Category Archives: Religion

POPE JOHN XXIII WAS AN ICON OF JUSTICE AND PEACE

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

Time Magazine describes Pope John XXIII as a revolutionary—a Pope of modernization who kept in continuity with the church’s past, yet made even the most enlightened of his 20th century predecessors seem like voices of another age.

John XXIII was one of the greatest popes in all of history. For him the gospel truly meant what the word itself means, “good news”. This good news filled him with joy, and he constantly radiated a true Christian joy to all around him.

He decried the “prophets of doom”, he wanted to dialogue with the world rather than condemn it, and he instinctively knew that praising one good thing in the life of either a person or a whole society achieves far more than condemning ten bad things.

John XXIII carried the office of pope with great dignity and distinction, the greatness of the office was never allowed to obscure his humanity. He possessed the “natural virtues” in abundance and the Christian and priestly virtues built on them.

John XXIII had the humility to know that he did not have all the answers to the problems facing the Church as it entered the new and difficult world of the 1960s. And so it was with his heart first and his head second that he instinctively turned to the collective wisdom of the whole Church and called a Council.

His emphasis on the importance of our basic humanity is reflected in statements of the Council that speak of qualities which are esteemed by all people and which make Christ’s ministers acceptable, such as “sincerity, a constant love of justice, fidelity to one’s promises, modesty and charity.

You cannot understand contemporary Catholicism without understanding Pope John XXIII. This is the man who did not only change the church, but also impressed the world with the friendliness.

John XXIII always emphasized on the importance of respect of human rights as an essential consequence of the Christian understanding of dignity and respect for humanity, that every man has the right to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are suitable for the proper development of life.

Against the background that he issued his first encyclical letter on justice and peace, Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) on 11 April 1963 to ensure that the rights of the people was protected at all the times.

In this work, John XXIII reacted to the political situation in the middle of the Cold War. It was issued only two years after the erection of the Berlin Wall and only a few months after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He explains in this encyclical that conflicts “should not be resolved by recourse to arms, but rather by negotiation”, emphasizes the importance of respect of human rights as an essential consequence of the Christian understanding of humanity.

The first section of the encyclical establishes the relationship between individuals and humankind, encompassing the issues of human rights and moral duties. The second section addresses the relationship between man and state, dwelling on the collective authority of the latter.

The third section establishes the need for equality amongst nations and the need for the state to be subject to rights and duties that the individual must abide by. The final section presents the need for greater relations between nations, thus resulting in collective states assisting other states.

The encyclical ends with the urging of Catholics to assist non-Christians and non-Catholics in political and social aspects. Pope John XXIII issued eight Papal Encyclicals during his five-year reign as Pope. He ruled from his election on October 28, 1958 until his death on June 3, 1963. Two of his encyclicals, Mater et Magistra and Pacem in Terris and are especially important.

Encyclicals may condemn errors, point out threats to faith and morals, exhort faithful practices, or provide remedies for present and future dangers to the church. The authority of the encyclical varies depending on the circumstances and is not necessarily ex cathedra.

Because of his love for justice and peace Pope John offered to mediate between John F.Kennedy and Nikita Khruschev during the Cuban missile crisis. Both men applauded the pope for his commitment to peace.

During World War I, he did front-line service as a medic and chaplain in the Italian Army. A few years after the war he was sent as Vatican representative to Bulgaria, then to Turkey where, during World War II, he helped refugees from Nazi Germany.

He became Vatican nuncio in France, where he dissuaded General Charles de Gaulle from forcing the Holy See to remove 25 French bishops who had collaborated with the wartime, Nazi-collaborating Petain regime.

On 11 May 1963, the Italian president Antonio Segni awarded Pope John XXIII the Balzan Prize for his engagement for peace. It was the Pope’s last public appearance.

On 25 May 1963, the Pope suffered hemorrhage and required blood transfusions, but the cancer had perforated the stomach wall and peritonitis soon set in.

By 31 May, it had become clear that the cancer had overcome the resistance of Pope John. The Pope died of peritonitis caused by a perforated stomach at 19:50 (local time) on 3 June at the age of 81, ending a reign of four years, seven months.

He was buried on 6 June. He was known affectionately as “Good Pope John” and “the most beloved Pope in history” to many people. On 3 September 2000, John was declared “Blessed” by Pope John Paul II. He was the first pope since Pope X to receive this honour.

Following his beatification, his body was moved from its original burial place in the grottoes below St Peter’s Basilica to the altar of St Jerome and displayed for the veneration of the faithful.

At the time, the body was observed to be extremely well preserved—a condition which the Church ascribes to embalming and the lack of air flow in his sealed triple coffin rather than to a miracle.

The 50th anniversary of his death was celebrated on 3 June 2013 by Pope Francis who visited his tomb and prayed there for a few minutes. Francis then addressed the gathered crowd and spoke about the late pontiff. On the following 5 July, Francis approved Pope John XXIII for canonization, along with Pope John Paul II.

Some participants at the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) favored canonizing John XXIII by acclamation, in the tradition of the Church’s early centuries. But some conservative Council Fathers suspected the acclamation proponents were interested as much in Church politics as in piety.

They thought the endorsement of John XXIII pitted him against his immediate predecessor, Pius XII, contrasting the two popes, their personalities and policies.

The Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints was less than enthusiastic about the proposal because it meant the saintmaking process was being snatched out of its hands by the Council participants.

The potential conflict over the proposal to acclaim John XXIII a saint was avoided when Paul VI announced that the process would be initiated simultaneously on behalf of Pius XII as well.

The decision was a vindication of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and also suggested continuity between the two popes: If Pope John had convoked the Council, Pius had done much to prepare it.

Blessed Pope John XXIII was born Angelo Roncalli on November 25, 1881, in Sotto il Monte, a village of 1200 inhabitants at the foot of the Alps. The Roncallis had lived there since 1429. The house where Angelo was born was called the “palazzo” but it was not much like a palace: the large family shared the ground floor with their cows.

“We were poor but happy with our lot and confident in the help of Providence…. When a beggar appeared at the door of our kitchen, there was always room for him, and my mother would hasten to seat this stranger alongside us.” Corinna Laughlin, Director of Liturgy.

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

IS IT HATE SPEECH TO CALL AMERICA RUINED SOCIETY?

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2013

Some of our News Dispatch News readers are wondering whether remarks by Cardinal John Njue that America is a “ruined” society can be categorized under hate speech. I do not know exactly what the cardinal meant but if he was referring to American people as ruined because a society does not exist in vacuum, then this is hate speech and it demands an apology from the cardinal to American people.

Furthermore president Obama did not categorically asserted that he supported the gay communities. What the president said on Thursday during his African tour is that gay people should not be discriminated against simply because they are gays. President Obama said the gay should be treated like other people under the law in Africa.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1896906/-/w2q3bfz/-/index.html

If gay communities are the ones making society labeled ‘ruined’ then Kenya is not spared either. Many Kenyans are not even aware that homosexual lobby groups in our country are not only well organized, but also well funded. Notable among these funders is the Open Society Foundations of American Billionaire and liberal radical George Soros, and the Urgent Action Fund.

Kenyan people may be surprised that they gays in Kenya have the support of some high-ranking government officials, including politicians. It was behind this kind of support, Kenyan homosexual lobbies were behind plans to sneak in clauses repealing or seriously weakening the penal code section 162-165 (that criminalizes their homosexual behaviour). This was during the law review that culminated in a new constitution in August 2010.

Established in May 2006, GALCK is a coalition of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (GLBTI) organisations based in Kenya. The website galck.org, expressly states their core mission to be the deletion of sections 162-165 of the penal code that criminalizes their lifestyles in Kenya. The coalition is comprised of Minority Women in Action (MWA), Gay Kenya, Ishtar, GALEBITRA, TOMIK, Diverse Outing, Changing Attitudes and Equality Now!

The GALCK General Manager has over the last few years been one, ex-seminarian Mr David Kuria from Kiambu County in Central Province. In late 2010, he commenced issuing press statements challenging former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s position that homosexual behaviour in Kenya remains illegal under the new constitution.

While some media houses have also been accused of being pro-gay, in may this year an Australian citizen accused of having sexual intercourse with other males wants the court to outlaw some sections of the sexual offences Act and declare homosexuality legal in Kenya.

Mr Ian Castleman who is facing criminal charges for having sex with two other male has filed a petition at the High Court challenging the Sexual Offences Act. He says the criminal charges amounts to discrimination because he has been charged because of his sexual orientation.

The two males he is accused of having sexual intercourse with, were residing at an orphanage operated by the petitioner and he offered them financial assistance.

The petitioner wants the High Court to make a decision on the rights of gay people in Kenya.

Through his lawyer, Mr Pravin Bowry, he is asking the High Court to declare that the Sexual offences act is discriminatory towards people who are homosexual. Mr Castleman wants the court to quash the charges against him which he says were preferred contrary to public policy and international law.

Mr Castleman is a Director of Ian Castleman Orphanage Kenya based in Elburgon within Nakuru County. His case was referred to the High Court by a magistrate for constitutional interpretation.

This is taking place when in Texas State some Catholic bloggers and pro-life activists are pointing out that a senior official at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) played an official role in getting a pro-abortionist Davis elected senator.

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

CARDINAL NJUE ATTACKS OBAMA ON GAY REMARKS

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi Cardinal John Njue has criticised US President Obama on his remarks on gay rights, Daily Nation reports Friday. Njue said God did not make a mistake when he created Adam and Eve and told them what to do.

Obama said in his African tour that while homosexuality is illegal in most countries on the continent, this should not be the reason to mistreat them. On Thursday, President Obama said the gay should be treated like other people under the law in Africa.

Obama’s concern gays and lesbians should still be respected just like any other human beings. “My basic view is that regardless of race, regardless of religion, regardless of gender, regardless of sexual orientation, when it comes to the law, people should be treated equally,” Mr Obama said in Senegal Thursday.

Njue was quoted to have said that Kenya does not need lessons from a “ruined” society.

“We must be proud of who we are. Those who have already ruined their society cannot come here to teach us what we should do.”

Njue’s attack comes at the time there is fear that homosexuality is taking root in our schools. Just recently about seven students from the coast admitted they are lesbians. Former Education Permanent Secretary Prof James ole Kiyiapi also admitted that homosexuality is rampant in secondary schools.

He said just like the drug menace, homosexuality was real and a great threat to the future of the children. Kiyiapi said the blame should be attributed to the leaders, parents and stakeholders in the education sector.

The PS, who was addressing journalists moments before presiding over a function at Ebenezer College in Kutus town in 2011, said children were victims of what the leaders say, and what they watch on television.

“Some of our leaders do not actually care what they say publicly while some parents just leave their children alone without providing them with the necessary parental guidance,” he said.

Kiyiapi also attributed the moral decay to globalisation, which had reduced the world into a tiny village where every gossip found its way to the ears of everyone.

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 ACTS ON ACTIVITIES OF VATICAN WORKERS

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2013

Pope Francis has established a Pontifical Commission charged with drawing up an “exhaustive” report into the activities, structure and legal status of the Vatican’s Institute for the Works of Religion, more commonly known as the IOR, Vatican Radio reports.

