I’m sleeping with two of my cousins

Dear Pastor,

I am a regular reader of your column. I am 21 years old and I have three girlfriends.

Two of them are cousins, and my other girlfriend is a cashier. The two cousins recently left school. One is working and the other is not. Both of them know that I am having sex with them. But these girls like the idea; they say it is better for me to have sex with them than for me to go with other girls. They don't fight over me. But, my mother found out that I am having sex with these girls and she has warned me and told me to be careful. My mother also told me that I am a far cousin to these girls. So, I should break up the relationship I am having with them.

I don't know what to do because I took the virginity of these two girls, so they are precious to me. I prefer to leave the other girl than to leave these cousins. Sometimes when their people are not at home, I go to their house and sleep with them, but I have not had sex with them together.

My mother tried to trace our family relationship and she told me that even members of the royal family do not marry close relatives, so I should drop these girls and encourage them to have other men who are not related to them. I buy just about everything for the cousin who is not working. But the only reason I can do that is because my third girlfriend gives me money every week. Is anything wrong with having sex with cousins?

O.H.

Dear O.H.,

A wise son would listen to his mother but a foolish son will rush into danger.

These two girls who are cousins are loose. But it is not usual for two cousins to have the same man and they are aware of it. You need to back out of these relationships. There are some things that people would consider to be fun, but right now, it would seem to me that you are excited about having two cousins as your lovers. But I repeat, listen to your mother and get out of these relationships.

Can you imagine if your cousins should get pregnant? Would you consider that fun? I know that there are some people who would think that nothing is wrong with that and they would even point to the Bible and say such and such persons were cousins and they got married or they had sex. My answer to that is this: certain relationships were allowed between cousins, but later on, they were condemned. The Lord God gave strict instructions that such relationships should not be permitted because of bad genes.

People who have sexual relations with close relatives may even produce children with certain deformities. That has been seen time and time again. So, young man, I warn you, bring an end to the relationship with these young girls. Don't be proud of what you are doing. Listen to your mother. Stop playing the fool.

Pastor