no Saviour is needed. Let us not make our God a liar by our self-justification.

Those who deny the existence of sin within them are rejecting the infallible testimony of God’s Word, which says that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23; cf. Jeremiah 17:9).

By prescribing their own doctrines, traditions and creeds, the Pharisees were actually hindering others from truly accepting God’s rule in their lives. They had formulated their own standards of right and wrong.

Jesus summarizes his point thus far by saying, They will treat you this way because of my name. So he concludes that the reason they reject him is their ignorance of the One who sent me. The conflict his disciples experience is a part of something much bigger than themselves.

Even today Christians today are being persecuted for the sake of God. They are being rejected merely because they are obnoxious. Jesus gives his disciples the larger perspective, helping them understand that what they are going through is part of the world’s rejection of the Father and the Son.

Thus Jesus is giving the disciples two grounds for assurance, himself and the Scriptures. They should look to him for his example and for what he has said to them. The Scriptures in general and the Gospels in particular, continue to play such a role in the lives of faithful disciples today.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

KENYA: KISUMU PARENTS MOVED TO COURT OVER THEIR DAUGHTERS EXPULSION FROM JOEL OMINO SECONDARY SCHOOL UNDER THE GUISE OF BEING DEVIL WORSHIPERS.

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By Our Investigative Reporter

A couple whose form two daughter has been expelled at Joel Omino Secondary School which is within Kisumu East District within Kisumu County ostensibly under the recommendation of the school’s Principal’s James Aggrey Otieno wife who teaches in the same school have moved to court to compel the school to re-admit their daughter school and produce evidence in court proving that the said student (name withheld) is a devil worshipper.

Narrating the incident to “Citizen Weekly” the girls’ parents Carren Adwenya and Paul Odoyo Agutu said that the secured admission for their daughter on 8th May 2013.

Documents within our possession shows that the school was paid ksh 10,000 on 15th May 2013 with balance of kshs 14,150 to be paid on admission after an admission letter was issued on 8th May 2013 .

“We discussed with the school Principal before admission reasons why we were changing for our daughter school as she used to previously school at Asumbi Girls and the Principal advised us that since the girl could not fit in a boarding school the best was for her to be in a day school” the girl’s mother said.

The parents say that on 17th may 2013 they received a call from a Mrs Otieno who introduced herself as the teacher in charge of counseling at Joel Omino who further said that she was counseling their daughter but the daughter refused to open up.

“At that point I asked her to talk with my daughter upon whom she said that the teacher was forcing her to admit what was not true and when I spoke with the teacher she told me to go and see her in school” said Mrs Adwenya.

When they went to Joel Omino the said teacher said that she had given their daughter an opportunity to write her life history before arriving at Joel Omino Secondary School but she failed to write that she was a devil worshipper.

We got agitated and all our efforts to explain to her that our daughter is a social and kind person who is always outgoing could not bear fruit.

“Upon realizing that she was adamant and arrogant ,the father excused himself as going to the bank and I the mother remained in school , I insisted that the allegation was not fair and I insisted that my daughter to giver her version of the whole issue” the mother further said.

Her daughter said that the said Mrs.Otieno had harassed her on 8th /06/2013 before her fellow Form two class and told her that she was in Joel Omino Illegally as the said teacher is the one who determines who iks to be admitted at Joel Omino.

“Mrs.Otieno had wanted my daughter to confess that she was a devil worshipper who had gone to recruit students at Joel Omino for her cult after doing the same at Asumbi Girls where she was before “she added.

The mother says that her daughter was officially released from Asumbi Girls to pursue further treatment on tonsillitis which she had.

The mother says that all that never augur well with her (Mrs.Otieno) as she claimed that we parents were siding with girl and she advised her daughter to ignore the allegations and concentrate on her studies and she further advised that the said Mrs.Otieno to stop counseling her daughter but the teacher insisted that she was going to continue.

“All was well not until 30th May 2013 when I got communication through an sms that my daughter should stay at home till Wednesday the 5th June 2013 when we her parents accompany her to school and according to the school Principal who is the husband of the said Mrs. Otieno our daughter had disobeyed a teacher at the evening assembly and caused disturbance” the mother further said.

The father says that her daughter despite having been released from school at 7.45pm arrived home at 8;15pm weeping and upon being asked what the problem was said that Mrs.Otieno who is the wife of the school’s Principal had highlighted that her daughter was a girl with evil spirits and asked her to read the bible so that evil spirits in her could go away and students were cautioned not to associate with her.

“Surprisingly she ordered my daughter to go for prayers in her office after assembly (for divine intervention) and at school Mrs.Otieno had convinced other students to isolate her resulting to us going to school to seek audience with the school principal “the father said.

Upon entering the Principal’s office they found a visitor whom they later discovered was a District Children Officer in Kisumu East and had come to investigate the case of a child who was being accused of being a devil worshipper ands was not in school.

The father says that the children’s officer insisted that all parties to the case be called in but it took her a lot of time to convince the school Principal who only allowed the Deputy Principal ,class teacher of my daughter and Mrs.Otieno” the girl’s father added.

Details which emerged from that meeting says that the Children’s officer wanted to know why Mrs.Otieno (the Principal’s wife) was the only teacher with problems with the said student yet she was not taking her in any subject; she lamentably defended herself that she was a senior counselor in the school from whom the principal relies on for admission.

“Surprisingly the school principal told us to go back with our daughter saying her admission was cancelled as she had a trial admission which I had never heard of and my daughter was not now being accepted at Joel Omino.

The children’s officer insisted on a written letter showing whether his daughter was a student or had been sent away but the Principal was adamant she advised them that the only way forward was to move to court since basic education was a constitutional right and one of the responsibilities of school principal is enforcing the said law.

In their papers to be filed in court, they demand to know the source of power the Principal’s wife has which makes her push innocent children out of Joel Omino yet allow their own biological children to learn and teach in Joel Omino while innocent children are being denied their right to education and to give protection to her while schooling at Joel Omino.

Contacted for comment the school Principal denied the allegations saying the student had been sent home to bring the fee balance and what she never brought on her admission while referring us to the head of his wife church Dr.David Owuor in regard to his wife’s spiritual prowess.

