Nairobi, 16 September, 2021 / 9:16 pm (ACI Africa).
The Catholic Bishop of Kenya’s Kakamega Diocese has “strongly discouraged” members of the Clergy from reaching out to politicians for funds.
In his pastoral letter circulated Wednesday, September 15, Bishop Joseph Obanyi addresses the place of politicians in the Church, a topic that has received attention from Religious leaders in Kenya ahead of the August 2022 general elections.
“Priests and Church leaders are strongly discouraged from relying on, and unnecessarily soliciting for funds from politicians to carry out their projects because this compromises their moral credibility to speak against social evils,” Bishop Obanyi says.
Addressing himself to the members of the Clergy under his jurisdiction, the Kenyan Catholic Bishop adds, “Instead, encourage the faithful to embrace self-reliance as the way of the Church. Let politicians also contribute through the normal channels as also members of the Church.”
In the pastoral letter also addressed to assistant Parish Priests, women and men Religious, Catechists, members of the Parish Pastoral Council, devotional and association group leaders, “and all who may have some responsibility in the Church,” Bishop Obanyi directs that donations from politicians to the Church be made known to the Parish Priest ahead of time, and given within the normal procedures just like other Church members.