African cardinal says family breakdown spurs rise in alcoholism
(Oct. 04, 2011) Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi in Kenya is attributing the rise
of alcoholism among Kenyan youth to the breakdown in the family. The cardinal’s comments
followed the deaths of over 30 people, who drank chemical-laced alcoholic beverages.
“In areas where we have strong family support systems, these cases are fewer,” he
said. Parents, according to Cardinal Njue, had abandoned their responsibilities of
bringing up their children, leaving the young ones to grow up on their own. The prelate
called for concerted efforts to restore strong family values, so as to check alcoholism
and drug abuse. He said “The church had stepped in to fill the void by setting up
structures to guide all sectors of the society and instilling strong moral values.”
Cardinal Njue, welcomed government efforts to crack down on illicit and poisonous
liquor but noted these had to be augmented with moral teachings. The government has
launched a major war on illicit and lethal spirits packed in plastic bottles, following
the death of at least 30 people after consuming drinks laced with dangerous chemicals.
However, the church sees the crackdown as only a short-term measure, saying the individual
has to be empowered to make the right decisions. Cardinal Njue said the best place
for instilling such morals was the family, but was disappointed that most families
had fallen apart, exposing children, some at a tender age, to vices. The Catholic
Church, he said, had put in place support mechanisms for people of all ages, to guide
them on Christian values.