The Commission is composed of 5 people: Cardinal Raffaele Farina, emeritus Archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives and Librarian of the Apostolic Library; Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, current President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and former Archivist and Librarian of Holy Roman Church; Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Monsignor Peter Bryan Wells, Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See; Harvard Law Professor, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life and former US Ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon.

Presenting the Secretariat of State communique to journalists Wednesday, the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi SJ, explained that the Commission is to conduct inquiries and present the Holy Father with a report of their findings “in view of possible reform,” specifying that Commission is not permanent. “The Pope,” said Fr. Lombardi, “has set for himself the objective of reforming the Vatican bank [sic] to make it more responsive to the needs of the Church,” and, “any decision about its nature will be taken after the work that this committee is to do.”

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

REACTIONS ON MY ELEVENTH SUNDAY HOMILY; who was Mary Magdalene?

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013

One of you posed a very concerned issue about Mary Magdalene. He writes: “Fr Beste thank you for your homily of eleventh Sunday-but one thing I would like you to clarify-who was Mary Magdalene? I am asking this because some people who have read the Da Vinci Code are almost convinced that Jesus and Mary Magdalene got married and sired children-what is your take on this?”

According to Luke 8:2 Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. The name Magdalene likely indicates that she came from Magdala, a city on the southwest coast of the Sea of Galilee. After Jesus cast seven demons from her, she became one of his followers.

In John 11 Mary Magdalene is identified as the sister to Lazarus who was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who anointed Jesus with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair. She is believed to have been a reformed prostitute.

Mary Magdalene was one of the women who stood near Jesus during the crucifixion to try to comfort him. Some scholars argue that John mentioned the woman as Mary Magdalene because he wrote many years after Mary’s death. Luke, they say, may have wished to obscure this fact when he wrote his gospel out of respect for the still-living Mary.

The recent fiction novel “The DaVinci Code” makes the claim that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. Some of the non-biblical early Christian writings (considered heresy by the early Christians) hint at a special relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. However, there is no evidence whatsoever to support the belief that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. The Bible does not even hint at such an idea.

Against the background that U.S. Catholic bishops launched a website, JesusDecoded.com, refuting the key claims in the novel that were about to be brought to the screen. The bishops were concerned about errors and serious misstatements in The Da Vinci Code.

The Peruvian Episcopal Conference (CEP) declared the movie — and the book — as part of a “systematic attack on the Catholic Church”. Both the book and the film were banned in Egypt due to pressure from Coptic Christians.

The film was banned in Jordan where authorities said the film “tarnishes the memory of Christian and Islamic figures and contradicts the truth as written in the Bible and the Koran about Jesus”.

The novel goes on to describe Opus Dei as “a Catholic Church” and portrays it as an order of monks with members serving as assassins, one of whom (a “hulking albino” named Silas) is a key character in the book.

The book claims that Jesus got Mary Magdalene pregnant, and the two had a daughter. The book states: Mary Magdalene was pregnant at the time of the crucifixion. For the safety of Christ’s unborn child, she had no choice but to flee the Holy Land. . . . It was there in France that she gave birth to a daughter. Her name was Sarah.

Later the book claims that this union gave rise to a bloodline that still exists in prominent European families (including one of the book’s main characters, Sophie Neveu). It also claims that the Catholic Church knows about this and has covered it up for centuries, even resorting to murdering Christ’s own descendants to protect the secret: Behold the greatest cover-up in human history. Not only was Jesus Christ married, but He was a father.

It claims that the early Church feared that if the lineage were permitted to grow, the secret of Jesus and Magdalene would eventually surface and challenge the fundamental Catholic doctrine-that of a divine Messiah who did not consort with women or engage in sexual union.

Brown’s book includes a number of other episodes guaranteed to upset the faithful – including a Pope conceiving a child via artificial insemination, thereby circumventing celibacy rules.

Dan Brown asserts that early Christians viewed Jesus as merely a “mortal teacher” and that it was only at the Council of Nicaea in 325, under pressure from the Emperor Constantine, that belief in Jesus’ divinity became official Christian teaching.

This is simply not true.

Dan Brown writes that at the time of Nicaea, there were “thousands” of texts documenting a very human life of Jesus. His story claims there were 80 gospels in circulation, 80 gospels that give the story of the “original Christ” that the Church later repressed.

Even though the gospels do not describe Jesus as being married, the story of The Da Vinci Code asserts that Jesus must have been married because that was the norm for Jewish men at the time and he wouldn’t have been taken seriously as a religious teacher if he had not been married.

If Jesus had been married, given the frequency with which other relations are mentioned, the marriage would have been mentioned as well. There was no reason not to. Furthermore, being unmarried would not have diminished Jesus’ authority as a Jewish teacher.

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

REFLECTION FOR ELEVENTH SUNDAY BY CHRISPIN ONYANGO

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013
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

– – – – – – – – – – –

REFLECTION FOR ELEVENTH SUNDAY BY CHRISPIN ONYANGO

It seems incredible to us that King David did not seem to realize he had done wrong in having Uriah sent to the front of a battle to get him killed so he could have his Uriah’s wife. We could say he had lost his senses. What brought him to his senses again? It was the prophet Nathan speaking the word of God to him.

In the passage in 2 Sam before our first reading today God sent Nathan to David and Nathan used a very clever story to help bring David to his senses (2 Sam 12:1-7). Nathan told David there were two men in a town, one rich and the other poor. The poor man had one lamb but when a visitor came to the rich man he took the poor man’s lamb and made a meal of it.

When King David heard this he became angry and said the rich man deserves to die and should restore the lamb to the poor man fourfold. Nathan responded, “You are the man.” Then David realized the wrong he had done to Uriah. It seems King David would not have realized he had seriously sinned unless God had pointed it out to him through the prophet Nathan.

We too are no strangers to sin. Even the best of us are no strangers to sin; Prov 24:16 says a just man falls seven times a day and rises again. We do not want to sin but we do. If even the really good sin seven times a day as Prov says, why do some think they have no sin or at least are not aware of sinning? We can deaden our conscience to sin and sometimes it might take a jolt for us to realize that we are sinning.

In a similar way sometimes it happens that someone with a serious alcohol problem will not go to AA or get himself/herself treated until something serious happens when they are forced to admit that they need to sort themselves out.

In our first reading King David realized that he had done something serious and needed to sort himself out after Nathan spoke the word of God to him. What about us? Are we examining our conscience to see where we stand before God? Do we allow the word of God to penetrate us and show up the dark spots in our lives so that we can bring them to the Lord for his healing and forgiveness?

Sin always leaves bad effects, sin always destroys something good. King David had Uriah and his marriage destroyed. Not only does sin hurt other people but it always hurts God. So as we heard in our first reading King David said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Because our sins hurt the Lord our sins also hurt us when we come to our senses like David because we know the Lord loves us so much.

We know that it was because of our sins that Jesus suffered his passion and death. Sin always has bad effects and consequences. Restoration and healing is always needed after sin. There is always a price to be paid for sin and Jesus paid that price for us in his passion and death. Therefore when we sin it hurts us because we know that it is our sin that inflicted all the suffering on Jesus during his passion and death.

But the wonderful thing is that God is forgiving. We cannot even begin to imagine how ready God is to forgive us. We think in a human way and we find it hard to imagine God being so full of love and forgiveness. It has been said that God created us in his image and likeness (Gen 1:27) and ever since we are creating God in our image and likeness. But to try to make us understand how loving and forgiving God is Jesus spent much of his time ministering to sinners.

We heard in our Gospel the beautiful account of the woman who was a known public sinner meeting Jesus. It is one of the most tender and intimate moments in all the Gospels. She washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. In this beautiful intimate encounter Jesus is saying something to all of us; we are not to allow past sins to drag us down, the Lord wants to forgive us and release us and wants an intimate friendship with us.

Recently when I was on retreat one of the preachers told us the story of the monkey and coconut. If you cut a coconut in half, take out its contents, put something hard into it and put it together again with a chain or something to keep it firmly together while leaving a hole in it big enough for monkey to put his hand in the monkey will not let go of what you put into it until he gets it out.

It has to be something hard that you put into it, not something soft like a banana. Sometimes we can be like that monkey when we will not let go of our past or allow the Lord’s forgiveness and healing to renew and heal us. (A more developed form of that story is in.

Again look at the beautiful intimate picture we see in our Gospel between Jesus and the woman who had been a known public sinner. Jesus wants an intimate friendship with all of us and is ready to forgive us, we are not to allow ourselves to be dragged down by the past. As we heard in our Gospel the one who is forgiven most loves Jesus most.

How wonderful it would be if we could truly understand how much the Lord loves us and wants to forgive us.

If we could truly understand this we would have no fear in approaching the Lord asking for his mercy. Jesus suffered and died for you, he desires intimate friendship with each of us. Why keep Jesus distant? Draw close to Jesus and allow him to draw close to you. Live all of each day with Jesus.

Our whole life is meant to be a close loving relationship with Jesus. If we have sinned in a serious way let us not drag ourselves down. Sin does have consequences but God can turn evil to good in his own mysterious way.

In a mysterious way good came out of David’s sin. The son born of his adultery with Uriah’s wife died but the next son became King Solomon who is credited with being the wisest man in the Old Testament although unfortunately towards the end of his life he allowed his heart to be distracted from the Lord.

In Rom 8:28 we read, we are well aware that God works with those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns everything to their good. Also in Rom 5:20 we read, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.

So let us allow the Lord who is all merciful and loving to be more powerful than sin in our lives and turn everything to good. As Paul wrote to the Galatians in our second reading today, insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. (Gal 2:20) we also heard Paul write earlier in that reading that a person is justified not by works of the Law but by faith in Jesus. This text was badly understood in past centuries. Paul does not say that we are saved by “faith alone”, nowhere do the Scriptures say we are saved by “faith alone.”

Jas 2:24 says we are not justified by faith alone, Paul says that works of the Law do not save, faith does. What are those works of the Law that Paul is referring to? They are the prescriptions of Moses in the Old Testament, specifically the law about circumcision. Paul is saying that circumcision is not necessary for salvation but faith in Jesus.

Naturally when we have faith in Jesus we will do Christian works of charity. Faith and Christian works are the two sides of the one coin and go together. David sinned and was forgiven by God. The woman in our Gospel sinned and was forgiven by Jesus.

Our sins caused Jesus to suffer and die but Jesus desires us to live in intimate friendship with him. Let us not be like a monkey with a hand in the coconut holding onto the past, let us allow the Lord to renew and heal us so that we may say like Paul in our second reading, “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20)

Kenya: MY HOMILY OF ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013

The first reading of Eleventh Sunday in ordinary time is taken from 2 Sm 12:7-10, 13. While it shows us the weakness of human nature, at the same time it shows the infinite mercy of God. David acknowledges his sin and asks for God’s mercy and forgiveness. God’s forgives him and vows never to repeat that sin again.