“The County Education Officer Mrs.Beatrice Adu knows the role my wife plays in this school, so refer all such questions to her” he added.

Kisumu County Education Officer did not respond to the numerous sms we sent to her before going to the press.

BLESSED JOHN PAUL II EVANGELIZING TEAM WORKSHOP IN MOLO

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013

From Thursday August 15 to Sunday 18 I shall be with Blessed John Paul II Evangelizing Parish Team at Ukarimu Centre in Molo, Nakuru Diocese for annual national workshop.

This is the Maryknoll Fathers apostolate cordinated by Rev Fr Richard Dick Quinn. The apostolate whose main focus is evangelization with images follows the call by blessed John Paul II new evangelization.

Blessed John Paul II first used the term in 1983 in an address to Latin American Bishops. He would later bring this term to the attention of the entire Church. The term is drawn from his encyclical, Redemptoris Missio.

In section 33 of this encyclical, Blessed John Paul II describes three different situations for evangelization: mission ad gentes, Christian communities, and the new evangelization.

Mission ad gentes: Latin for “to the nations.” This is a situation where “Christ and his Gospel are not known.” Christian communities: “In these communities the Church carries out her activity and pastoral care.” This is the ongoing evangelization of those “fervent in the faith.” The key word here is fervent faith.

Pope Francis has emphasized this call in his recent encyclical, “Lumen Fidei (“The Light of Faith”) released July 5, and is the first encyclical promulgated by Pope Francis, even though much of the rough draft was prepared by Benedict XVI, who was not able to finish it before resigning from the office of Pope.

The faith he explains must not be kept to ourselves but must bring light to the building of human life, the person, the family, and the Church. This encyclical completes the series on the three great virtues: faith, hope and charity.

Pope Francis believes that the new evangelization presumes apostolic zeal. And one must go out towards those in need, to proclaim the Gospel in the suburbs. As Christians therefore, we must engage in the work of evangelization.

Pope Emeritus Benedict always emphasized the need for the new evangelization in his pontificate. In 2010 he established The Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. In 2012, he declared a Bishops’ Synod to discuss the New Evangelization.

The new evangelization in which the whole continent is engaged means that faith cannot be taken for granted, but must be explicitly proposed in all its breadth and richness.

For John Paul II, the new evangelization is the “great re-launching” of the age-old call to “preach the gospel” (1 Cor 9:16). It means that the task of new evangelization is constantly faced with the mission of presenting herself “anew” to man in every age.

To evangelize the world in its “generational evolutions” therefore, is to evangelize man where the spirit of the world is strongest. This is a news world made up of the sciences, politics, media, and culture as a whole.

At the end of all these, the new evangelization has, as its end goal, the salvation of souls. It explains why an instrumental aspect of that is to bring the culture to bear witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

For this reason, individuals are called to convert; and, as a result, cultures will be transformed in truth. The process by which this takes place is called “enculturation.” In the words of John Paul II, enculturation is “the intimate transformation of authentic cultural values through the integration in Christianity, and the insertion of Christianity in the various human cultures”.

The proclamation of Christ is at the very heart of this integration and insertion, and “is the permanent priority of mission”. In this way, the new evangelization has, as its offering to the world, a “civilization of love”, which is the fruit of the new evangelization.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

EXTRAMARITAL SEX AND INFIDELITY IN MARRIAGE

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

Last Saturday Rev Fr Augustine Achaha of the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries presided over a wedding ceremony between Emily Matunda Mwafusi and Christopher Mwakatili Chorongo, one of its kind in 3 years at St Thomas Catholic Church in Magadi Soda, Ngong Diocese.

Basing his 37 minutes homily on extramarital sex and infidelity in marriage, Father Achaha caused laughter when he asked a question on what good do men get in other women’s wives that is not in their wives.

People laughed of course, but the truth of the matter is that cases of extramarital sex and infidelity in marriage are on the rise. Here in Kenya the act is popularly known in Swahili as ‘mpango wa kando’ (extramarital sex).

This is where a married man keeps a mistress elsewhere without the knowledge of his wife. A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner but can have children that the man must take care of as his rest of the lawful children.

The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually, but not always, secret. There is an implication that a mistress may be “kept”—i.e., that the lover is paying for some of the woman’s living expenses including paying school fees for children and paying rent.

Because of its graveness this act may carry moral or religious and consequences in civil or religious law. It can lead to separation or divorce.

In Judaism the Torah prescribes the death penalty through stoning for adultery, which is defined as having sex with a woman who is married to another man. Two witnesses of good character had to testify in court for the case to be even considered by the judges.

Extramarital sex is considered to be immoral by most Christian groups, who base this primarily on passages like 1Cor 6:9-10: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor those who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Extramarital sex has historically been considered to be one of the more serious and damaging sins, possibly because of passages like 1 Corinthians 6:18 that speak of it as sinning against one’s own body.

In Islam the law prescribes severe punishments extramarital sex, by both men and women. Premarital sex could be punished by up to 100 lashes, while adultery is punishable by stoning.

There are reasons men give for cheating on their wives. They do so because they have become unsatisfied with their wives. Cheating usually occurs in the phase of companionate love, when couples begin to settle down, have kids and solidify the life being built together.

There are five categories leading to infidelity. One is opportunistic infidelity which occurs when a partner is in love and attached to a partner, but surrenders to their sexual desire for someone else. The opportunistic infidelity is driven by irrepressible lust, situational circumstances and/or opportunity, and sometimes, pure risk-taking behavior.

The second category is obligatory infidelity based on fear that refraining from someone’s sexual advances will result in rejection, and being unwilling to handle such rejection, resulting in surrender to them. Some people end up cheating solely on the need for approval from somebody, even though they still hold a strong attraction to their committed partner.

The third category is romantic infidelity which occurs when the cheater is in the process of “falling out of love” with his/her partner. The person’s self-perceived obligatory commitment to the relationship’s tenets and overall life-meaning is likely the only thing still keeping them with their partner in this example.

