Father John Karimi
Father John Karimi of Kenya felt like he was betraying his congregation. A Catholic priest for 15 years, Father Karimi found it incredibly difficult to abide by the denomination’s strict celibacy policy. He said “like air and food, sεx is a necessity that one can’t do without. It is a basic human need and psychologists can attest to this“.
Father Karimi felt that celibacy was not practical in the mainstream church and decided to stop pretending to people and God about his desire for intimacy. ”I made up my mind to walk out of the Church and have a wife of my own whom I cherish instead of living a hypocritical life and finally go to hell,” he told the Nation in an exclusive interview.
The restrictions regarding celibacy in the Catholic faith were introduced to ensure that priests with a calling to serve God concentrated in spiritual nourishment without interference. It was also introduced to avoid nepotism which was prevalent in one of the oldest churches globally. Before the introduction of the infamous rule, the founding Popes and priests used to influence recruitment of their family members to the Church.
Father Karimi’s first attempt to step down from leadership began in 2004, when he approached the then Murang’a Catholic Bishop Peter Kihara and informed him of his decision. The Bishop assured Father Karimi he’d get used to celibacy over time and did not accept his resignation. He gave him one year to meditate over the issue and provide feedback. Father Karimi approached the Bishop again one year later to inform him that his decision remained the same. The Bishop still refused him of his duties, so he inked a letter to the Pope through the Bishop asking to be relieved of his priesthood duties. Father Karimi never received a response and left unceremoniously and settled in his home. ”I had to leave whether I was allowed to go or not. And I say this with finality,” he said.
Without mincing words, the priest said almost all the priests do not practice celibacy. He disclosed that in his priesthood, he had four different girlfriends. ”I used to make love to these women. More often than not I would sleep with a woman and the following day on Sunday I’m at the altar delivering a sermon and giving out sacrament. Sometimes I would feel so guilty or feel like dying when I thought of the celibacy vows I took,” he said. Father Karimi eventually married his girlfriend Mary Nanjekho. The couple now have three children.
According to Father Karimi, the denomination’s founders had wives and a family. He recommends that celibacy, which he noted was introduced in the 16th century, should be abolished or made optional for the Church to be holy and discharge God’s service without hypocrisy.
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