The second reading is from St. Paul to the Galatians- Gal 2:16, 19-21. Paul is speaking here of justification and faith. In Christian theology justification is God’s act of removing the guilt and penalty of sin while at the same time declaring a sinner righteous through Christ’s atoning. In Protestantism, righteousness from God is viewed as being credited to the sinner’s account through faith alone, without works.

Catholic and Orthodox Christians distinguish between initial justification, which in their view occurs at baptism, and permanent justification, accomplished after a lifetime of striving to do God’s will.

Most Protestants believe that justification is a singular act in which God declares an unrighteous individual to be righteous, an act made possible because Christ was legally “made sin” while on the cross (2 Cor 5:21). This is contrary to James 2:24-26. “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. But faith without works is dead.”

In Romans, Paul develops justification by first speaking of God’s just wrath at sin (Rom. 1:18 – 3:20). Justification is then presented as the solution for God’s wrath. One is said to be ‘justified by faith apart from works of the Law.’

The Gospel is from Lk 7:36—8:3. It shows the mercy of God for sinners and the willingness and eagerness, with which God welcomes back the sinner. A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.

Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.

Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”

Mary Magdalene was believed to be a reformed prostitute and is identified as the woman who ‘was a sinner at the house of Pharisees, who washed Christ’s feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair and anointed them. Christ then forgave her sins.

The lesson we learn here is forgiveness, a decision to let go your sins and never to repeat them again as we see in the first reading and the gospel. David and Mary Magdalene never repeated the action they were accused of. It was wrong for David to kill Uriah and take his wife.

For unfaithful partners in Kenya where marital infidelity is as intertwined as nyama choma, also known as mpango wa kando, it would mean that forgiveness must go with justice. It means doing justice to your partner and your entire family that you will never cheat on your partner anymore.

In Kenya men are the ones closely linked with big percentage of mpango wa kando than women. A 2008 study carried out by Spylink International, a private investigation outfit based in Kenya, revealed that marital infidelity was on the rise with men taking the lead with 75 per cent share of cheating, while women at 25 per cent in 2002. By 2008 this figure rose from 25 to 45 percent of women cheating on their men.

The study pegged this scenario on “changing lifestyles, and women’s empowerment through higher education and knowing “their rights.” Hard economic times implied that more women were exchanging their bodies for material favours. The survey, however, revealed that “as the data stands, women in Kenya will be “leading the infidelity game by 2010.”

Even worse was the fact that 99 per cent of married couples cheat on each other, with Nairobi, of Kenya’s eight provinces, leading with 60 per cent of unfaithful men, and women at 40 per cent.

Nyanza comes second with 55 per cent of men and women at 45 per cent. Western and Rift Valley take fourth and fifth slots respectively, with men taking 65 per cent, while Coast came fifth with men leading with 60 per cent.

In Eastern province, unfaithful men stood at 70 per cent and 85 per cent in case of men in North-Eastern, a region where women are socially, culturally and economically suppressed.

Central Province was the surprise package with women taking a 60 per cent stake a head of their men.

This trend has led to single women in Kenya. A survey released few years ago by consumer market research firm Ipsos-Synovate, shows that 44 per cent of women dislike infidelity among men.

In terms of the state where the government is to ensure that all the citizens have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all, the forgiveness would also mean doing justice.

You must do justice on social and economic inequalities, nepotism, negative ethnicity, human rights abuses, and assassinations, tortures among other ills as recommended by The Truth Reconciliation and Justice Commission (TRJC) in their report.

The report recommends that the head of the state and other departmental heads apologize to Kenyans and then for justice to be done it recommends that actions should be taken. IDPs must be reallocated, people who lost their dear ones be compensated.

TRJC was set up following deadly post-election clashes five years ago. After those elections some 1,500 people were killed and more than 600,000 forced to flee their homes. Some IDPs are still in the camps and people whose dear ones died have not been compensated.

TRJC mandate was to investigate and recommend appropriate action on human rights abuses committed between Kenyan independence in December 1963 and the end of February 2008 – including politically motivated violence, assassinations, corruption and land disputes.

It recommends that those with alleged involvement in the Wagalla massacre should no longer hold any public office. The killings occurred in 1984 during efforts to disarm ethnic Somali clans in the north-east of the country. Survivors say close to 5,000 people died.

When justice is done it is when the forgiveness will bring a kind of peace that helps the victims go on with life. Forgiveness here means that you are now at peace with yourself and the community. Click here to read Pope John Paul II Message for the World Day of Peace 2002.

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

FATHER THOMAS OLIHA INSTALLED AS TORIT DIOCESE ADMINISTRATOR

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Rev Fr Thomas Oliha of the congregation of the Apostles of Jesus is installed tomorrow Sunday, June 9, 2013 as the Apostolic Administrator for the Catholic Diocese of Torit, Eastern Equatoria State. South Sudan – Torit diocese has an apostolic administrator.

Fr Oliha was appointed by Pope Francis to take care of the diocese following the death of the late bishop Johnson Akio Mutek, on March 18 2013, after a long kidney related illness.

Following our conversation with Fr Oliha on telephone, plans for installation is complete. In our telephone conversation with Ancia Acen, one of the planning committees the installation is expected to attract over 6,000 people, one of the biggest ever in Torit.

The Caretaker Administrator of Torit Diocese, Father Dario Hakim, told Eye Radio that Christians in Torit are happy because they have a leader now: “The people needed a leader and they are happy.

This is the first appointment of a highest ecclesiastical authority for South Sudan by Pope Francis, who was elected on 13th of March following the resignation of Pope Benedict on the 16th in February.

The congregation of the Apostles of Jesus was the first missionary religious institute to be founded for Africans on the African continent, particularly on the focus of Sudan.

During the 21-year war, members of the Apostles of Jesus from South Sudan mainly worked in Kenya, and in the liberated areas under the SPLA control. Fr Oliha worked mainly in Juba. Until his appointment Fr Oliha was the Parish Priest of Gordian in the Catholic diocese of Wau.

Born in 1941 in Eastern Equatoria state, in South Sudan, the new Administrator was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Apostles of Jesus, in 1969, at Moroto in Uganda. He served as rector of several seminary Schools in Uganda, Kenya and Sudan for over 30 years. Fr. Oliha has also served as the Superior General of the Apostles of Jesus congregation.

Apostolic Administrations are relatively new within the Catholic world. They are a creation of the Latin Church’s 1983 Code of Canon Law. This 1983 concept was a development of the ‘apostolic administrator’ as presented by the 1917 codification of Catholic ecclesial law by Pope Benedict XV.

Until 1983 an apostolic administrator was seen as one who administrates a diocese in the name of the Pope. In instances where the local diocesan bishop was not capable of governing his diocese for a long period of time, and the duties to be fulfilled were more demanding than the office of a vicar general (a Catholic bishop’s second in charge) the Pope, as supreme Pastor could appoint an apostolic administrator who would govern the diocese, not as diocesan bishop but rather on behalf of the Pope.

Although the 1983 code does not speak of apostolic administrators in this way, the Latin Church has continued to experience such appointments as was understood in the earlier code of canon law.

Fr Thomas Oliha can be reached on mobile phone at +211912831477

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: THE FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART AND THE APOSTLES OF JESUS CHARISM

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

Next Sunday I shall not have my homily. I shall be attending funeral of Joan Muganda on Saturday June 8, my long time family friend and pioneer of Ukwala Catholic Church in Siaya County, Kisumu Archdiocese. She was about 95 years old. She had made a wish last year at one of the memorial services in Ukwala that I shall be the one to bury her when she dies.

At the same time, I have decided to comment on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, for one reason that it is where our charism as members of the Missionary Institute of the Apostles of Jesus, The Good Shepherd is drawn. This charism encourages us young missionaries to love and endure suffering with our flock and be compassionate to them.

Compassionate implies action. It doesn’t ignore the problem or run away from our flock when they are in need. In Mark 1:41 Jesus is moved with compassion. The phrase “moved with compassion” means “stirred to action.”

Therefore, in taking “the good shepherd,” as our charism like Jesus as the members of the Apostles of Jesus missionaries we are to protect, guide, and nurtures the flock. They must always be under our watchful all the times. We do not run away from them in case of any danger.

Encouraged by the move of David who killed a lion and a bear while defending his father’s flock as a shepherd boy (1 Samuel 17:36), as members of the Apostles it is our noble responsibility that we must tend to our flock, even to the extent of giving our lives in protecting the sheep.

This is precisely was the vision of our two Comboni missionaries’ founders, Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi and Fr Giovanni Marengoni. After having witnessed social and political upheaval in Sudan, Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi and Fr Giovanni Marengoni endured lots of suffering, yet they did not runaway from their flock. They were ready and willing to suffer with them.

Against the background that they were convinced that in order to survive and grow the Catholic Church in Africa they needed not only to found a congregation of its own native born clergy but also its own African missionary religious.

Even though this partly this conviction was inspired by the motto of the founder of their own Comboni Missionary Institute, Saint Daniele Comboni: “Saving Africa with Africans”, primarily their vision was to found the Institute of the Apostles of Jesus, Africa’s very first institute of missionary religious, following the experience the bishop and the priests under went as missionaries in Sudan.

By being native priests and religious our founders were convinced we should be in a better place to understand and save Africa. The two were forcefully expelled from Sudan by the government authorities’ in1960s.

In 1964 the government of Sudan had fallen into the hands of Islamic extremists, expelled all Christian missionaries and Bishop Mazzoldi and Fr Marengoni crossed the border into northern Uganda. During the journey the two men had time to discuss future plans and agreed, near the town of Morulem in the diocese of Moroto, to work together to found a new Institute.

Their letter dated 16 August 1967 addressed to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples in which they explained the pastoral plan was immediately approved following official communication to the Holy See, Cardinal Gregorio Pietro Agagianian, the then Prefect of Propaganda Fide.

When he contacted the Bishops of Uganda asking their opinion about the foundation of an Institute of Missionary Religious, the answer was positive and the bishops expressed their consensus to the Holy See. On 3 May 1968 Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi, Ordinary of the diocese of Moroto, received a letter from Cardinal Agagianian giving permission to found the Institute.

The letter read: “With this letter the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, having considered the purpose of the Institute and heard the favourable opinion of the Ugandan Hierarchy, grants you the authority to issue a decree of approval for the Institute in question as well as all the necessary faculties to achieve this task”.

On 25 May 1968 Bishop Mazzoldi issued the decree declaring the purpose of the new Institute in three points: to evangelise; to strengthen the Church in mission lands; to help local Churches grow and become self-supporting.

This was the idea of founding the institute of the native Africans. The Congregation Propaganda Fide approved the Institute’s Constitutions on 23 February 1970. The first seminary was opened on 22 August 1968 and that was the beginning of the new Institute.

Inspired by the same vision, later the visits to Africa of Paul VI and John Paul II would confirm the intuition of our founders. In 1969 on a visit to Uganda Paul VI said in his discourse in Kampala: “Africans, the time has come for you to be your own missionaries! You must carry on the work of building up the Church on this continent”.

