Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Roma (Agenzia Fides)-“We are satisfied with the growth of the Church thanks first of all to the work of missionaries” said Kenya's new Cardinal Archbishop John Njue Nairobi and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Kenya, in a conversation with Fides. The Cardinal is in Rome for the ad limina visit and to receive his Cardinal's hat from the Pope on Saturday 24 November.
“In recent decades our dioceses have grown and so has the faith of our people. We see this in the increasing numbers of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life: this is a grace from God” Cardinal Njue told Fides. “Of course” - he adds - “we have difficulties to face, including spreading sects and evangelical communities. The solution is to ensure proper formation for the faithful consolidating catechesis and teaching catechism. We hope to have a translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the local language soon” the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Kenya told Fides.
In view of elections in Kenya on 27 December, the local Church is helping to build awareness among the people on how to vote and play their part in this important event in the life of the country. Cardinal Njue recalls that “as the Bishops Conference we have issued various pastoral letters in view of the elections urging people to make informed choices: we have indicated the qualities necessary for national leaders who can respond to the needs of the people. We have urged young voters in particular not to be persuaded with promises or money. We continue to insist on national unity: Kenya must remain united and not cede to tribal tensions and divisions. We have appealed for no violent action because elections cannot be free if there is violence. We hope the new leaders will continue the progress made in recent years along the same path ”.
Violence is a major social problem in Kenya, especially street bandit murders. In recent years two priests were victims of these episodes. Cardinal Njue says however that “the murders of some priests like Fr. John Anthony Kaiser, American Mill Hill missionary assassinated in 2000, are not common crimes. Perhaps some political leaders see these people or the local Church take positions contrary to their interests and have recourse to murder. But this does not frighten us and the Church continues her mission with the enthusiasm of the first missionaries”.
Kenya a major junction for drug-trafficking in east Africa. Cardinal Njue said this is because “criminal organisations in the east and the west see the poverty of people in certain areas as an opportunity to find people willing to become traffickers. Kenya's geographical position makes it an important junction for east west drug trafficking. The government of Kenya is actively trying to stop this crime. We, as the local Church, do our best to help our young people who are unemployed avoid being recruited by criminal organisations”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2007 righe 38 parole 519)
