Kenya’s bishops urge pro-life vote, criticize secession call

May 08, 2012

While stating that “our role as Church is not to anoint or endorse any leader or political party,” the bishops of Kenya are asking the nation’s citizens “to vote for persons who respect life and are willing to stand and be counted when it comes to the protection of the unborn babies.”

“We reiterate that life begins at conception and ends with natural death,” the bishops said in their May 3 statement. “Any provision for abortion in any legal instrument is greatly considered as both a structural move to disrespect the dignity of the unborn and physical violence by those performing abortion.”

The bishops added:

The Catholic Church in Kenya continues to raise her concern on the provisions of Article 26(4) of the Constitution and its provision for abortion. If life is not respected and the unborn are denied their right to life, then for whom are we preparing this beautiful Nation? Respect human life, even that of the unborn babies and God will bless you.

We call upon you people of Kenya, to vote for persons who respect life and are willing to stand and be counted when it comes to the protection of the unborn babies. We as Bishops also condemn any form of violence against women, against the human person, and his or her property and against the environment. We should remember that we have been placed by God as stewards of creation. The luring of Kenyans to work in inhumane conditions in Kenya and outside the country is also a matter of serious concern.

Dear mothers and women, you have the God given privilege and indeed a Divine right to be mothers and to see your children grow in joy and happiness. In the spirit of motherhood, never allow any force to influence you to terminate human life which can only come into being because of God and your care. We wish to condemn in the strongest possible terms any attempts to legalize prostitution in this country.

Kenya’s bishops also called for nation unity in the face of calls for secession.

“We are deeply concerned by calls for secession by the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) in the Coast Province,” they said. “We call on the government to find out what causes groups of Kenyans to give up on this beautiful country.”

According to Vatican statistics, 25% of the nation’s 41.9 million people are Catholic; an estimated 45% are Protestant, and 10% are Muslim.

 

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Further information:

• Communiqué Accompanying the Pastoral Letter by the Catholic Bishops of Kenya (Kenya Episcopal Conference)
• Address Secession Calls, Bishops Tell Government (CISA News Africa)