In 1980 in Nairobi, Kenya John Paul II, encouraged the Apostles of Jesus at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, where our members prepared and served at the Holy Mass he celebrated there”. He urged: “Africans to be missionaries “not only in this country which is waiting for the Gospel, but further afield”. It can explain very well why today Apostles of Jesus missionaries have spread to Europe, Australia and USA.

Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi MCCJ (1898-1987) was born in Nago (Trent) 13 January 1898. He joined the Comboni Missionaries and at the age of 24 was ordained a priest. After a period of formation in the diocese of Trent he was sent on mission to Sudan, mainly to organise seminaries. He spent the next 57 years of his life in Africa.

In 1950 he was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Bahr el-Gebel, in Sudan. The following year he was ordained Bishop of Lamus. His activity from then on was to guide and found new dioceses and he helped found no less than four religious Congregations: two Lay Institutes (the Sisters of the Sacred Heart and St. Martin de Porres Brothers, respectively in 1953 and in 1954, in Sudan) and together with Fr Giovanni Marengoni, the Apostles of Jesus (1968) and the Evangelising Sisters of Mary, Missionaries, in 1977, both in Uganda.

For the Apostles of Jesus Mazzoldi himself, as Bishop of Moroto, approved the Constitutions examined by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. In 1980, at the end of his mandate, he stayed on as Bishop Emeritus of Moroto, where he died on 7 July 1987.

On the other hand, Fr Giovanni Marengoni MCCJ (1922-2007) had the charisma of the founder and the formator of consecrated persons. In his free time he worked in direct apostolate in parishes and for other religious institutes, organising retreats, spiritual exercises, spiritual formation courses, conferences and he administered the Sacraments.

Giovanni Marengoni was born at Trezzano Rosa, in the province of Milan, 18 January 1922. A novice in Venegono, where he made his first vows in 1940, he completed his formation in Verona, Rome and Rebbio. He was ordained a priest in 1946 and served as formator and professor at Rebbio Seminary.

In 1952 he was sent on mission to Sudan, where he stayed for 12 years (1952-1964), at first at the missions of Rejaf and Kadulé and later at Okaru, as Rector of the seminary. After a year as Superior of the scholasticate in Venegono, he set out for Uganda, where he served for three years at Gulu Cathedral parish and then in 1968, moved to Moroto for 13 years as formator and superior general of the Apostles of Jesus.

Fr Giovanni continued this responsibility (1978-1983) also when the Institute was transferred to Nairobi, in Kenya. In Uganda and in Kenya he spent his life nurturing the three Institutes he founded: the Apostles of Jesus, the Evangelising Sisters and the Contemplative Evangelisers.

After a sabbatical year in Rome (1985-1986), Fr Giovanni lived for 16 years in Rongai, Kenya (1988-2004). In November 2006 he was admitted to hospital in Milan, where he died at the age of 85 on 27 July 2007, only hours after celebrating Mass for the repose of the soul of the deceased Bishop Mazzoldi.

Since its foundation the Apostles of Jesus have had five General Superiors: 14 February 2008: Fr Speratus Kamanzi AJ (Tanzania) whose term is coming to an end next year 2014-2002 – 2008: Fr Augustine R. Njuu AJ (Tanzania); 1996 – 2002: Fr Silvester Ruwamukube AJ (Uganda): 1990 – 1996: Fr Thomas Oliha AJ (Sudan); 1984 – 1990: John Masawe AJ (Tanzania); 1968 – 1983: Fr Giovanni Marengoni MCCJ.

Apart from Europe, Australia and the United States of America, today there are more than 60 communities in 30 dioceses in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, South Africa, Botswana, and Ethiopia. There is also the Association of the Friends of the Institute (AFAJ) founded by Fr Giovanni Marengoni.

This is an association of lay people to live the charisma and spirituality of the Apostles of Jesus and to ensure spiritual support for the Institute. The AFAJ is an association of people of different states of life who strive to know, love and practice the gospel virtues and spirituality: diocesan priests and seminarians, religious, lay single people and married couples, who strive to engage in missionary activity, practice devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, live following the example of the Lord’s first Apostles.

The association members pray and assist the Apostles of Jesus that they may be faithful to the religious life and vows of chastity, poverty and obedience and persevere in missionary and apostolic work.

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 THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. The feast calls us to focus on two manifestations of the Body of Christ, the Holy Eucharist and the Church. The opening prayer at Mass calls our attention to Jesus’ suffering and death and our worship of him, especially in the Eucharist.

The secondary focus is upon the Body of Christ as it is present in the Church. The Church is called the Body of Christ because of the intimate communion which Jesus shares with his disciples.

It appears as if some Apostles did not understand this dimension spiritually. That is why when Jesus told them that he wanted to have last supper with them since he would no longer be with them any sooner, the Apostles began arguing about power-who would be greater among them, in other words who would succeed Jesus.

This dispute is likely to have taken place in the absence of Jesus, but he knew what they were arguing about. “And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, what was it that you disputed among yourselves by the way? Jesus told them: “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9: 34-35).

In the course of the meal Jesus predicts Judas will betray him. When Judas asks, “Is it I?” Jesus replies, “You have said.” Later, he encourages Judas to do quickly what he intended to do, and Judas leaves the upper room.

They were eating bread and drinking wine a few times throughout the meal. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.” And then broke bread after blessing it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

As Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical letter-Leo XIII – Mirae caritatis spells out, Eucharistic worship is the expression of that love which is the authentic and deepest characteristic of the Christian vocation. This worship springs from the love and serves the love to which we are all called in Jesus Christ.

The Eucharist educates us to this love in a deeper way; it shows us, in fact, what value each person, our brother or sister, has in God’s eyes, if Christ offers Himself equally to each one, under the species of bread and wine. If our Eucharistic worship is authentic, it must make us grow in awareness of the dignity of each person.

We must become particularly sensitive to all human suffering and misery, to all injustice and wrong, and seek the way to redress them effectively. In this way the Eucharist does not become a mere habit, and that we do not receive Him unworthily, that is to say, in a state of mortal sin.

Jesus in the Eucharist wants us to be one (John 17:21-24). He wants us to love one another just as he has loved us. In love he wants us to be patient and kind; not to envy or boast; arrogant or rude. Not to insist on our own way; not to be irritable or resentful; not to rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Yet many of us today are more impatient than patient. We struggle with impatience because we easily loose hope. This is when we do not get what we want. As a result of this hopelessness some of us end up in committing suicide.

People who commit suicide seek the end of the conscious experience, which to them has become an endless stream of distressing thoughts with which they are preoccupied. Suicide offers oblivion.

People who attribute failure or disappointment to their own shortcomings may come to view themselves as worthless, incompetent or unlovable. Rates of suicide increase during periods of high unemployment and high cost of living.

For them suicide provides a definitive way to escape from intolerable circumstances, which include painful self-awareness. It is a feeling that conditions will never improve, that there is no solution to a problem, and, for many, a feeling that dying by suicide would be better than living.

In the Eucharist we are to be kind, caring genuinely for others around you, wanting the best for them, and recognizing in them the same wants, needs, aspirations, and even fears that you have too.

Being kind is a vital way of making our own lives, and the lives of others, meaningful. Being kind allows us to communicate better with others, to be more self-compassionate, and to be a positive force in other people’s lives.

The first reading is taken from Gn 14:18-20. In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Second reading is taken from 1 Cor 11:23-26. “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” The cup is the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

The Gospel is from Lk 9:11b-17. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” Click here to read Full text: Pope Francis’ Corpus Christi homily.

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

SHOCKING HEADLINE MAKING NEWS IN THE MONTH MAY

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from: Ouko joachim omolo
*The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images*
FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

The month of May is ending with lots of shocking news. First it was the news that show the head of the Italian Bishops’ Conference filmed this weekend
http://video.corriere.it/widget/players/player_tv_video_iFrame.shtml?width=398&height=223&videoId=http://static2.video.corriereobjects.it/widget/content/video/rss/video_10e5d234-c545-11e2-896c-3db9fdd7e316.rss&channelName=ITALIA&advChannel=Dall>giving
Holy Communion to a notorious “transsexual” and homosexualist political activist who goes by the name Vladimir Luxuria, at the funeral Mass of a controversial Genoan priest.

The deceased priest, Fr. Andrea Gallo (hereafter referred to as Don Gallo), strongly opposed Catholic teaching on sexuality. In the video clip, published by the national newspaper Corriere della Sera, Angelo Bagnasco, the Cardinal Archbishop of Genoa is seen giving Communion to Luxuria, and another transsexual at the funeral of Fr. Andrea Gallo.

Three thousand flocked from all over Italy for the funeral of Don Gallo, the priest they called the “pretaccio communista” (an ironic use of “lousy communist priest”) and the “angelic anarchist”. Some participants wore t-shirts with the slogan, “Tell me who to exclude and I’ll tell you who you are”.

Standing in front of a group of priests wearing rainbow stoles and addressing the gathered thousands, Vladimir Luxuria gave a eulogy in which he thanked Don Gallo for “letting us open the doors of your church and your heart.”

“Thank you for having us transgender creatures feel willed by God and loved by God. We hope that many will follow your example and someone will apologize.”

Born Wladimiro Guadagno, actor and former prostitute Vladimir Luxuria (“Lust” in Latin) was a member of the Italian parliament and a founding member of the Communist Refoundation Party.

Although he remains physically a male, he claims “female identity” and is famous in European politics as the first openly “transgender” member of any European national legislature. In 1994 he helped organise Italy’s first Gay Pride festival in Rome.

Gallo, whose casket was decorated with a scarlet scarf, was known for his promotion of Marxist ideologies, and was popular with the more radical end of the homosexualist movement having participated in June 2009 in the Genoa Pride demonstration, complaining to the press about the “uncertainties” of Catholic teaching on homosexuality.

Gallo was called Gay Character of the Year by homosexualist activists. In March this year Don Gallo told media that the Catholic Church needs an openly gay pope
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/03/07/Italian-priest-calls-for-gay-pope/UPI-54211362661597/
and said that homosexual priests should be allowed to “express” their sexuality. “Because repression leads to pedophilia,” Gallo told ANSA news agency, adding that he had been sexually abused as a young priest.

No formal canonical sanction was ever laid against him during his priestly career. An obituary in Avvenire, the Italian bishops’ official paper, called Gallo “Priest of the road for the weak,” and said he gave “a witness of Christ and of the Church.”

Under the governance of Cardinal Bagnasco, who had been named a “front runner” for the last Conclave, Genoa is a haven for priests who openly oppose Catholic teaching and discipline.

When this was taking place, 29 years old male Andrew Mbugua Ithibu goes to court to have his name changed from Andrew Mbugua Ithibu to Audrey Mbugua Ithibu. He went to court after he was unable to win Government recognition of her new status as a woman.

She accuses the national examinations body of preventing her from being employed by refusing to change her academic certificates to reflect her current gender status. The case is seeking orders to compel the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) to change her names in the examination certificate.

Audrey says she was born male and diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder seven years after completing High School and scoring a grade of A-minus. After completing High School in 2001, Andrew decided she wanted to be a female and chose the name Audrey.

