Jun 2, 2011

OUT-OF-TOUCH/KENYAN ARCHBISHOP WABUKALA: The Church in Kenya has lost respectability because it is not impartial or consistent


Out of touch Anglican Church in Kenya Archbishop Eliud Wabukala recently was elected as Gafcon schismatics chairman 
¨The actions and omissions of the Church leadership over the past five years point to a deepening crisis. The church seems unable to find the voice of the populi, which should concern the hierarchies of the Pentecostal, Anglican and Catholic denominations.¨

¨...It is time for the clergy to do some soul searching if they hope to redeem themselves and their place as the moral and spiritual compass for the highly politicised Kenyan society. Their stand on the nominees for Chief Justice and deputy does not help matters. It is against the grain again. Opinion polls show that the majority of the country is satisfied with the choices.

Their opposition, without offering clear reasons for their objection does not show the clergy to be transparent. Are they opposed to Dr Mutunga because he is a Muslim? Or if they have a problem with the nominees marital statuses, let them be candid about it. Obfuscation in philosophical and ideological terms isn't good enough. But that is what can be gleaned from their statement that the judiciary needs to be led by people with a "judicial philosophy that reflects natural law, the Kenyan religious and African cultural values, including our universal respect for life, our recognition of the importance of family wellbeing and our appreciation of the role of religion in public and private life."

The church will only regain its respectability as an arbiter in the political arena if it is seen to be impartial and consistent. The clergy cannot wake up one morning to lecture the country about morality and respect for the constitutional principles and keep quiet when the same are broken or other illegalities are committed. Where were they when President Kibaki flouted the constitution by unilaterally nominating Justice Alnashir Visram and Professor Githu Muigai? Strange that they should find offence where the President and Prime Minister have already agreed...¨ HERE

ANGLICAN CHURCH LEADERS HAVE LOST THE TRUST OF KENYANS

Kenya´s Anglican bishops led by Archbishop Eliud Wabukala (seated, 2nd left)
¨According to the Synovate post-referendum poll, only 19 per cent of those interviewed said they fully trusted Church leaders, compared to 17 per cent who said they fully trusted politicians.

And it gets worse -- 38 per cent said they don't trust Church leaders at all, a bigger number than the 22 per cent who said they don't trust politicians at all. But Church leaders dismissed the notion that their credibility had suffered...¨   HERE

·  Thanks to All Africa, sidebar
·  Thanks to Three Rivers Episcopal, sidebar
·  Thanks to Behind The Mask, sidebar
·  Thanks to The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)

No comments: