Maurice Michael Otunga

Maurice Michael Otunga (January 1923 – 6 September 2003) was a Kenyan Catholic prelate and cardinal. He served as the Archbishop of Nairobi from 1971 until his resignation in 1997. Pope Paul VI elevated him into the cardinalate in 1973 as the Cardinal-Priest of San Gregorio Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane in Rome.

The son of a tribal chief in Kenya, Otunga refused to succeed his father in the traditional position in order to pursue a path to the Catholic priesthood after completing his studies at home and in Rome. He was appointed a bishop in the 1950s and transferred to lead a new diocese.

He later was transferred to Nairobi, from where he participated in the Second Vatican Council.

Otunga was known for his strong opposition to the use of condoms, most concerned about their being used for contraception. Despite the spread of AIDS and the recommended use of condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, twice in the 1990s Otunga burnt boxes of condoms before the faithful. He said that contraception was in breach of Christian teaching and that it opposed the doctrine of Humanae Vitae issued in 1968, both of which are accurate teachings of the Catholic Church. He was also a vocal critic of abortion, again following Church teachings which remain unchanged to this day, and was critical of priests who became involved in social and political controversies.

Based on his strong service to the Church, his cause of canonization has commenced. He has been titled as a Servant of God. Otunga attended the four sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). In 1969 he was promoted to the Titular Archbishop of Bomarza.

Later that year, on 15 November 1969, Pope Paul VI nominated him as the Coadjutor Bishop of Nairobi. He would succeed the current archbishop as its head upon his resignation. He succeeded as the Archbishop of Nairobi on 24 October 1971.

He was president of the Bishop's Conference of Kenya.

Otunga lived in modest conditions and eschewed much of the trappings that came with the episcopal office; he even drove in his own Peugeot 304. He often visited President Daniel Arap Moi to urge him to implement democratic reforms and disapproved of priests becoming involved in social or political controversies.

Legacy and honors In late 2016 the government named a street in Nairobi in his honour: "Cardinal Otunga Road".

Beatification process In 2005 plans were announced to consider and launch the cause for the late cardinal's beatification. National bishops made their "ad limina apostolorum" visit to Rome in November 2007 and sought advice on the matter from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The formal petition to the cause was made to Cardinal John Njue on 30 October 2009. Njue wrote on 6 November to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints requesting their approval to initiate the cause. This diocesan investigation closed on 28 September 2013. The documents were sealed in boxes and given to the papal nuncio Charles Daniel Balvo for transfer to the C.C.S. in Rome.

The first postulator for this cause died on 12 August 2012. Since 1 September 2012, the current postulator has been Dr. Waldery Hilgeman.

Views Condoms Otunga opposed the use of condoms for any purpose because of their use for contraception. He urged people to exercise abstinence for birth control. He said that condoms did not solve the HIV/AIDS crisis. He met with local Islamic leaders to jointly conduct ceremonial public bonfires to burn condoms.

Family planning Otunga strongly criticized family planning activists. For instance, he said:

Abortion Otunga was a strong critic of abortion. He said that human life was sacred from the moment of conception until natural death.

Education Otunga supported President Moi's reforms to end sexual education curriculum in schools.

Assistant minister Sharif Nassir asked Otunga on 7 January 1987 to read and understand the Quran, in order to better work for inter-religious dialogue.