The International Journal of African Catholicism, Winter, 2020. Volume 10, Number 1 1 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Winter, 2020. Volume 10, Number 1 Table of Contents THE DILEMMA OF CHILDLESSNESS AMONG THE LUO CATHOLIC FAITHFUL OF WESTERN KENYA By Ephraim Ochieng and Susan Mbula Kilonzo. Page 4 HUMANAE VITAE AT FIFTY: A NIGERIAN MORAL THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE By Rev. Dr Raymond Olusesan Aina (MSP). Page 25 A SEMIOTIC INVESTIGATION OF IFA SYMBOLISM IN RELATIONS WITH ÌBEJÌ AND SAINTS COSMAS AND DAMIAN OF CATHOLIC FAITH By ÒKÉWÁNDÉ, Olúwọlé Tẹ́wọ́gboyè. Page 40 IFÁ SYMBOLISM AND THE CONCEPT OF REINCARNATION: A CHALLENGE FOR THE CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS BY OLÚWỌLÉ TẸ́ WỌ́ GBOYÈ ÒKÉWÁNDÉ Page 71 JUSTICE FOR THE RICH, JUDGMENT FOR THE POOR: ‘ELITE IMMUNITY’, RAMPANT IMPUNITY AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA By Mike, OMILUSI. Page 97 THE EARLY CHURCH CONROVERSIES AND THE PROBLEM OF ECUMENISM IN NIGERIA By Rev. JOHN OKWUDIRI OBINECHE AND NWAKA, CHIGOZIE SAMUEL Page 122 CHRISTIANITY AND INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA By Adolphus Ekedimma Amaefule, SDV. Page 143 PRE-MARITAL PASTORAL COUNSELLING/GO LAA ON ISSUES OF GENDER AND HUMAN SEXUALITY: NAOMI//LABAN SHOWERS IN GABORONE, BOTSWANA By Madigele Tshenolo Jennifer, Dube Musa, Motswapong Elizabeth, Kebaneilwe Mmapula Diana , Gabaitse Rosinah, Setume Doreen, Modie-Moroka Tirelo, Kgalemang Malebogo. Page 177 FIRST SUNDAY WORSHIP IN THE PLACE THE LORD HAS CHOSEN AS HIS OWN: READING DEUTERONOMY 12:13–19 IN HONOR OF HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL DOMINIC EKANDEM OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF IKOT EKPENE By Michael Udoekpo. Page 202 ‘YOU CANNOT STOP RECEIVING THE BODY OF OUR LORD’: THE EUCHARIST IN CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE’S PURPLE HIBISCUS By Adolphus Ekedimma Amaefule, SDV. Page 219 MEDIOCRE BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION: A CRITICAL EVALUATION By Rev. Fr. Dr. Gerald Emem Umoren. Page 232 APPRECIATING RECENT SCHOLARLY INTERPRETATIONS OF 1 CORINTHIANS 15:8 By Christopher Naseri Naseri. Page 254 2 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Winter, 2020. Volume 10, Number 1 BIBLICAL PARADIGMS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN NIGERIA: INTERPRETING JOHN 6:1-15 FROM AN ECO- THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE. By Christopher Naseri and Patrick Bassey. Page 266 BOOK REVIEW: THE JOURNEY OF RECONCILIATION: GROANING FOR A NEW CREATION IN AFRICA. Emmanuel Katongole, By Idara Otu. Page 283 3 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Winter, 2020. Volume 10, Number 1 The Dilemma of Childlessness among the Luo Catholic Faithful of Western Kenya Ephraim Ochieng and Susan Mbula Kilonzo Abstract How does a native Catholic faithful behave when the demands of culture dictate that they disregard the demands of the Church? What choices do they have if they want to fit within the two conflicting cultures? This article examines the place of Catholic childless couples in two conflicting cultures – the Church and the Luo tradition. The findings are part of a larger cross- sectional field research done in Western Kenya. The study targeted Catholic childless couples, Priests, Catechists and Small Christian Community (SCC) leaders. Data was collected through in-depth oral interviews and Focus Group Discussions. The authors show that the notion of childlessness among the Luos of Western Kenya is not just the complete lack of children in marriage. Couples, who have one child or daughters only, are termed as childless. Further, the teachings of the Catholic Church conflict with the traditional Luo worldview on involuntary childlessness. Since Luo Christian childless couples face a number of socio-religious challenges ranging from alienation or stigmatization by the community members to ostracization from Church activities, some seek traditional remedies for their childless marriages against the teachings of the Church. Those who find comfort in the teachings of the Church accept their situation and live with the cultural consequences. We juxtapose this dilemma in the article and recommend a refocus on inculturation to help struggling childless Luo Catholic couples. Key words: Childlessness, Involuntary childlessness, Marriage, Christianity, Catholic Church, Luo Community. Introduction Traditionally, marriage is meant to bring up new members into the family, and by extension the clan, through procreation. Childbearing, therefore, becomes an integral aspect not just within the family, but the society at large (Kenyatta, 1970; Ayayo, 1976; Inhorn, 2007; Nwoye, 2007). To societies that hold the notion that marriage and begetting children are inseparable ingredients, the two rites of passage must be fulfilled. In such a worldview, as “two