From Jeremiah Ochieng

Mgala muuwe na haki yake mpe! I think we all have a story or two to share about the nasty experience we have had with the church hierarchy. But am strengthened by the fact that these ills were done by people. the church remains strong and its teaching basic and easy. The church has passed down to us just one major teaching of Jesus. Love one another as I have loved you. That easy law can be followed whether u are priest or even a choir member. And to Okwachs issue about 7 years. I would not be suprised. Why? Al give you one example. In kenya to join the army you must be at least 6 feat and must be able to run etc. My cousin is in the US army and he is about 5 feat and had never run in his life. To get the position he just walked into the army offices. What I mean is this, when u have plenty of aspirants you have to show off. Even a young woman who is being courted by all the men in the village always ups her stakes very high. Its as human as the catholic church which is also human and devine. Meanwhile we are eagerly awaitint the photos to be put in the blog Jeremiah Ochieng BlackBerry® powered by Safaricom


From Gordon

Hey Okwach Emmanuel,
Iolo pi maliet e iya... In fact, you have talked from the deepest of your heart. And as the spanish say: without any load on your tongue... It is good to talk these things out. I've got several food for thought in your mail. But these ones have struck me most: "...What would you have done, having been denied your desire to be a priest seven years after struggling? When you go to address your problems with the relevant authorities they do not listen to you instead they excommunicate you from the church..."The other one is: "...I do not understand why an african has to take seven or more years to become a priest when an american takes a shorter time to be one. How many of you have met Former american marines or teachers who became priests latter after studying for less than the so called seven years? Does it mean we are daft?..."

Though I'm comfortable with my vocation and my church (not some way of doing things of some of the big men)... you have made my mind go back to those years of the 80s when Kenya was a single party state. Ukisema nyweee, you are kicked out of Kanu and even given house arrest, unanyimwa pasaporte etc... That changed when we became multiparty whereby people had options to of this party or the other. Now, it is not an exclusive example but let those who are not comfortable with celibacy or whatever, go where they feel at home... excumunicated? Well, that is automatic according to the norms of the Roman Catholic Church (cannon law) which those crossing over have studiend and know...

On the other note, it is funny when you talk of the seven years, in fact seven is the least one can take. Some go for twelve to thirteen and then you are told NO or you are not even given reason... After moving around this world (4continents out of the 5), I've seen many things - watu wanabembelezwa to be priests while in Kenya if in the first place you have failed KCSE then forget about that thing called VOCATION, you told have it. God does not call "idiots" even if you are a "saint". Then why are we not using the same gauge for all??? Well, all this come to mind when we see things work differently when we always thought it was the way we knew them... And this is not only for priests - it is for nuns and for lay alike... "When I speak, then I'm classified as a rebel..." or should I put it this way: "...when I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist..." Said one latin american bishop. Anyway, I remain with his words. Peace and reconciliation to our church.
Fr. Gordon.