The fourth category is conflicted romantic infidelity which takes place when a person both falls in love with and has a strong sexual desire for multiple people at one time, even though s/he may already be committed to a partner.

In this circumstance the person feels s/he cannot tell his/her committed partner about what has happened, but is nevertheless unable to resist the compulsion.

The fifth category is commemorative infidelity which occurs when a person has completely fallen out of love with their spouse, but is still in a committed relationship with them.

If divorce results from infidelity, research suggest that the “faithful” spouse may experience feelings of low life satisfaction and self esteem; they may also engage in future relationships fearful of the same incidence occurring. Divorce is one response to marital infidelity.

The church is concerned about these issues because marriage and the family are of fundamental importance for the Church and for society.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

THE NEWS DISPATCH WITH OMOLO BESTE IN SOLIDARITY WITH MUSLIMS

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Today is a very special day for fellow Muslims across the world. They are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan. The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste is in solidarity with them.

Traditionally, the holy month of fasting ends with the sighting of the new moon.

It culminates in scenes of merriment and thanksgiving, with families and friends gathering to exchange gifts enjoy food and festively decorate their homes.

Here in Magadi Soda in Ngong Catholic Diocese there are about 30 Muslim families and children are going to be supplied with sweets and cookies. The Imam here is a young committed man from Homa Bay County. I spoke to him a while ago and told me how the day is very significant with Muslims’ faith and charity.

And in London as charity worker Abid Choudhry told the BBC, some 400 Muslim prisoners were treated to special Eid packs, supplied by the Islamic Human Rights Commission. The packs contain halal sweets, an organic tooth chew, a pocket-sized prayer book and an Eid card prisoners can send to their loved ones.

As the day being celebrated in joy, in South Sudan Yei Catholic Bishop Rt. Rev. Bishop Erkulano Lodu Tombe is howling to the government over heavy tax charges demanded from foreign priests, brothers and sisters working in the country.

AMECEA in its News Blog online quoted Bishop Lodu Tombe to have made the remarks on Sunday at Christ the King Cathedral while launching a new transmittersfor Easter Radio for live transmission of Holy Mass.

Bishop Erkulano Lodu Tombe said the tax on the expatriate is worse than what Sudan government was asking before South Sudan became independent. He said this signifies as if the government of South Sudan wants to tell them to return to their own countries of origin.

Among the missionaries who will be overburdened with the heavy tax include Father John Barth, a native of Buffalo and Maryknoll priest who for 22 years, has spent the past three years in South Sudan working and administrating skilled training for the blind. The people he helps are able to be integrated into public schools and various jobs.

Father Barth got his start and interest in missionary work at the New York State Department of Health in Albany, and later as a volunteer for two years in Tijuana, Mexico, for an organization called Los Ninos. Soon after, Father Barth wanted to do more missionary work and applied to Maryknoll. He was officially ordained in 1991.

Father Barth received his first assignment in Cambodia, and after spending 11 years there he founded Rehabilitation, an organization to train social workers to help the incurably blind, train eye doctors and eye nurses.

Now beginning his work in South Sudan, Father Barth plans to implement the same kind of training and work as he did in Cambodia. After the war, when Sudan split into two separate countries, it had peaked his interest to start work in South Sudan.

Father Barth has joined with Catholic Health Training Institute to help train registered nurses and nurse midwives in cooperation with the Ministry of Health in Juba, South Sudan. Father Barth has also been very active in skilled training for the blind, as he was in Cambodia.

There are 9 million people in South Sudan, and only two eye surgeons for the whole country. It’s not just the health care that needs help, South Sudan’s schools, agriculture and infrastructure need renovation.

Father Barth was in Buffalo for a short two weeks for a conference downstate and returned to South Sudan on June 11 to continue his work.

The day is also being celebrated at the time Syrian Catholic priest Francois Murad is killed by jihadi fighters. He was beheaded last week according to a report by Catholic Online which is linking to video purportedly showing the brutal murder.

Murad, 49, was setting up a monastery in Gassanieh, northern Syria when extremist militants trying to topple President Bashar Assad breached the monastery and grabbed Murad.

While earlier reports suggested Murad may have been shot to death, Catholic Online reported Saturday: “The Vatican is confirming the death by beheading of Franciscan Father, Francois Murad, who was martyred by Syrian jihadists on June 23.”

The Catholic news service quotes local sources who report that the radical Al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, or Al-Nusra Front, was behind the savage killing.

It quotes Custos of the Holy Land, Franciscan Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa who says, “Unfortunately Syria has now become a battleground not only between Syrian forces, but also between Arab countries and the international community. And those paying the price are the poor, the young and the Christians. That the international community must put a stop to all this”.

Vatican Radio writes, “Fr. Mourad was just one of the many men and women religious putting their faith on the front line in Syria, refusing to abandon the communities they serve, Christian and Muslim. They stay because they want to be a sign of hope, light and comfort to people in the midst of destruction.”

Meanwhile, a priest working in the devastated city of Homs in Syria has given an account of some of the horror he’s facing every day. The priest, who cannot be named, sent a report to the charity Aid to the Church in Need, which is supporting Syrians with an aid package of £25,450 (€30,000) for a center in Homs, on top of £42,450 (€50,000) given last year.

The report details the priest’s struggle to provide basic food, shelter and medicine to more than 30,000 people fleeing violence amid ongoing bomb blasts and other violence.

Tensions are also high in Egypt as Al-Qaeda leaders’ message incites violence against Christians. The message accuses Coptic Catholics of plotting the overthrow of Former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi with Americans and the Egyptian military.

According to Fides News Agency, the physician-theologian Egyptian terrorist blamed the Copts of having supported Morsi’s removal with the intent to “create a Coptic State in southern Egypt”. In past days, assaults on churches and houses of the Copts occurred throughout the Country.

