From: Ouko joachim omolo
Voices of Justice for Peace
Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

About ten innocent schoolgirls in Asumbi Boarding Primary School in Homa Bay County last night died when their dormitory caught fire. The nun in charge of the school locked the dormitory and went with the key to the convent.

The reason for locking the dormitory is for fear that girls might sneak out and have sex with boys in the neighborhood. Had the doors been opened these innocent girls would have not perished. Furthermore the convent and the school are far away so the nuns could not hear girls scream.

Although nuns are women who have taken vow of chastity, it would be very naïve to project it to pupils. These girls are growing up and the only way to help them is to educate them on positive approach to their sexuality. Negative approach towards sex will do them more harm than good.

Nuns view on sexuality is drawn from Christian tradition which sees chastity as synonymous with sexual purity. Chastity means not having any sexual relations before marriage. That is why in most schools run by nuns they must make sure that girls and boys remain chaste and any danger that can tempt to break this norm must be avoided at all means.

In Catholic teaching, chastity is placed opposite the deadly sin of lust, and is classified as one of seven virtues. The moderation of sexual desires is required to be virtuous.
Where reason, will and desire can harmoniously have failed to work together to do what is good then measures must be taken to protect the faithful from engaging in unlawful sexual activities.

While adultery is seen as a violation of a moral agreement with one’s spouse, and therefore forbidden, fornication is seen as a violation of the state of chastity. That is why sex is often seen as the root of all evil, or else as something too sacred to allow casual or irreverent exercise of. They see the minds, souls, and bodies of people as belonging to God (or gods), or else, to their spouses, families, communities, nations, civilizations, or humanity as a whole.

Against the background that most religions have rigid, elaborate rules about sexual conduct. The rule is most commonly translated “Do not indulge in sexual misconduct” or “Do not misuse sex.”

It is also why monks and nuns who engage in sexual intercourse are considered “defeated” and are expelled automatically from the order. If a monk makes sexually suggestive comments to a woman, the community of monks must meet and address the transgression.

A monk should avoid even the appearance of impropriety by being alone with a woman. Nuns may not allow men to touch, rub or fondle them anywhere between the collar-bone and the knees. Usually they are encouraged to walk in group of two so as you are protected from sexual dangers.

Even though with the vow of obedience religious are supposed to obey their superiors, nuns in Asumbi disobeyed Education Minister, Mutula Kilonzo who gave directives that holiday tuition should be stopped.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
People for Peace in Africa
Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Peaceful world is the greatest heritage
That this generation can give to the generations
To come- All of us have a role.