Another shocking story making the headline this month was that of a Form Three Audrey Janet Radul who was abducted on her way to barber shop to have her hair cut on May 9. Her teacher at Nyamonye Girls’ High School in Bondo, Siaya County, had sent her to have her hair cut because it had chemical, which was against school rules.

She went missing since May 9 but resurfaced 21 days later on Wednesday, the day the *Daily Nation* published a story about how she went missing without trace
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Girl-went-for-haircut-never-to-return-/-/1056/1865590/-/x7f1f7/-/index.html
. She was in Bondo at the shopping centre heading to the barber shop to cut her hair when a saloon car approached her.

The man asked her for directions to a place she did not know. Although she told him she had no idea, he insisted on shaking her hand. She later found herself in a dark room. The man had told her to mind her on business and keep quiet if she wanted to live long.

Janet described the room where she was taken hostage as very dark and she could not distinguish day from night. The room had no ventilation and the door was always closed from the outside.

As days went by, two other girls were brought in; one a Form Two student and the other a Standard Seven pupil. They were called Marion and Victoria respectively; Marion was in a grey skirt, white shirt and grey windbreaker while Victoria was in a blue uniform with a white collar.

Later, some two men — an Indian and an African — came for the two and she remained alone again. The men appeared to be dealing in sex trade because she heard one say: ‘I like this little one, she looks so young. He was referring to Marion the class seven girl,”

Another shocking news making headline was that of a 20-year-old man from USA confessed to smothering a 14-year-old girl, keeping her body in a suitcase, and trying to set her remains on fire because she would not have an abortion.

In another story, 26-year-old pregnant mother Zhang Yinping was dragged to the local Family Planning Office in Yuyue, Hubei, for a forced abortion. Despite being 6-months pregnant, the Family Planning Officials reportedly went ahead with the forced surgery. After the surgery, Ms. Zhang suffered a massive hemorrhage and died the following morning on May 24th.

China’s one-child policy is routinely enforced through brutal measures including forced abortions and sterilizations, and crippling fines that can amount to several times a family’s annual income.

It is at the time statistics from the Nepalese Health Ministry indicate that more than 95,000 abortions were performed between April 2010 and April 2011, up from 89,000 the year before and 51,000 the year before that.

In 2002, Nepal legalized abortion until the 12th week of pregnancy, a deadline that is extended until the 18th week in cases of rape, incest, fetal disabilities, or if the woman’s health is in danger.

It is quite shocking that at Barcelona’s Sant Pau Hospital, which is co-administered by the Catholic Archdiocese of Barcelona, killed an unborn child earlier this month in a pre-scheduled abortion based on the “suspicion” of deformities that normally do not pose a medical danger to the mother, according to internal hospital documents obtained by LifeSiteNews.com.

The documents contradict repeated and vehement denials by Barcelona’s Cardinal Archbishop Lluis Martinez Sistach, who has dismissed numerous reports published in the Spanish media and abroad regarding the killing of the unborn at the facility since they first began to be published in 2010.

The documents, written in Catalonian and Spanish, include copied text in Word format apparently taken from hospital computer records, as well as two screen shots of hospital computers. They indicate that a woman entered the hospital on May 13 at 10 a.m. “for a medical interruption of pregnancy because of a suspicion of fetal osteochondrodysplasia with thoracic hypoplasia.”

According to standard medical references, osteochondrodysplasia is a disorder that causes stunted bone growth and is often associated with dwarfism. Thoracic hypoplasia is a lack of complete growth in the chest area.

The archbishop of Barcelona, Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach, has stonewalled pro-life groups for years regarding numerous reports of abortions at the hospital, which began appearing in the media in 2010, when the Spanish newspaper *ABC *revealed government records indicating that several Church-affiliated hospitals in the Catalonia region had been performing abortions for years.

In 2011, the Cardinal began to publicly deny the reports, claiming that abortions do not occur at Sant Pau, adding that an order had been given not to perform abortions.

However, the evidence of the killing of unborn children at Sant Pau has continued to pile up.

The sad news is that after your abortion, you may go through a number of different emotions. Some women feel relieved; some feel sadness and grief, whereas others may have mixed feelings.

You may also develop an infection after your abortion, heavy vaginal bleeding with large clots, severe lower abdominal pain, high temperature and generally feeling unwell, unusual or unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge.

*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: MPS AND LOVE OF MONEY

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2013

Ecclesiastes 5:10 warns Kenyan Members of Parliament against and consequences of love money: “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless”- For the love of money is the root of all evil, and it destroys men’s lives.

According to this saying, all immorality and wickedness is caused by money. It implies that all immorality and wickedness is caused by people loving money, not by money itself. Kenyans MPs should know that money is the means and not the end. In other words, having a lot of money is great, but having a lot of money should not be an ultimate goal.

Love of money is closely related to the lust. In the Book of Proverbs (Mishlai), among the verses traditionally associated with King Solomon, it states that the Lord specifically regards “six things the Lord hateth, and the seventh His soul detesteth”, namely:

1. A proud look

2. A lying tongue

3. Hands that shed innocent blood

4. A heart that devises wicked plots

5. Feet that are swift to run into mischief

6. A deceitful witness that uttereth lies

7. Him that soweth discord among brethren

Another list, given this time by St Paul’s letter to Galatians 5:19-21. It includes more of the traditional seven sins: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, “and such like”.

St Paul goes on to say that the persons who commit these sins “shall not inherit the Kingdom of God”, they are usually listed as (possible) mortal sins rather than capital vices.

Against the background that Civil Society equated MPs’ greed to pigs. They were not saying that MPs are pigs. They were simply comparing their bad character and behavior to that of the pigs.

Pigs have become synonymous with several negative attributes, especially greed, gluttony, and uncleanliness, and these ascribed attributes have often led to critical comparisons between pigs and humans.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells about the youngest son coming to his father to ask for his inheritance ahead of time. He then took the inheritance and ran away to spend it all on having a good time. He had plenty of “friends” to help him spend it but quickly ran out of his inheritance funds.

Then he was reduced to working in a pig pen and the pigs ate better than he. For a Jew, to tend to pigs was the height of humiliation since they were deemed unclean according to the Old Testament dietary laws.

Kenyan demonstrators released a litter of pigs and poured blood on the pavement outside the gates of parliament in Nairobi to protest a proposed law that would raise wages for parliamentarians.

Police and parliament officials chased the pigs after using tear gas, batons and water cannons to disperse the nearly 250 protesters who marched through downtown Nairobi and sat down at the entrance to parliament.

The names of specific MPs have been written on the bodies of some of the pigs. Yet Kenyan parliamentarians are already some of the best paid on the continent. In January, parliamentarians voted themselves a $107,000 send-off bonus, their last work before parliament closed ahead of elections, after earlier efforts to grant themselves the windfall were vetoed by the then President Mwai Kibaki.

Like Orwell’s Animal Farm where the animals revolted against the cruel human leaders and set up a better method of farm management where all animals are equal, the protesters wanted the MPs recalled back so that Kenyans can vote leaders who can serve them and not leaders who enrich themselves.

In Orwell’s Animal Farm, as time passes, the new leaders become greedy and corrupt, and the other animals realize conditions are just as miserable as before. The pigs are one of the most significant of these connections, representing the communist rulers of Russia, like Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky.

In the novel Animal Farm, the pigs represent the communist leaders of Russia in the early 1900s. In Buddhism the pig is a symbol of ignorance. In ancient Christian symbolism the pig is symbol of greed. Jewish, Moslums and Islamic cultures view the pig as unclean and they are forbidden to eat pork.

The following are my suggested biblical texts for MPs to reflect upon

1 Timothy 6:10-For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Hebrews 13:5-Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Luke 12:15-And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Matthew 6:24-“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Matthew 6:31-33-Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

1 John 3:18-Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

2 Timothy 3:2-For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.

1 Timothy 6:9-10- But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Romans 13:9- For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 6:19-21-“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2 Corinthians 7:1- Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Romans 5:8-But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 14:15- “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Proverbs 23:4-5-Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. Proverbs 13:11- Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Revelation 2:4- But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Luke 16:19-31- “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table.

Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

Proverbs 30:8-9- Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Proverbs 28:20-A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 23:4-Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. 1 John 2:15-Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 Timothy 6:9-11-But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. Luke 12:15-21-And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Real contentment will not be found in the riches this world has to offer, but only when we can be happy with what we have, and not believing it is in what we do not have (Heb. 13:5). Real contentment will be found when the Lord blesses those whose hunger is for righteousness and not material goods (Matt. 5:6).

Solomon himself learned this lesson the hard way, after many attempts to find happiness in material pleasures (Eccl. 2:4-10). His conclusion was that it was all “vanity and grasping for the wind” (Eccl. 2:11).

Real treasure is not the riches the world sees, but we can hold one great treasure in our hands: the word of God (Psa. 19:10). The psalmist said it best when he said of the word of God, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

In the precious words of God are found things more valuable than any earthly treasure, for these are the words of life (John 6:63); these are the words by which we may be saved from our sins (Acts 11:14); these are the words given to us by God that we might know His will and the very words that will judge us in the end (John 12:47, 48)! Our MPs and all of us need these words!

GOD BLESS KENYA

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

CONCERNS OVER FATHER DOLAN’S CALL TO CONDOMS USE

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from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2013

A caller was so worried yesterday after reading the article by Fr Gabriel Dolan on the use of condoms. He wondered whether the Kenya Episcopal Conference would spare when he expressed his opinion that condoms can be used to prevent life-threatening HIV transmission when one partner is positive while the other is negative.

I do not think the bishops will have a major issue with him since the bishop who welcomed him in his diocese is of the same opinion. Mombassa Archbishop Boniface Lele holds that couples can use to condoms when one is negative while the other is positive.
http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/topics/hivaids/bishopssupportcondoms.asp

Furthermore, Fr Dolan is not the first cleric to endorse the use of condoms to prevent life-threatening HIV transmission. In February 2005 a Vatican Cardinal was the latest church official – the most senior so far – to endorse the use of condoms to prevent life-threatening HIV transmission, as the debate on the issue continues to rage around the world. The Tablet – Vatican cardinal breaks ranks over condoms.
https://thetablet.co.uk/article/1666

Cardinal Georges Cottier, the theologian of the papal household, told the Italian news agency Apcom that the use of condoms was ‘legitimate’ to save lives in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia where the Aids pandemic has been catastrophic. He argued that condoms should be tolerated as a ‘lesser evil’ in instances where the ideals of abstinence and fidelity are simply not realistic.

Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Archbishop of Brussels, and Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg, South Africa, are among several church leaders who have voiced their support for the use of condoms to limit the spread of Aids.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, who chairs the Pontifical Council for Health, recently appeared to recognise the right of a spouse whose husband has HIV/Aids to demand that he use a condom, according to a report by the Italian daily La Repubblica.

This is similar opinion like that of Lele who is convinced when faced with the prospect of families being wiped out by an infected spouse infecting their partner, a condom could be a life-saver.

According to yesterday’s article run by Saturday Nation entitled: Churches have abandoned Social Justice Fr Dolan argued that while our religious leaders may well be right about condoms, married couples make choices of their own and he will not condemn them.

