Wau priest urges abolition of early marriage

A Catholic priest in Wau Diocese has called for the abolition of early marriages in South Sudan, urging parents and guardians to lead the way in discouraging the culture.

A Catholic priest in Wau Diocese has called for the abolition of early marriages in South Sudan, urging parents and guardians to lead the way in discouraging the culture.

In his sermon at the Holy Family Parish in Nazareth, Wau State on Sunday, Father Marko Mangu urged the congregants especially families not to marry off their daughters below the age of 18 saying it is against the transitional constitution and is harmful to their health.

He also urged parents and guardians to take responsibility of raising children seriously by constantly monitoring their behaviors to avoid involvement in activities that are unacceptable at early ages.

Father Marko Mangu, also the director of the diocese appealed to young people to abstain from sexual activities until they marry or are married in order to avoid early pregnancies, a major cause of maternal mortality.