Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – The publication of a document from the Bishops, on the constitution draft, is expected to occur at the end of the Plenary Meeting of the Kenya Bishops' Conference. The Meeting is being held at the Pastoral Center "Santa Maria," in Nakuru.
In January, the Bishops showed their opposition to the proposal made by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review to alter a Constitutional clause that originally stated that life starts at conception, in order to claim that it starts at birth.
This proposal is seen by the Catholic Church as tantamount to legalizing abortion. “To insert in the constitution a clause that shifts the moment of life from conception to the time of birth defeats reason and without doubt is to open the way to legalized abortion,” the Bishops wrote (see Fides 25/1/2010).
Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, in an ecumenical encounter that took place on March 24 in the Kenyan capital, mentioned the Catholic Church's opposition to changing the clause on the beginning of life (see Fides 27/3/2010).
Another contentious issue in the draft constitution for Kenya, that has led to opposition from the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches, is the acknowledgment of the Muslim civil courts known as the Kadhi Courts.
The bishops have not said what steps they would take if the draft were not changed. Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisumu has, however, expressed optimism that the committee of eight people formed during a meeting between state officials and bishops will be able to find a solution.
"The mistake in the clause on abortion is about semantics. And this can be overcome by rewriting the article, to change its negative meaning," said the Archbishop. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 14/4/2010)
