Koforidua, Feb. 14, GNA - The youth have been urged to desist from immoral practices, when celebrating the Valentine's day, since St. Valentine stood against immorality.

According to a counsellor at the Matthew Chapter 25, an NGO, Mr Michael Martey-Padi, St. Valentine championed the cause of marriages at a time when the emperor had sanctioned against marriages. Addressing a seminar organized for about 150 trade apprentices in the New Juaben municipality to sensitisze them on the realities of the Valentine's Day celebration on Monday, in Koforidua. The counsellor stressed that the celebration was mainly for couples and not for mere relationship between young men and women. He narrated the background of the day, saying, St. Valentine was a Catholic priest, who was killed because he was promoting marriages anytime against Emperor Claudius's order that marriages be a yearly activity.

He said the emperor's reason was to ensure that the young men were free from family responsibilities in order to join the army and again to satisfy a god they worshiped at that time, who also frowned on marriages.

Mr Martey-Padi told the participants that the style of the celebration of the day was contrary to what St. Valentine stood for, adding, "as a Catholic he stood against the practice sanctioned by the emperor, which to him, was promoting idolatry and adultery". He advised the youth to stay clear of any unhealthy practices in the name of St. Valentine to avoid contracting the deadly HIV/AIDS, because it existed and they should stay focused on the good intention of the Saint.

The participants were also taken through the modes and transmission of HIV/AIDS and care and support for people living with AIDS (PLWA) among others.