Some episodes have been reported in Assiut and Sohag. But the most serious cases relate to some villages in the area around Minya. As Zenit reports, in the village of Bani Ahmed, on Saturday evening, August 3 gangs of Islamist extremists caused the flight of the entire population and the burning of at least 9 homes and 24 shops owned by Christians as well as trucks, buses and cars burned in the streets.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

told the BBC,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23589092

report
http://catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=51537

ALL OF US TO BLAME FOR TEEN PREGNANCY

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Deputy President William Ruto over the weekend on his political tour to woe electorates in Western Kenya to join and support Jubilee coalition said chiefs are to blame for teen pregnancy, threatening they would be sacked if they do not stop the vice. Ruto said chiefs know very well who impregnate these girls and yet they do not charge them.

This is to think naïve. All of us politicians, business men, members of clergy, etc are responsible for the pregnancy of these innocent tender girls. January 10, 2005 was a Monday like today when my article ran on Kenya Times.

The article depicted the drama in an Eldoret when members of the public caught a business man red-handed with a school girl in lodging preparing to have sex. This was just few of such cases that had been reported in that area.

When the 16-year old Form Two girl who admitted to have consented to sex after the business man had bought her some chapati (flat baked bread), was asked why she consented to sex when she was still a minor and at school, the answer crowned it all. We are consenting to sex because our parents cannot afford to cater for our basic needs.

The girl did not shy off to state very bravely that there were several of such business men in the area who lured schoolgirls with money. They even bought them expensive phones, paid their school fees, did for them shopping. “These guys are just good to us”, the girl expressed.

The girl who said the man who is having sex with her even when school is closed was her neighbour said he had bought an assortment of items for her to take to school. He had taken her to a supermarket in town where he did the back-to-school shopping for her before the lodging ordeal.

The girl said almost every girl in that school had an elderly man friend and her case was just very unfortunate because they were caught. The whole thing here is not just sex- it is to do with poverty.

While Ruto was putting blames on chiefs, elsewhere a doctor had been arrested for performing abortion on 17 years old girl. Again this is just few cases of abortions performed on teenagers. On Thursday, September 23, 2004 the same newspaper, Kenya Times ran my story on this ordeal.

The story was about the former Nairobi archdiocese Bishop’s secretary, Father Maloba Wesonga. He had thrown the blame on the leading Catholic leaders including President Kibaki, Leader of the Official Opposition Uhuru Kenyatta and National Assembly Speaker, Francis Ole Kaparo for failing to come forward to condemn abortion in Kenya which was on the rise that year.

A National Assessment of the Magnitude and Consequences of Unsafe Abortion in Kenya had just released its report that year that an estimated 300,000 abortions were being performed annually, 700 daily with 2,600 women dying every year from complications related to abortion.

Catholic leaders could not condemn abortion because the constitution that time did not specify when life of a person begins. That is why in 2004 Lady Justice Rawal acquitted Dr. John Nyamu on the ground that the unborn children were according to Section 214 of the penal incapable of being killed.

This was partly because prosecution had chosen to charge Dr. Nyamu for murder (S.203 of penal code) and not the procuring of abortion (158 to 160 of the penal code). That is also why the judge ignored the provisions of the criminal procedure code that required her to find the accused guilty of killing the unborn even though he had not been charged with it (181(2) of the Criminal procedure code).

Dr John Nyamu was arrested for performing abortion which included 15 foetuses found dumped in a Nairobi river. Fourteen suspects were arrested in connection with the dumping. They included 10 proprietors of various back-street clinics in Eastlands area, where the unborn babies were retrieved.

Even in Tanzania where abortion is restricted by law, there is overwhelming evidence that it is widely practised. Studies show that illegal abortion is one of the major causes of maternal mortality. A study conducted in the Southern Highlands in 1983 estimated that 17 per cent of maternal deaths were directly associated with abortion.

Even in Uganda where under the Penal Code of 15 June 1950 (sections 136-138, 205 and 217) the performance of abortions is generally prohibited, abortion is still performed. As a result, there is a high level of maternal mortality, estimated in 1990 at 1,200 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The reasons women and girls cite for choosing abortion are broadly similar throughout the world: Women may want to stop or postpone childbearing. They may have socio-economic reasons for ending pregnancy — they may not be able to afford the costs of having and raising a child, or they may want to continue pursuing their educational and career goals.

Others may choose abortion because of relationship problems or because their pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. And still others may cite age or health reasons — they feel too young or too old to have a baby or that pregnancy will affect their own or their baby’s health.

At the time Dr Nyamu was accused of performing abortion, every single day Kenyatta National Hospital received between 40 to 60 abortion cases with most of the patients being teenagers and young women barely into their twenties.

It was the same time that Legislator Adeline Mwau wanted to see abortion legalised in Kenya. She argued that there is a strong link between abortion and poverty and that is why if one cannot take care of the baby, the only alternative is to terminate it.

“Is it better to bring up a child who then becomes a street child, or to bring up seven children that one is unable to take care of?,” she was quoted by media as asking and adds that women should continue aborting as long as there is no law in Kenya that forces a man to pay for the upkeep of a child fathered out of wedlock.

Girls and young women who do not want to get pregnant have resorted in taking Morning- After Pill (MAP). MAP works by preventing ovulation or making it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall. MAP is 75-80 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.

It consists of a relatively high dose of Estrogen & Presterone and is given within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse to women who are ovulating and are near midcycle (ovulation).

Other methods to prevent pregnancies include the Abortion Pill (brand name Mifeprex) which is a form of early abortion caused by the combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

POPE FRANCIS SAYS HOMOSEXUALS SHOULD NOT BE DISCRIMINATED

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2013

One of our News Dispatch readers writes: “Father Beste homosexuality is a very sensitive and controversial issue. I read your homily on seventeenth Sunday in ordinary time you gave at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Siaya Township. Pope Francis also commented on it saying that homosexuals can and should be accepted into the Catholic Church, what is your take on this”?

Pope Francis had been asked by journalists on Monday as he returned from a triumphant weeklong visit to Brazil whether homosexuals should be discriminated against. He did not only say they should not be discriminated but also that he had no power to judge or condemn them.

He was quoted to have said: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” The pope’s comments were made during an 80-minute press conference with reporters on his flight back to Rome, his first meeting with press since he was named pontiff in March.