become one”, the society expects them to beget children and contribute to sustenance of the kinship. Mbiti (1969) argues that for an African to die without getting married and without children is to be completely cut off from the human society, becoming disconnected or an outcast 4 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Winter, 2020. Volume 10, Number 1 and to lose all links with humankind. Kimani (2001) explains that in some African communities, marriage was nullified under two conditions, when either the woman failed to conceive or she was not a virgin. A good amount of scholarly work has devoted time and space to the challenges associated with childlessness within and beyond African families (Mbiti 1969; Ayayo, 1976; Morell, 1994; Kawango, 1995; Kimani 2001; Mboya, 2001; Nwoye 2007, Inhorn, 2007; Yang & Rosenblatt, 2008;). For instance, in her study of health problems of mothers and children, their causes and management, Kawango (1995) found that one of the problems the Luo women faced was infertility. This can be juxtaposed against cultures around the world where marriages survive without children as shown by Morell (1994). Although there are always reasons for voluntary or involuntary childlessness, some scholars have argued that the main problem lies in the very definition and understanding of the meaning of marriage, and the role of the same in the society. Hastings (1973) defines marriage according to the traditional teaching of the Church as a unit, permanent at least by intention of a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and rearing of children and mutual companionship and assistance. He points out that the difference between the Church’s understanding and the African tradition is that: in the traditional understanding, stress is laid upon the production of children and not upon the interpersonal relationship of the couple. While looking at marriage from different angles, Hastings (1973) sees a stretched triangle: the claims of the gospel, the claims of African tradition, and the claims of modern man and woman. This battle over marriage is at the very center of the struggles of traditional African Christian couples. This article examines how Luo Christian families deal with challenges related to childlessness. The Luo community largely believes that children are central in any marriage and a couple must do whatever it takes to have offspring as a way of sustaining the family lineage. This belief is juxtaposed along the requirements of the Catholic Church that the primary role of marriage is companionship. Whereas the traditional approaches to resolving challenges related to childlessness are deemed necessary and sufficient within the Luo culture, the Catholic Church considers them alien and unchristian. Methodology The findings for this article are part of a study conducted from October 2011 to February 2015 in Western Kenya, specifically in Nyanza region, as area occupied by the Luo. The target population was Catholic childless couples, Priests, Catechists and Small Christian Community 5 The International Journal of African Catholicism, Winter, 2020. Volume 10, Number 1 (SCC) leaders. Samples were drawn from these target groups using snowball (for childless couples), purposive (priests and catechists), and, systematic sampling (for SCC leaders). Data was collected through in-depth oral interviews and Focus Group Discussions. This generated qualitative data that was transcribed, coded, analyzed thematically and presented in descriptive form and verbatim narratives. Theoretical Perspectives on Childlessness: A Focus on the Luo community Childlessness as the state of being without an offspring mainly results from infertility/impotence of either of the couple. However, there is voluntary childlessness that happens when a couple chooses not to have children. Morell (1994) calls this voluntary or intentional childlessness. This choice may result from socio-economic factors as some people perceive children as burdensome and too expensive to take care of. Some look at children as a disturbance to their marriage and peace. The primary concern for others is gratification of sexual needs, high unemployment rates, education and career ambition (Kimani, 2001; Morell, 1994; and, Chamie & Mirkin, 2012). Globally, childlessness is influenced by contextual factors. Steinhauer’s study (2013) in Switzerland showed that the German-speaking women who are working and educated choose to be childless. Mariette (2012) showed that nearly half of Canadian couples, that is, 44.5% are voluntarily not having children due to the current economic and social reasons. These categories of childlessness are not within the scope of coverage for this article. Our interest lies in the involuntary childlessness, specifically among the Luos of Western Kenya. While arguing for the importance of children in African communities, Kimani (2001)