By Paride Wani Moses
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Torit has urged families to stop imposing excessive bride wealth demands on prospective grooms, warning that the practice is discouraging many young people from receiving the Sacrament of Marriage in the Church.
Speaking during a Matrimonial Sacrament celebration at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish in Torit on Sunday, Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta said the increasing commercialization of marriage is undermining its spiritual significance and turning a sacred institution into a financial transaction.
“Families, please do not value money more than the sacraments. Many young people do not come to marry in the Church not because they do not want to, but because our traditions have placed many obstacles before them. Marriage, instead of being a covenant, has become a business…”
The bishop expressed concern over what he described as growing competition among suitors based on wealth, saying women should not be treated as commodities to be won by the highest bidder.
He also advised young people to be thoughtful when choosing life partners, cautioning against making decisions based solely on physical attraction, wealth, or first impressions.
“Married people should reflect God’s love through their relationship with one another. Single people should look for good partners and should not rush because of attraction. Wise and responsible people do not reveal everything at once; they allow you to discover their character over time.”
Bishop Lowi emphasized that marriage is a vocation that requires discernment, patience, and a commitment to Christian values.
The Catholic prelate further encouraged Christians to place God at the center of their relationships, saying prayer and faith should guide the process of selecting a marriage partner.
“Choose someone and pray over that choice. God will reveal to you who the right partner is, regardless of whether that person is rich or poor. Continue to trust Him. Let God be first in everything you do, and He will open the way for you.”
His remarks come amid growing concerns that escalating bride wealth demands are making it increasingly difficult for many young couples to formalize their unions through Church marriage, despite their desire to do so.
Church leaders in South Sudan have repeatedly called for a balance between cultural traditions and religious values, arguing that marriage should remain accessible to young couples seeking to build families founded on faith and mutual commitment.