This was from the first reading on seventeenth Sunday in ordinary time Year C taken from Gn 18:20-32 .The reading talks of the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah as so great and grave. Verses 22-33 record Abraham pleading with the Lord to have mercy on Sodom and Gomorrah because Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family lived in Sodom. But God is so angry with the sin that He must destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

In Kenya the Daily Nation on Monday on its cartoon captured the reading portraying that sleeping with cows, chicken, or dogs is worse than homosexuality. It was referring to incidences in Kenya where some people have been caught having sex with cows, chicken and dogs.

My understanding is that pope Francis wants to pass a message that homosexuals should not be discriminated. The second message here is that all of us are sinners so it would be a big mistake to condemn the gay communities.

As Emeritus Pope Benedict in his General Audience, 19 October 2005 said in Psalm 130[129] during his evening prayer – Sunday of week fourth, “Lord if you were to mark our guilt who would survive”?-it means that all of us are sinners and we must work towards getting away from it and not to condemn.

This text is used over and over at funerals, the text is first and foremost a hymn to divine mercy and to the reconciliation between the sinner and the Lord, a God who is just but always prepared to show himself “a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, continuing his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin” (Ex 34: 6-7).

In John 8: 7 when the Pharisees kept on questioning Jesus, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone. This they said, tempting him that they might have to accuse him.

But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

Christ neither found fault with the law, nor excused the prisoner’s guilt; nor did he countenance the pretended zeal of the Pharisees. Those are self-condemned who judge others, and yet do the same thing.

Against the background that Pope Francis defended gays from discrimination. “The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this very well. It says they should not be marginalized because of this [orientation] but that they must be integrated into society,” he said.

“The problem is not having this orientation,” he added. “We must be brothers. The problem is lobbying by this orientation, or lobbies of greedy people, political lobbies, Masonic lobbies, so many lobbies. This is the worse problem.”

Francis had spent the previous week in Brazil participating in activities marking World Youth Day. His final mass Sunday — an open-air event on Copacabana Beach — was estimated to have drawn as many as 3 million people, The Times reported.

Pope Francis, in some of the most compassionate words from any pontiff on gays, said they should not be judged or marginalized and should be integrated into society, but he reaffirmed Church teaching that homosexual acts are a sin.

In a broad-ranging 80-minute conversation with journalists on the plane bringing him back from a week-long visit to Brazil, Francis also said the Roman Catholic Church’s ban on women priests was definitive, although he would like them to have more leadership roles in administration and pastoral activities.

The Church teaches that it cannot ordain women because Jesus willingly chose only men as his apostles. Advocates of a female priesthood say he was acting according to the customs of his times.

On the question whether homosexuals should be denied the holy Eucharist, it brings us yet to another questions as to under what circumstances can a Catholic priest deny someone the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist?

It can be denied under the following circumstances: 1. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist cannot be administered to members of other religions, and 2. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist cannot be administered to those who voluntarily continue to live in grave sin. The church considers homosexuals to be living in grave sin therefore should not receive communion.

This reference is found in Canon Law # 844 §§1 to 5: Canon 844 §1 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to catholic members of Christ’s faithful, who equally may lawfully receive them only from catholic ministers, except as provided in §§2, 3 and 4 of this canon and in canon 861 §2.

Canon 844 §2 Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage commends it, and provided the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, Christ’s faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a catholic minister, may lawfully receive the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

Canon 844 §3 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the eastern Churches not in full communion with the catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed.

The same applies to members of other Churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned.

Canon 844 §4 If there is a danger of death or if, in the judgment of the diocesan Bishop or of the Episcopal Conference, there is some other grave and pressing need, catholic ministers may lawfully administer these same sacraments to other Christians not in full communion with the catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who spontaneously ask for them, provided that they demonstrate the catholic faith in respect of these sacraments and are properly disposed.

Canon 844 §5 In respect of the cases dealt with in §§2, 3 and 4, the diocesan Bishop or the Episcopal Conference is not to issue general norms except after consultation with the competent authority, at least at the local level, of the non-catholic Church or community concerned.

This reference is found in Canon Law # Canon Law # 915. Canon 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion.

In the First Letter to the Corinthians, it states: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworhty manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.

Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.” [1 Cor. 11:27-9]

Catholics who live in grave sin, such as in common-law relationship, practicing homosexuals, those who have not been to Church, nor received the Sacraments for over a year, etc… are unworthy of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ because they are not in a state of grace.

But this does not mean they should be discriminated simply because they are homosexuals. They are still in image and likeness of God and through His mercy they can be saved.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

Gn 18:20-32 http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/genesis/18:20

General Audience, 19 October 2005
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2005/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20051019_en.html

KENYA: NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS’ PRESS STATEMENT

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From: Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede

July 27, 2013.

PRESS STATEMENT FRON NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS

COMPRISING 200 DENOMINATIONS.

We the Church Leaders in this Region view the turn of event of some other Jubilee Leaders trying to taint the Good Name of our former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga that he wanted to overthrow the Government, those were analogue tactics of old reign to divide the attention of people of Kenya, Former Prime Minister has done a lot in this Country and he is a man of Peace all along.

We want Jubilee Government to fulfill their pledges they made to Kenyans during their campaign.

Beside that, he was the Co-Principal with the Former President H.E. Hon. Mwai Kibaki. He should be given same treatment as the Former Head of State.

Now we are appealing to Jubilee Government, to accord him respect he deserve as the Former Prime Minister, and the six Government Vehicles should remain in his custody. By History, Kenyan people are more free because of the suffering of His Father and Himself, by steering freedom of speech and devolution, that now created County Governments.

We want a united Kenya, not confusion and suspicion among the leadership of this Country.

Let Government to give maximum Security to Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the Former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka for the great work they have done and maintaining peace in Kenya.

The Government Spokes Person Muthui Kariuki should not speak with a lot of bitterness while trying to address issues of Government. He should not be too personal.

God bless Kenya.

Signed on behalf of Nyanza Bishops By:

Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede

CHAIRMAN: NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS

BISHOP ROTICH RETIRES FROM THE ARMY MONDAY…

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from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Lynette from Mombasa Kenya has raised three issues. She writes: “Fr Beste thank you for your homily. You touched on the issue which has been bothering me very much with my children, the condom adverts on TV. Is there any way our government can ban such embarrassing and immoral adverts”?

