Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Fides Service) - “Called to dwell in unity, peace and freedom” is the title of this year’s national annual Lenten Campaign organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Justice and Peace. The phrase is taken from the first stanza of Kenya’s national anthem. “Lent is the right time to find ways for individual and collective healing, and the words of our National Anthem offer a good starting point” says Rt Rev Peter Kairo, the bishop-chairman of CJPC, in the Lenten campaign booklet distributed to all parishes.
The campaign focuses on five important areas of national life, one for each week: land rights, youth and development, peace and reconciliation, respect for human dignity, and integrity in leadership. The campaign has selected Scripture texts for discussion, reflection and prayer.
The faithful will discuss land, a most sensitive issue in Kenya where many people who were displaced during the politically-instigated land clashes of the past decade have not been resettled “God intended the goods of creation for the use of all and everyone has the right to access them to meet their needs.... Christians are urged to promote the rule of law and obedience to all the laws relating to land and the right to own property and to live anywhere in the country”.
Another serious problem which demands the attention of Christians is unemployment in Kenya where millions of young people are without jobs. “Many families spend all their resources to bring up and educate their children with the hope of a better tomorrow - the JP Commission says - But, unfortunately, rampant unemployment and peer pressure push the youth into vices that eventually lead to counterproductive activities and lifestyles.” The desperate search for scarce job opportunities has pushed many young women into the trap of exchanging sexual favours for employment. “How can the Church help to deal with the crisis? How can young people be helped to find a source of livelihood” the Commission asks.
In many parts of the country, there are conflicts among people and communities over access to scarce resources. “Competition for pasture and water, especially during drought, is a source of inter-community violence among pastoralists in the arid and semi-raid lands of Kenya. Politicians and other power-seekers often stoke the conflicts” says the JP Commission adding that “conflicts need not turn violent. There are ways that communities could help in averting violent conflicts by stopping their escalation.” In the third week of Lent, Christians will reflect on the causes and consequences of conflict in their community and explore ways of re-establishing sustainable peace.
Rape, defilement, wife battery, and other forms of gender-based violence have become part of the daily news in Kenya. There are also reports of teenage prostitution and human trafficking. In the fourth Week of Lent Christians are asked to reflect serious abuse of human rights, in particular on the fat that an estimated 4 million women and children are trafficked for sexual exploitation around the globe every year.
Week five will be devoted to the issue of good leadership. Justice and Peace Commission proposes these questions as subjects for reflection and prayer: “So, what is good leadership? And how can Christians promote it in their communities and in the nation?” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 3/3/2006 righe 41 parole 503)