This is not only because morality is all about making informed decisions and taking responsibility for our actions, because Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable but churches today worship power and preaches a prosperity gospel.

He also warns us not to judge. The only time he is angry and judgmental himself is on the subject of the poor in Mt 25. He condemned religious leaders of his day for laying heavy burdens on the shoulders of the common folk and not lifting a finger to remove them (Mt 23).

According to Fr Dolan, instead of bishops using much of their time discussing about the use of condoms they should discuss how to assist 18 million Kenyans living on less than Sh100 a day. This is how they are going to be judged according to Matthew 25.

We will be judged by how we treated ‘the least of these’ brothers and sisters of Jesus. Our church leaders will be judged how they viewed IDPs, slum dwellers, people with HIV, albinos, autistic children, widows and orphans and every other forgotten sector of society as our own kith and kin because when we ignore them we reject the divinity and dignity present in each of them.

Fr Dolan instead expected the bishops to join Rev Timothy Njoya who was the only religious leader involved in protesting the greed of the latest bunch of parliamentarians. This is because authentic religion is about mercy and challenging unjust systems and laws that shackle the marginalised in our midst.

That is also why, like Njoya Jesus would have cleansed Parliament with a whip like he cleansed the temple of money dealers two millennia ago. In the Day of Judgment God will ask what each person did to help the poor and needy: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation. People are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor. As church leaders we need to discuss and involve topics such as affordable access to health care, especially for low income households and families.

As church leaders we do not want lay people to rate us as worse than our MPs who instead of giving service to their electorates they discuss how much money they should earn. We do not want them to look at us greedy leaders whose objectives are not only limited to money and earthly pleasures but leadership and power.

We do not want to create an environment where lay people look at us as if we are the only ones who are always right in the name of Jesus while we remain secret sinners covered with the name of Jesus by giving them heavy burdens that we cannot be able to carry by ourselves.

We do not want people we serve to suffer under us because they have nowhere to take their complains when they think we have offended them. In this way they will remain traumatised forever. Their consolation is only that in heaven no different from lay person and religious leader.

Social justice rightly understood is a specific habit of justice that is “social” in two senses. First, the skills it requires are those of inspiring, working with, and organizing others to accomplish together a work of justice.

These are the elementary skills of civil society, through which free citizens exercise self–government by doing for themselves (that is, without turning to government) what needs to be done.

Although in the church structure there is no civil society, there are some incidences where the faithful have protested against their church leaders, like what happened in Yei diocese in South Sudan in 1980s and recent one in Nigeria where faithful protested against the installation of Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke as the bishops of the diocese of Ahiara.

Despite protests from the local Christians who wanted one of their own appointed, Bishop Okpaleke formerly a priest of the Awka diocese was installed on May 21, 20 13 under high security outside his new diocese, at Seat of Wisdom Seminary in Ulakwo, in the Archdiocese of Owerri due to the strong opposition among the local Mbaise community.

The Mbaise are a tribe of the Igbo, one of the three major ethnic groups of Nigeria. Most Christians in Nigeria are Igbo, and reside in the south-east of the country.

The first time I met Fr Gabriel Dolan was in November 2003 when he and three human rights activists were arrested and put in Kitale police custody for obstructing the Vice-President’s motorcade.

The four were protesting against landgrabbing. They wanted to present a memorandum on land grabbing to the vice-president Moody Awori as he visited the Kitale prison. The Government subsequently agreed to investigate how the land in question was allocated to senior government officials and both in the past and the current Governments in vain. This is because the ‘untouchables’ were involved. Fr Dolan was released after an order from Vice-President.

Although Emeritus Nairobi Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki was angry with Fr Dolan, arguing that he would have not protested before consulting with the hierarchy before undertaking the protest, Fr Dolan received widespread support from other church leaders and the Catholic faithful, peaceful demonstrations, including the Kenya Episcopal Conference who came to his defense by saying that he had the right to meet Vice-President Moody Awori over the grabbed Kitale Prison land.

“Kenya is now a free society. It is clear to the KEC that Fr Dolan had every right to peacefully meet the Vice-President, whose ministerial docket includes the prisons,” the chairman, the Right Rev Cornelius Korir argued.

But this of course did not make his nice ending. He lost his right to fight for the rights of voiceless in Kitale- came back to Nairobi with a mission to begin a justice and peace centre to no success since Ndingi was still the Nairobi Archbishop. He was eventually received by Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa to work with him where he is to date.

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 SOUNDS ALARM OVER THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

In his homily during the canonisation ceremony on Sunday, Pope Francis sounded the alarm over the persecution of Christians today, stating: “We ask God to sustain the many Christians who, today, in many parts of the world, right now, still suffer violence.”

Apart from Vatican’s concern over attacks on Christians in the Middle East, including Egypt’s Coptic Christians, churches in Nigeria suffer a great deal in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists, Boko haram. Churches have been bombed in Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, Syria, just to mention a few.

Since Islamists rose to power after Egypt’s 2011 uprising that forced out longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, Christians have grown more fearful of intimidation and violence from fellow Egyptians, especially ultraconservative Salafis.

Muslims have attacked churches there and forced Christians to close their shops. Members of the Christian man’s family have been arrested, including his mother and father, after a prosecutor accused them of collaborating in hiding the woman.

In the past, similar incidents have triggered deadly sectarian violence. In 2010, the ultraconservative Muslim Salafis claimed that Camilla Shehata, a Coptic Christian wife of a priest, had converted to Islam, but was abducted by the church to force her to return to Christianity.

Iraq’s branch of al-Qaida used the incident as justification for an attack on a Baghdad church that killed 68 people, and threatened to conduct similar attacks in Egypt until the church released her. On Dec. 31, 2011, a suicide bomber killed at least 21 Christians at a church in the port city of Alexandria — an attack linked to the Shehata case.

In May 2011, at least 12 people were killed and a Cairo church was burned in clashes after a Christian woman had an affair with a Muslim man. When she disappeared, the man alleged that Christian clergy had snatched her and were holding her prisoner in a local church because she had converted to Islam.

Separately, dozens of mostly masked protesters hurled stones and firebombs in clashes with riot police at Egypt’s presidential palace in a Cairo suburb. Protests have become a weekly occurrence in Egypt with unrest continuing since the 2011 uprising.

In Asia the story is the same. Asia News recently published a terrifying story. “Christian tombs were recently desecrated and a young Christian woman was gang-raped for an entire night. In both cases, police refused to file a First Information Report, allowing the culprits to escape justice.”

The Christian minority in Pakistan is persistently abused. “Whether it involves Christian-owned land and property or individuals who are targeted because they are defenceless, victims will not find justice with the country’s legal system.

The Pakistan Christian Post reports: “Muslim landowners destroyed and desecrated a Christian graveyard, using a tractor to plough over a number of tombs. Buried coffins were broken and the bones of the dead were brought to the surface. The local police refused to open an inquiry, whilst the landowners utter threats against local Christians to get them to stop legal proceedings.”

Islamic Jihad circulated this frightening report from Pakistan: “A powerful Muslim businessman, with the help of a group of accomplices, kidnapped two Christian sisters, forced them to convert to Islam and marry him.

“The girl’s father reported the kidnapping to the police but the police blocked investigations by reversing the facts: the daughters fled because of their father’s violence.

“A priest from the diocese of Faisalabad points out that the kidnapping of young women has become “common practice”, because the authorities and police are “puppets in the hands of extremists.”

The word “violence” can be defined to extend far beyond pain and shedding blood. It carries the meaning of physical force, violent language, fury and, more importantly, forcible interference.

Violence also refers to that which is psychologically destructive, that which demeans, damages, or depersonalizes others. In view of these considerations, violence may be defined as follows: any action, verbal or nonverbal, oral or written, physical or psychical, active or passive, public or private, individual or institutional/societal, human or divine, in whatever degree of intensity, that abuses, violates, injures, or kills.

Some of the most pervasive and most dangerous forms of violence are those that are often hidden from view (against women and children, especially); just beneath the surface in many of our homes, churches, and communities is abuse enough to freeze the blood.

Moreover, many forms of systemic violence often slip past our attention because they are so much a part of the infrastructure of life (e.g., racism, sexism, ageism). Thus, under his definition, Christian violence includes “forms of systemic violence such as poverty, racism, and sexism.

Approximately 10 per cent of the 2 billion Christians in the world suffer persecution. This means that some 200 million Christians suffer harsh repercussions because of their religion.

Persecution of Christians often serves as an indicator of the status of religious freedom for other minorities, since where Christians are persecuted, other religions tend also to suffer.

A more startling figure on Christian persecution was published by the German news agency, IDEA. It claimed that since the crucifixion of Christ, more than 43 million Christians have been killed for their faith.

It includes persecution of Catholics mostly, before and at the beginning, of the Spanish Civil war (1936–1939) which involved the murder of almost 7,000 priests and other clergy, as well as thousands of lay people, by sections of nearly all the leftist groups because of their faith.

The Republican government which had come to power in Spain in 1931 was strongly anti-Catholic, prohibiting religious education – even in private school, prohibiting any education by religious institutes, seizing Church property and expelling the Jesuits from the country.

During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939, and especially in the early months of the conflict, individual clergymen and entire religious communities were executed by leftists, which included communists and anarchists.

The death toll of the clergy alone included 13 bishops, 4,172 diocesan priests and seminarians, 2,364 monks and friars and 283 nuns, for a total of 6,832 clerical victims. On the night of 19 July 1936 alone, some fifty churches were burned. In Barcelona, out of the 58 churches, only the Cathedral was spared, and similar desecrations occurred almost everywhere in Republican Spain.

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 CHRISTIAN MINISTRY TO CONSTRUCT HEALTH FACILITY IN SIAYA COUNTY.

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By Agwanda Saye

A Christian Organization Ministry is set to construct a health centre which is to cost Kshs 5 million within Siaya County to boost health care within the area.

Salem Orphanage Ministries head Bishop Pheobe Onyango said the clinic sponsored by Unbox Life International and her Kisumu Based Ministry is to serve those who are living along the beaches and other adjacent areas of Lake Victoria within Bondo District in Siaya County .

“We have palns to develop aclinic around this area to address the lack of proper medication in the area far away because even NGO’s have ignored it” she said.

KENYA: FREE MEDICAL CAMP BY SALEM MINISTRIES WITHIN SIAYA COUNTY.

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By Agwanda Saye

Salem Ministries which is a Kisumu based Christian Ministry will host a free medical camp within Siaya County the birthplace of the USA President Barrack Obama which will be conducted by a group of volunteer nurses from California and Washington Seattle from the United States of America.

The free medical camp will take place at Uhasi in Pala Sub Location

According to the head of Salem Ministries Bishop Pheobe Onyango the free medical camp will take place between 13th and 14th of May this year and will comprise eight people from the US under Unbox Life and together with local nurses and doctors.

“There will be general treatment and the main target will be to try and de worm the children and test and treat malaria” Onyango added.

She added that her organization targets to offer the services to over two thousand people for the two days event.