Is it true that bishop Rotich has retired as bishop, if so what happened and he has not even reached 75 years, the official age of retirement? My last question is about Jackal News. I saw Raila Odinga being interviewed on Citizen TV by Julie Gichuru last night and he said this news is of the CID.

Since when did the CID have a news and for what purpose? I also saw in your News Dispatch referring to the news as saying that Jakoyo Midiwo was bribed by Knut ksh 2million. Is this news a government project for propaganda?

I think what Lynette has raised is a concerned to all of us. It is indeed quite embarrassing in front of children. The communications regulator of Kenya (CCK) cannot take action against the adverts because the constitution of Kenya provides the freedom of press.

The “Weka Condom Mpangoni” advert has been on TV for quite some time now, one of the ladies inquires about the other’s husband and then immediately seeks to find out how her mpango wa kando (clandestine sexual partner).

The first lady then goes ahead to explain that even though her husband may be away, that does not mean that she miss out on “fun” since the other guy is readily available to provide it. The second lady then counsels her to always use condom whenever she’s having “fun” with her mpango wa kando.

Lynette Bishop Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich has not retired as bishop he has only retired officially as a military man. According to the order of the military of Kenya the highest rank in religious service is full colonel of which Rotich is. Since he cannot go beyond this rank when required service time in the army elapses is why he has retire.

He bade a farewell party to the military Christian communities at DoD yesterday. He will still be the bishop of the military but as a lay bishop and not military. The Father who follows him in the rank is Apostles of Jesus, Fr Benjamin Maswili. He is Lt Colonel.

Bishop Rotich was born on July 27, 1957, which means he is only 56 years old. So he is still having more years to serve as the bishop in the military. He was born a small village known as Tegat in Longisa Bomet, Kericho diocese.

He was ordained priest on November 18, 1983 at Nakuru. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi on March 9, 1996 and as Titular Bishop of Iulium Carnicum the same day. He was consecrated bishop on July 3, 1996 in a colourful ceremony at Moi Airbase attended by among others, former president Daniel arap Moi. He was installed bishop of Military Ordinariate on November 1, 1997.

He served as Military Chaplain as a Captain from 1989 to 1993 and as a Major from 1994 until he became a bishop and his rank rose from major to Colonel. Before becoming a bishop of the military late cardinal Maurice Otunga served as the ordinary from 1986. Fr Cosmas Khanere from Kakamega diocese served as senior chaplain.
Since the military had not recruited enough priests officiating chaplain priests served in different units. I Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko (Beste) AJ served at Langata Barracks assisted by AJ seminarian, Benjamin Maswili who is now Lt Connell chaplain in the military. I served from 1991-1995 helping also at Moi Airbase (MAB) and Kahawa Barracks.

The first officiating chaplain was late Fr John Omondi, AJ as a seminarian in 1970s to 1980s and 2010 as a priest. He officiated at Langata Barracks and Armed Forces Memorial Hospital respectively.

The first African to serve at the military as senior chaplain was late Fr Auro from Asumbi, Homa-bay Diocese. Fr John Omondo served under him before Fr Khanyere tooj over as a senior chaplain.

Roman Catholic Church Military Ordinariate provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Kenyan Armed Forces and their families. It was established as a military vicariate on 20 January 1964 with the first military vicar appointment on the same day. It was elevated to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986.

Until late Maurice Michael Otunga was appointed 20 January 1964 the military was directly responsible to him as the ordinary of Nairobi diocese. He was appointed Military Ordinary 21 July 1986 until his retirement on 29 August 1997 when a trained military, Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich was appointed bishop.

Yes, I did watch the interview. Raila did not say the Jackal News is owned by CID, he only wondered whether CID was behind it because it seems to be speaking the same thing with the CID, citing the incident where the News reported about his former aide and chief campaigner Eliud Owalo that the thing reported by the Jackal News about him before the CID grilled him were similar.

No one knows exactly who owns this News Service. I am not also sure whether the government is using it as propaganda. The news just described itself as top Kenyan gossip site.

The site was recently hacked for unclear reason and motive. It is stated that the site was started by Bogonko Bosire along with an anon pal. The plan behind its launch was to own news and gossip.

As it stands, Jackalnews is an independent news blog that provides breaking news and in-depth analysis of events in Kenya. The site had just reported that police were probing Raila Odinga’s aide, Eliud Owalo of ties to March Four Movement (MFM), a dubious band of nondescripts who are reportedly planning major demonstrations against President Uhuru Kenya.

The Jackal News accused Owalo as the man who helped sink Raila Odinga presidential ambitions, of plotting to destabilize the government. The site reported that Owalo was summoned for interrogations for plotting an Egypt-style revolution in Kenya.

Alarmed by Jackal News’ accuracy, is why Raila wondered whether the site is owned by the CID. During the interview with Julie Gichuru on Citizen TV prime news at nine yesterday, Raila went as far as alleging that Jubilee government had already spread the security to cause chaos in Kenya similar to that of 2008 if the Supreme Court ruled against Jubilee. That is why he accepted the verdict for the sake of peace he said, even though he does not agree with the verdict.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.comFacebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
UN Disarmament
Conference, 2002

SHOULD YOU GIVE UP YOUR FAITH FOR THE SINS OF BISHOPS?

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013

One of you has reacted angrily on my yesterday’s article where LifeSiteNews.com revealed how U.S. Bishops’ foreign relief agency is funding a leading abortion-marketing firm where Catholic Relief Services is distributing a two-year $2.7 million grant to Population Services International (PSI), which networks and trains local providers throughout the developing world to offer “safe abortion.”

Millicent (not her real name) writes: “Fr Omolo to tell you very sincerely I am very disgusted and confused after reading your article on US Bishops funding a leading abortion-marketing firm. Surely Father where is the world heading? Abortion is wrong period! I am just a young girl who is trying to keep Catholic faith but if bishops are behaving this way then better do away with Catholic faith”.

