By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-21 16:54:43 | Updated at 2024-11-21 21:29:34
4 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // Kenya’s Catholic Church has rejected a donation of approximately $40,000 offered by President William Ruto during a Sunday Mass at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi.
According to BBC News, the funds were intended to support the construction of a priest’s house and as a gift to the choir. However, the Church declined the donation, citing ethical concerns and the importance of maintaining its independence from political influence.
Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi explained the Church’s decision, which BBC News reports is part of a broader effort to distance itself from political entanglement.
“The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion,” he said.
Archbishop Anyolo also announced the rejection of additional pledges made by the president, including the donation of a bus for the parish, and returned 200,000 Kenyan shillings contributed by Nairobi Gov. Johnson Sakaja during the same service. He emphasized that accepting such contributions violates both church guidelines and Kenyan law.
This decision, as noted by the BBC, comes amid rising tensions between religious institutions and Kenya’s political leadership. Kenyan churches traditionally have maintained close ties with politicians, often accepting donations during services. However, this relationship has faced increased scrutiny, particularly from younger citizens critical of perceived government overreach.
Earlier this year, youth-led protests erupted over controversial tax hikes proposed by President Ruto’s government, with demonstrators accusing churches of siding with the state. Using the social media hashtag #OccupyChurch, protesters denounced religious leaders for their silence during the protests, which turned deadly before the government withdrew the proposed finance bill in July.
The Catholic Church’s rejection of the donation also follows a scathing statement from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, which BBC News highlighted as a critique of the government’s leadership. The bishops accused the administration of perpetuating a “culture of lies” and criticized it for over-taxation, corruption, human rights violations, rising unemployment, and deteriorating public services.
“Despite the calmness we are experiencing, there is a lot of anxiety, and most people are losing trust in the government,” the bishops declared.
According to the BBC, President Ruto appeared to respond to the bishops’ statement by cautioning against misinformation.
“We must be careful to give factual information lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing,” he remarked.
Kenya Senator Aaron Cheruiyot added to the criticism, accusing the clergy of spreading “propaganda, fake news, and falsehoods.”
Despite the government’s pushback, the Catholic Church has found support from other religious groups. The Anglican Church of Kenya defended the Catholic bishops, with Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit stating that their remarks reflect the sentiments of many Kenyans.
“The [Catholic] bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground,” Archbishop Sapit said in a statement Monday, according to local news outlet KahawaTungu.
With an estimated 10 million Catholics in Kenya, roughly 20% of the population, the Church’s decision to return the donation underscores its significant influence in the country. By refusing to accept funds from political leaders, Kenya’s Catholic bishops appear to be taking a firm stance to separate itself from the political sphere, signaling a shift in its relationship with the government.