“We target people from all the Constituencies making Saiya County to come for the free medical camp and we hope that people from Ugenya,Alego,Rarieda,Gem ,Bondo and Ugunja constituencies will attend ,my worry is that the duration might be a challenge but we will try to attend as many as possible “she added.

She however said that should they be overwhelmed by the number of those seeking medical attention then they might be forced to add another day.

“She added that she has followed all the laid down procedures with the authorities in regard to the event saying all the authorities concerned are fully aware of the free medical camp.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING ON CONDITION OF WORKERS

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from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Following my article of yesterday on middle class Kenyans continue to be exploited every time Labour Day being celebrated, some of our readers have sent in some comments and queries.

Peres Were of the graphic design, Westalnds-Nairobi asks: “Father, do you think government of Kenya will ever listen to the cry of middle class?”- Kizito Nyongesa from Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) writes: “Father Omolo thank you very much for your News Dispatch, they have helped me to have big picture on many things happening around us.”

The third reader is a Theology three Seminarian from Nairobi who does not want his name to be mentioned for fear of his authorities. He describes a sad and painful story where his parish priest is exploiting his cook by giving only Ksh 5,000 as his salary every month.

This cook has children to take to school, wife to take care of, medical care, food, clothing, etc. This is the same person who cooks, washes the clothes of the priests and irons them. When he asks the priest to add his salary, the priest tells him he has no money since the sadaka (offertory) is not enough.

But this priest is able to entertain his friends with more than Ksh 5,000 every week. He drives luxurious car, pays school fees to his siblings, able to talk on his phones hours and hours and many other things that cannot be counted here all.

This seminarian wants to know whether there is a place this cook can complain, that is a kind of a union defending the rights of the workers. The seminarian goes on to say that even it there was this cook may be afraid to go because when the priest discovers it will be the end of his job.

This story is just one sample of how many workers have been exploited in church institutions which are supposed to defend their rights. Most of the workers in these institutions have been treated like beasts of burden- an animal, such as a donkey, ox, or elephant, used for transporting loads or doing other heavy work.

The principles of Catholic social teaching on this issue are very clear. One reason compelling Leo XIII to write Rerum Novarum was because of the reason that middle class workers have been exploited like beats of burden. Leo XIII – Rerum Novarum.
http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vatican.va%2Fholy_father%2Fleo_xiii%2Fencyclicals%2Fdocuments%2Fhf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum_en.html&ei=FvCBUaDxJYbYswa-kIH4Cg&usg=AFQjCNHZZv4Y-UQdX6cekrJXwHf2yv9FsQ&bvm=bv.45960087,d.bmk

His conviction was that the present age has handed over the working poor to inhumane employers and greedy competitors. He saw the working poor as needy and helpless and insufficiently protected against injustices and violence. His sympathy went out to these poor, who have a “downcast heart”.

Leo felt that most of the working poor live undeservedly in miserable and wretched conditions with no medical care, minimal wage, no retirement benefits, no savings, and no holidays- they overworked as if they were not human beings created in image of God.

That is why even more significantly, Leo challenged the position of those who use religion to support their oppression of the poor. In a clear anticipation of what would later be known as the preferential option for the poor.

The working poor, Leo asserts, should be liberated from the savagery of greedy people. He wanted the poor to understand that the lowest in society cannot be made equal with the highest and that poverty is no disgrace.

Leo XIII made it clear that the poor and the exploited were not to accept unjust treatment as though it were inevitable, and that they were to stand up for their rights at the same time that they helped to preserve good order in society.

His advice to them was: “protect your own interests, but refrain from violence and never riot; your demands should be reasonable; press your claims with reason; form unions but do not strike.

Leo XIII wanted the working poor to protect their interests, to make demands, to press their claims, and the principal means for doing this was the formation of unions. In their efforts to claim their rights, the working poor should find in the government an ally, and Leo made it clear that the working poor should be given special consideration by the government.

Rerum Novarum also contained a message to those who deal with the working poor. For Leo, employers have clear moral obligations: workers are not to be treated as slaves; the dignity of your workers’ human personality must be respected; do not use people as things for gain; do not oppress the needy and wretched for your own profit.

Leo tells the wealthy the same thing he told the working poor: Christian morals must be re-established, for true dignity resides in moral living. Morality for the wealthy employers consists in coming to terms with their “proud spirit” and being “moved toward kindness”. They are to be mindful of their duties, which mean that they are not to oppress workers with unjust burdens or inhuman conditions.

The encyclical Rerum Novarum is considered the first great social encyclical of modern times. It was published by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891, a landmark date in the history of the Church Magisterium Forty years later, Pius XI commemorated it with the encyclical Quadragessimo Anno, and on the eightieth anniversary Paul VI issued his letter Octogessima Adveniens. Finally, John Paul II commemorated the ninetieth anniversary with the most recent of the great social encyclicals, Laborem Exercens.

All these encyclicals emphasize the important of the main fundamental rights which include the right to life, liberty, and security of person; the right to physical and moral integrity; the right to sufficient and necessary means to live in a becoming manner (food, clothing, housing, rest, health care, social services).

The right to security in case of sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, unemployment, and any involuntary loss of the means of subsistence; the right to due respect for one’s person and good name.

The right to education; the right of assembly and of association; the right to form unions; the right to participate actively in public life; the right to personal participation in attaining the common good; the right to the legal protection of one’s rights.

It is God’s will that man should engage in work, an activity which encompasses all those human efforts which aim at improved conditions of life (or better still, the process by which man understands, cares for, superintends, and transforms the earth and its resources).

When man was created in the image and likeness of God, man received the command to rule the world, subduing the earth and all it contains, thus continuing and cooperating in the creative work of God.

Pope Francis I in his homily on the feast of St Joseph the worker emphasized this fact. The Book of Genesis tells us that God created man and woman by entrusting to them the task of populating the Earth and subjugating it, which does not mean to exploit it, but to cultivate and guard it, to care for it with their own labour (cf. Gen 1:28; 2:15). On St. Joseph the Worker | ZENIT – The World Seen From Rome.
http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zenit.org%2Fen%2Farticles%2Fon-st-joseph-the-worker&ei=XAmCUazKB4zJrQeX7oHoCw&usg=AFQjCNH0uirUdFU6_rhNpGgmFIz-4n_x8Q

The work is part of the plan of God’s love; we are called to cultivate and safeguard all the goods of creation and in this way we participate in the work of creation! The work is fundamental to the dignity of a person.

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

THE BIG DEBATE ON ‘GOOD CATHOLICS USE CONDOMS

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from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013

Some of our readers have requested if I could make a comment on the Archbishop Peter Kairo of Nyeri’s statement on Sunday at St Cyprian Kagicha Catholic Church in Othaya that the position of the church was clearly against the use of condoms, when Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI encourages the use of it.

Although Benedict was quoted by some sections of media to have said that the use of condom in the case of prostitution was “first step” towards morality for the prostitute to use condom “in order to diminish the risk posed to another person is intending to reduce the evil connected with his or her immoral activity, the church hierarchy has maintained the pope was misquoted.

The media reported that the pope pointed out that the use of a condom ‘with the intention of reducing the risk of infection, can be a first step in a movement towards a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality- An action which is objectively evil, even if a lesser evil, can never be licitly willed.

The pope made in an interview with journalist Peter Seewald regarding condom use in 2010. The interview attracted attention in the media. This explanation was interpreted by many as a change of tack by the Vatican which necessitated a clarification from the Vatican that “the pope does not morally justify the disordered exercise of sexuality, but maintains that the use of the condom to diminish the danger of infection may be “a first assumption of responsibility”, as opposed to not using the condom and exposing the other person to a fatal risk.”

A number of Episcopal conferences have also been quoted to have suggested that condom use may be acceptable in some circumstances to prevent Aids. One of the first Episcopal conferences to take such a stance was the French Bishops Council which asserted in 1989 that, “The whole population and especially the young should be informed of the risks.

Archbishop Kairo while reacting to an advertisement which appeared on the Sunday Nation said: “As the Catholic Church we are not promoting use of condoms. I don’t agree with the advertisements on the billboards and newspapers that say Catholics believe in sex which is sacred and that they believe in using condoms.

The advertisement was run by Catholics for Choice movement advocating for use of condoms to save life. The advert attempts to redefine church teachings on condoms, saying- “Good Catholics use condoms.” Good because they save life.

According to Kairo the stand of the church on sex was that married couples must be faithful to each other and unmarried women and girls must abstain from sexual activities until marriage.

“We as Christians should learn how to live respecting each other in the holy sacrament of marriage and I urge the youths to respect and guard themselves in our day-today as the world is not the same as the olden times,” he said.

The Archbishop stated that the Catholic Church did not comply in any way with the campaign dubbed “Good Catholics Use Condoms.” In other words-‘Bad Catholics Use Condoms’.

While the Catholic Church hierarchy argues that the Church is concerned that promotion of condom use will lead to irresponsible, risky sexual behavior (promiscuity and prostitution), those who advocate for the use of condoms argue that if used during the intercourse it will reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases.

They argue that as a method of birth control, male condoms put on a man’s erect penis and physically to block ejaculated semen from entering the vagina, it has the advantage of being inexpensive, easy to use, having few side effects, and offering protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

Male condoms have been used for at least 400 years, having been one of the most popular methods of contraception in the world since the 19th century. Its disadvantage however is that, it may slip off the penis after ejaculation, break due to improper application or physical damage (such as tears caused when opening the package), or break or slip due to latex degradation (typically from usage past the expiration date, improper storage, or exposure to oils).

Some couples also find that putting on a condom interrupts sex, and therefore they can do without it during sex, and only to incorporate condom application as part of their foreplay to prolong erection and delayed ejaculation. This is because in some men use of condoms during intercourse make them loose sexual excitement.

In 1996, the Social Commission of the French Bishops’ Conference said that condom use “can be understood in the case of people for whom sexual activity is an ingrained part of their lifestyle and for whom [that activity] represents a serious risk.”

In 1993, the German Bishops Conference noted: “In the final analysis, human conscience constitutes the decisive authority in personal ethics… consideration must be given…to the spread of Aids. It is a moral duty to prevent such suffering, even if the underlying behavior cannot be condoned in many cases…The church…has to respect responsible decision-making by couples.”

In April 2006, in response to a very specific question from the bioethicist Ignazio Marino, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini opined that in certain cases, the usage of condoms might be allowable stating, “The use of condoms can, in certain situations, be a lesser evil”.

Cardinal Martini, who used to be Archbishop of Milan, made the comments in an interview with the Italian weekly magazine l’Espresso. In it he says that the fight against Aids, which has caused more than three million deaths, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, must be pursued by all available means-Cardinal backs limited condom use. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4929962.stm

This wa about the time the Agence France-Presse reported that a Roman Catholic newspaper in South Africa, The Southern Cross, has threw its support behind a local bishop who believes the church should lift its ban on condom use to prevent HIV infections in Aids-ravaged sub- Saharan Africa.

Bishop Kevin Dowling said that the Aids crisis in South Africa requires the church to permit the use of condoms to stop “transmitting death.” The editorial backed Dowling’s comments, explaining that this view should be seen as an attempt to balance Catholic doctrine with the compassion the Church should how toward the most vulnerable people in society.