I do not think you should give up your faith because bishops have funded abortion firm. Your faith is entirely based on your God not bishops, not even Pope. They are all human beings like you and can make mistake. I do agree with you totally that abortion is wrong because it kills.

Furthermore you are not the only one who has reacted angrily about the issue. Pro-life leaders have also expressed outrage after LifeSiteNews.com revealed Thursday that the U.S. Bishops’ foreign relief agency is funding a leading abortion-marketing firm.

Catholic Relief Services is distributing a two-year $2.7 million grant to Population Services International (PSI), which networks and trains local providers throughout the developing world to offer “safe abortion.”

President of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), Austin Ruse has not only reacted angrily, he wants somebody to get fired over this. He is wondering how groups like PSI is funded by our own Catholic church. “It’s disgusting and for one I am bone-weary of these types of revelations. Heads should roll”, Ruse suggests.

Fr. Shenan Boquet, president of Human Life International has also reacted, saying he finds it “incomprehensible” that an organization like PSI was deemed worthy of Catholic funds.

PSI’s “primary mission has always been to promote contraception, abortifacient drugs, condoms, and even surgical abortion,” he said. “Like many other population control groups in the mid-1990s, they started to rebrand their mission as being about ‘health’, using more positive language and adding malaria-prevention programs to their portfolio. But this should not confuse anyone as to their purpose.”

Judie Brown, president of American Life League while reacting on the revelation said the news was “not surprising.” “Catholic Relief Services has historically been advocates, although not publicly – behind the scenes – advocates of population control in the Third World,” she charged.

Brown’s point was echoed by Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute, who said CRS implicates itself in population control by the very fact that it receives over two thirds of its funding from USAID.

“CRS knows very well what the principal purpose of USAID is. And it tries to, in various ways, to massage that purpose, and avoid being implicated in the purpose of population control,” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned, they know who’s paying their salaries, and that’s why the money goes to CARE, that’s why the money goes to PSI, that’s why the money goes back and forth to other population control agencies, because that’s what their masters in the federal government demand of them.”

“This is not an agency of the institutional Catholic Church. This is a separate aid agency, which, because it receives two thirds of its funding from the U.S. government, is Catholic in name only,” he added. “No man can serve two masters.”

As LifeSiteNews reported Thursday, PSI’s “reproductive health” agenda is heavily abortion-focused. On its own webpage, the firm explains that it “works to increase access to WHO-approved medical abortion drugs,” and mentions its provision of medical abortions in Cambodia and Nepal.

At a “maternal health” conference in Tanzania on January 16, 2013, a PSI employee delivered a talk titled “Creating the misoprostol market”. (See video here.)

Numerous job ads are accessible online showing PSI seeking to fill various roles in its campaign for globally-accessible abortion. Among them is one seeking a candidate with “clinical proficiency [in] surgical and medication abortion.” For more evidence of PSI’s work in the abortion industry view Thursday’s LSN report.

The good news is that despite all these Americans have not lost their faith in God. According to a new Pew Forum poll 48 percent of Americans say a decline of religion is bad for American society.

Over the past two decades, the number of Americans who mark their religious preference as “none” has undoubtedly grown. Only 8 percent checked that box in 1990. As of May of this past year, 20 percent of all Americans identified themselves as having no religion.

Despite an increase in these “nones,” the majority of Americans are still religious. Over 90 percent of Americans believe in God or a higher power, and almost 40 percent attend religious services weekly.

Even among those who claim no particular religious affiliation in an earlier Pew Forum survey, roughly 80 percent still believe in God or a universal spirit, and a majority describe themselves as “religious” or “spiritual.” According to a recent survey by researchers at Baylor University, most of those who say they have “no religion” also pray.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

“Creating the misoprostol market”. (See video here.)
http://maternalhealthtaskforce.org/images/GMHC2013_program_web.pdf

Thursday’s LSN report.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/u.s.-bishops-relief-agency-caught-giving-2.7-million-to-top-abortion-market

48 percent
http://www.pewforum.org/growth-of-the-nonreligious-many-say-trend-is-bad-for-american-society.aspx

most of those who say they have “no religion” also pray.
http://www.baylorisr.org/2013/07/wall-street-journal-the-myth-of-unreligious-america-by-rodney-stark/

U.S.BISHOPS CAUGHT GIVING $2.7 MILLION TO ABORTION DRUG GROUP

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Catholic Relief Services is in the midst of distributing a projected $2.789 million grant to one of the leading voices in the international abortion movement, LifeSiteNews reports. The U.S. Bishops’ foreign relief agency is distributing the funds to Population Services International, a $670 million organization that markets abortion drugs in the developing world.

This takes place barely a month when the Catholic Bishops in Kenya took a united stand against a series of advertisements by the pro-abortion lobbying group Catholics for a Free Choice promoting condom use in the country.

The advertisements read “Good Catholics use Condoms”, and have been seen on billboards across Kenya, as well as appearing in leading newspapers in the country. Cardinal John Njue, the Archbishop of Nairobi, who serves as president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference wanted those adverts pulled out.

It is also taking place at the time a Polish priest is contesting his removal from the position of pastor following a blog post in which he reportedly denounced the Polish bishops’ condemnation of the sins of abortion, euthanasia, contraception, and in vitro fertilization, according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Fr. Wojciech Lemanski, 53, has been removed from his leadership position of the parish of Jasienica by Henryk Hoser, Archbishop of Varsovie-Praga, for “lack of respect and disobedience,” and for causing “serious damage and confusion at the heart of the community of the Church.” Fr. Wojciech Lemanski was reportedly removed for dissent.

Lemanski initially refused to vacate his parish, but has now decided to leave in accordance with canon law while disputing his removal with the Vatican. The temporary administrator sent to oversee the parish by the archdiocese was refused entry by parishioners supportive of Lemanski.

The removal follows a series of conflicts between Lemanski and the archbishop, which the priest claims were provoked by his work to commemorate the killing of Jews in Poland during World War II, a labor that was recognized by the Polish government in 2008. Archbishop Hoser denies the claim.