The editorial went on to say, “Bishop Kevin Dowling’s contribution to this debate articulates what many Catholics, including moral theologians, have been reasoning for a long time.” One South African Bishop Supports Condoms To Prevent AIDS http://www.religiousconsultation.org/newsletters/January_2002/South%20African%20Bishop%20Supports%20Condoms%20to%20Prevent%20AIDS.htm

Zenit gives the statement by the Vatican reacting on pope’s remarks on condoms. The statement was released on November 21, 2010 by Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office. “STATEMENT ON PONTIFF’S WORDS REGARDING CONDOMS – “The Pope Does Not Reform or Change the Church’s Teaching”. http://www.zenit.org/article-31024?l=english

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

TOUGH QUESTION ON MARRIED ANGLICAN PRIESTS

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
*The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images*
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013

Following my homily on Vocations Sunday, some of you have raised a very tough and challenging question on whether Pope Francis may denounce married Anglican becoming Catholic priests, and whether this will pave way for married priesthood.

My answers to these questions are so simple; first, I do not know whether the pope has the plan to do that, or whether it could pave way for married priesthood. Second, I am not in position to answer these questions since I am not the authority of the Church. I am just a simple priest in the village there serving the people of God.

However, according to the structure, the Vatican’s established: “Personal Ordinariates,” in which Anglicans, including married priests can practice Catholicism, in my own opinion it may not be an easy task for Pope Francis to change this structure.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI made availed this structure on Tuesday October 20, 2009, a new structure to welcome some married Anglican priests into the Roman Catholic fold. This is a canonical structure within the Catholic Church established in accordance with the apostolic constitution *Anglicanorum Coetibus* of 4 November 2009. Click here to read full text- *Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus* providing *for* Perso

http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vatican.va%2Fholy_father%2Fbenedict_xvi%2Fapost_constitutions%2Fdocuments%2Fhf_ben-xvi_apc_20091104_anglicanorum-coetibus_en.html&ei=PGNzUbD6N8WOrQfpiIHICg&usg=AFQjCNH2wyT6HW5qjLS_RYgfSTwm2pATmg
.

This canonical structure enables Anglicans to enter into full communion with the Pope, while maintaining some degree of corporate identity and autonomy with regard to the geographical dioceses for other Catholics of the Latin Church, and preserving elements of their distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical heritage.

In December 2009 Cardinal Levada responded to each of the bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion who signed the October 2007 petition for corporate union with the Catholic Church, stating that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had completed its long and detailed study with the aim of making available a suitable and viable model of organic unity for their group “and other such groups”.

The Traditional Anglican Communion then undertook discussions with those other groups and with representatives of the Catholic episcopal conferences and planned to give a formal response after a meeting of their bishops in Eastertide 2010. A number of Anglican groups soon petitioned the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for acceptance into ordinariates.

In Kenya the Anglicans reacted angrily upon learning that Pope Benedict had allowed married Anglican priests to join the priesthood in the Catholic Church. ACK Archbishop Eliud Wabukala rejected the papal offer arguing it was ill-timed-Row over Pope’s move to court *married Anglican priests* – Daily Nation
http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CF0QFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nation.co.ke%2FNews%2F-%2F1056%2F676610%2F-%2Fuo33jf%2F-%2Findex.html&ei=RZdyUdbOHc6IrAfBs4CIDA&usg=AFQjCNEfA4SstFQRlgXkRX0rkbzW4pfUVA&bvm=bv.45512109,d.bmk
.

The news came at the time the Catholic Church had been battling with rebel priests who have broken away to form splinter groups against the principle of celibacy. Fr Daniel Kasomo, a leading member of Married Priests Now! splinter group who openly admitted to having a family for 20 years. Other splinter groups include Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ and Reformed Catholic Church.

While ordination of married men to the episcopacy is excluded in the Catholic tradition, the Apostolic Constitution’s Complementary Norms include provisions which take into account the position of married former Anglican bishops.

Recently Britain’s most senior Catholic suggested Catholic priests should be able to marry and have children, saying the demand for celibacy was not of “divine origin”.

In one of the most significant breaks with Catholic orthodoxy, Cardinal Keith O’Brien said many priests found it “very difficult to cope” with the celibate life and suggested lifting that ban could soon happen in the wider church-*Marriage* ban for *priests* should be reviewed by next *pope*

http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CGAQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2013%2Ffeb%2F22%2Fmarriage-ban-priest-pope-cardinal&ei=IWRyUanKIaHm7Aam_4C4BQ&usg=AFQjCNHH7QK9qMwNjUIIhp5-qMz5fuFhkA
.

In an interview with the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21552628
, he said there were some elements of Catholic teaching which were “basic dogmatic belief” – such as opposition to abortion and euthanasia. But the proscription against priest’s marrying was not one of them.

While there are people who believe that as Pope Benedict XVI resigned as leader of the Catholic Church, the future of the ordinariate he established regarding marriage in the priesthood is now uncertain, some people believe that by accepting married Anglican priests in Catholic fold it will pave way for married priesthood in the Catholic Church-*Married* Catholic *priest * is a sign of changing times – Features
http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CHIQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ubspectrum.com%2Ffeatures%2Fmarried-catholic-priest-is-a-sign-of-changing-times-1.2992343&ei=IWRyUanKIaHm7Aam_4C4BQ&usg=AFQjCNHmyp9MhkTTz9V0d5ik2GvJ86_k7g
.

It is at the same time Archbishop John Hepworth, the twice-married Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, who led negotiations with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, said he was “profoundly moved” by the Pope’s decision and would immediately seek the approval of the group’s 400,000 members worldwide to join.

In a similarly case, Father Ian Hellyer a Roman Catholic priest expressed the desire of making it a come back to the Catholic fold- click here for further readings-The *Catholic priest* with nine children | Life and style | The Guardian
http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CE4QFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Flifeandstyle%2F2011%2Fdec%2F17%2Ffather-hellyer-catholic-priest-nine-children&ei=RZdyUdbOHc6IrAfBs4CIDA&usg=AFQjCNErj6tCm-Y1hZdEx8s5R-4tQQQ9Fw&bvm=bv.45512109,d.bmk
.

*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: GOD FINALLY HEARS THE CRY FOR JUSTICE BY BUTERE GIRLS

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
*The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images*
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

At last the High Court has lifted a ban on the controversial play ‘Shackles of Doom’ by Butere Girls High School saying the move by the government was unlawful. Justice David Majanja ordered that the play must be shown because the Constitution does not allow a ban and it is not enough for the ministry of Education to ban it without reason.

Banned without reason because what the play depicts is real in Kenya. The play captures national ills of nepotism and tribalism which has tempered with development in Kenya since 1963 when Kenya got independence. The play was allegedly banned by the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival Executive Secretary Patrick Sirengo Khaemba.

The suit was filed by human rights activist and a long time friend of mine Okiya Omtatah.

The Permanent Secretary for Education George Godia and Attorney General Githu Muigai were listed as respondents.

Shackles of doom is play that depicts a film shoot set in the land of the Kanas, who refer to themselves as the TRUE KANAS, their land is oil rich but they are ignorant of the treasure that lies beneath their soil….a delegation arrives to their land and offer a beautiful lady – Wamaitha, to be married off to Lopush who is “Kana” in exchange of land where they settle.

Wamaitha is 3 weeks pregnant when they come and Kimani who is purported to be her guardian is responsible, she is married off against her will and her community with great determination and strong will construct “Mafuta Oil Refinery Company”.

During appointing of human resource, job opportunities are given with biasness and nepotism! The people of Kana demand for equal opportunities but are dismissed; only one person is considered from the marginalised community but as a watchman.

On the eve of Lopush and Wamaitha’s wedding, Kimani who is the CEO of the refinery company has an order to deliver 600 barrels of oil and dictates that everybody works on the night shift including those who were on duty during daytime. Lopush is not spared either because of his wedding that is coming up at the break of dawn; he is forced to be on duty as a security officer.

Kimani invades Lopush’s house demanding for intimacy from Wamaitha, of which she declines and they are caught up in the argument by Lopush who has absconded his duty in rebellion. Kimani hides in the children’s bedroom but unfortunately Lopush finds him, Wamaitha insists that the daughter can bare her witness that she did not fornicate.

As a matter of bad fortune she finds the daughter dead, still and lifeless when she goes to wake her up. Kimani is accused of her demise. A technical hitch occurs in the Mafuta Oil Refinery Company and there is a fire breakout at about the same time, angry villagers are summoned and just when they want to deal with the accused murderer (Kimani), his wife calls and says they are trapped in an inferno and Lopush has the keys to all the exits.

The whole village rush to help but they find a tragic scene, everyone has been consumed by the inferno, Wamaitha breaks news that her dead daughter was Kimani’s child.

The film director calls for cut and signifies end of their shooting, one member of the cast however retorts that the film has no credible resolution and cannot compete favourably, she suggests that all the communities be equally represented in employment opportunities for good relations, harmony and peaceful coexistence. Cameras were rolling in the meantime and the director terms the resolution to be credible.

The play is* written by award winning play-wright Cleophas Malalah, the Kakamega MCA for Mariakalo Ward. The play won Zonal, Divisional, District, Regional levels but banned from being staged at the National Drama Festivals set for Mombasa this month on claims that play is hate speech.*

* *

*The play calls for a thorough clean up of the mess in government key position jobs awarded to one particular ethnic and regional community. It calls for clean up in the *Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administrative beginning with Permanent secretary post, CID Director, GSU post, NSC – Peace and Conflict Management, Government Printer and Senior Director Administration/Internal Security.

Other messes that the play calls upon for a clean up include the Finance Ministry beginning with Permanent Secretary, Pensions secretary, ERD director, D/Finance secretary, and Controller and Auditor General.

Another key position the play calls upon for a clean up include Central Bank beginning with its Govern, Deputy Governor, Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General, Board Secretary, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and Enforcement, Deputy Commissioner, Administration and Deputy Commissioner Procurement.

Other key positions that need clean up include Commissioner for customs services, Senior Deputy Commissioner (Customs), Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Commissioner Domestic Taxes (LTO).

Senior Assistant Commissioner, Security, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Southern Region and Commissioner of Investigation and Enforcement post- Kenya Airports Authority MD, and General Manager Finance.

General Manager Marketing and Business Development, General Manager Information and Communication, Technology, General Manager Security Services, Head of Corporate Communications / PA to the MD, and Head of Procurement and Logistics.

Ministry of Industrialization, Chairman of the National Standards Council, Permanent Secretary, and Chairman of the Board-Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC)- Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Company Secretary, Chief Manager, Energy Transmission, Commercial Services, Distribution Chief Manager, Planning, Research and Performance Monitoring; Eng. Kenya Petroleum Refineries General Manager, Finance Manager, Human Resource Manager and Engineering Manager.

It is Kenyan people’s hope that after Sunday performance by Butere Girls High School Drama Club, current government headed by Hon Ohuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto would have heard the cry of these tender girls, crying for their beloved country Kenya-to act and made balance in these key posts among other posts.

*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*
* *