Jesuit professor Stanislaw Obirek supports Lemanski and is expressing hope that Pope Francis will support the priest in his struggle against Archbishop Hoser. “The priest Lemanski opposed the language used by the Polish church which is hurtful for people who think differently, particularly on the subject of in vitro fertilization, abortion, or homosexuality, a language of hate,” Obirek said, according to AFP.

Obirek believes that the conflict represents “a new stage in the confrontation between an open Chuch,” represented by Pope Francis, “and a closed Church,” represented by the Polish bishops.

On the U.S. Bishops’ foreign relief agency distributing the funds to Population Services International, when questioned about the grant, CRS initially claimed PSI had merely sold them mosquito nets to combat malaria, but when presented with more information, the Catholic agency acknowledged that the abortion giant took a decidedly more active role.

Founded in 1970 by porn baron Phil Harvey, who initially used his porn profits to fund PSI, the organization networks and trains local providers throughout the world to offer “safe abortion.” The group’s “charity” work largely involves “stimulat[ing] demand” for contraceptives and abortion drugs among the world’s poor and then selling them the products.

Asked on Friday to explain the grant, CRS communications director John Rivera told LifeSiteNews that in late 2011 they had purchased water purification packets from PSI in Panama to help with water contamination following a major tropical storm.

PSI is open about its promotion of abortion even on its own website. On its page about “reducing unsafe abortion,” the firm explains that it “works to increase access to WHO-approved medical abortion drugs.” Its website also mentions its provision of medical abortions in Cambodia and Nepal, noting that in Cambodia it launched the country’s “first safe medical abortion drug, known as Medabon.”

The website says their work in India focuses “both on the demand and supply side” of the medical abortion and IUD markets, explaining that they promote the use of the products by “target[ing] audiences with information and messages using inter-personal; mid and mass media.”

As with its controversial grants to the pro-abortion group CARE, CRS’ $2.7 million grant to PSI Guinea is “pass-through” funding, meaning that CRS acts as a principal recipient to a funding agency and then doles out part of the funds to sub-recipients.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

VATICAN FREEZES PRELATE ACCOUNT AS MUSLIMS WANT NUNCIO EXPELLED

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2013

A jailed prelate’s accounts at the Vatican bank have been frozen as part of an investigation into his financial dealings, the Guardian report. According to Pope’s spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi the Promoter of Justice – an official similar to a chief prosecutor – had ordered the freezing of two accounts belonging to Monsignor Nunzio Scarano. The monsignor is accused by the Italian authorities of being the central figure in a bizarre plot to smuggle €20m (£17m) into Italy from Switzerland.

It is at the same time a group of Malay Muslim NGOs have called for the expulsion of the Vatican’s first Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, Archbishop Joseph Marino, for remarks attributed to him on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.

The group’s secretariat publicity chief Dzulkarnain Taib said Archbishop Marino should not interfere with the country’s internal affairs. “As ambassador here, he is to forge close diplomatic ties, but what he said was beyond his job scope and could be interpreted as having another agenda,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Dzulkarnain was commenting on Archbishop Marino’s remarks on Thursday that the fact-sheet presented by the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) on the use of the word “Allah” was sensible and logical.

The Islamic Missionary Foundation of Malaysia (Yadim) also expressed disappointment with Archbishop Marino’s remarks. “As a diplomat, he should be neutral on the matter and not touch on sensitive issues involving Muslims in the country,’’ said its chief Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who called on the archbishop to withdraw his remarks and apologise to Muslims.

On the bank, the case has embarrassed the Vatican as it struggles to convince international watchdogs that its financial institutions have adequate safeguards against money-laundering. The Promoter of Justice’s move showed the Vatican was taking an active role in the affair.

But Lombardi said that it took effect on 9 July, and it was not immediately clear why the Vatican authorities had waited 10 days after Scarano’s arrest before blocking his accounts.

The monsignor, who was a banker before he became a priest, is a senior official of the Vatican’s asset management arm, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See (APSA). It is claimed that he conspired with an Italian secret service officer and a financial intermediary to repatriate the cash aboard a private jet.

In a statement to prosecutors this week, leaked to Italian media, Scarano was quoted as saying he stood to receive €2.5m for his part in the operation. He planned to spend €1m building a church in Umbria, but intended keeping the rest, at least temporarily.

He was said to have told prosecutors he regarded the remaining €1.5m as a loan “that would have enabled me to resolve certain financial problems” arising from a defunct business enterprise with a relative. Prosecutors are reported to have estimated that Scarano’s personal assets were worth around €500,000.

The prelate reportedly acknowledged that a family of Neapolitan ship owners had made monthly transfers, registered as charitable donations, to an account he held at the Vatican bank. The Italian prosecutors believe the money that was to have been brought in from Switzerland belonged to three members of the family, all brothers. Two have denied the money is theirs. The third has said nothing.

Among other unresolved aspects of the case are the amount and whereabouts of the cash. Scarano was said to have put the total at €41m, which had since been transferred to Beirut.

Though awkward in many respects, the Scarano affair has strengthened Pope Francis’s hand as he sets about cleaning up the Vatican bank, formally known as the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR). The prelate was arrested two days after Francis set up a commission to brief him on the IOR’s activities and suggest reforms.

The pope himself took part in the commission’s first meeting, which was held this week at the guest house in the Vatican where he has opted to live. Scandals shown or alleged to have involved the Vatican’s financiers have been embarrassing successive popes since 1982 when Roberto Calvi, a banker with close ties to the IOR, was found hanged beneath Blackfriars Bridge in London.

The circumstances of his death remain a mystery. Equally unclear are the reasons for the disappearance the following year of Emanuela Orlandi, the daughter of a Vatican employee. Prosecutors in Rome are currently taking statements from Marco Fassoni Accetti, a colourful figure with a strong resemblance to the comedian Roberto Benigni.

Fassoni Accetti claims to have helped kidnap the girl as part of a conspiracy to thwart the anti-communist activities of Pope John Paul II. In the latest of his increasingly controversial statements, he has made allegations about the names of his fellow-conspirators including discrediting the then head of the IOR, Archbishop Paul Marcinkus.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002