My CISA news 2008

KENYA: Regional Bishops to Strengthen Apostolate to the Nomads


NAIROBI, November 14, 2008 (CISA) -Catholic bishops and priests from the Association of the Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) are to implement an aggressive pastoral strategy to reach out to nomadic dioceses.



The strategy, which includes radio stations in far-off dioceses, special programmes in the seminaries for pastoral agents and training catechists and other agents of evangelization was proposed during a meeting held in Nairobi between November 11 and 13.



They also agreed to “Engage dialogue between the nomadic cultures and Christianity in matters of inculturation of liturgy, theology, biblical and liturgical translations, promote Church advocacy for the nomadic people and strengthen Apostolate to the Nomads of AMECEA (ANA),” a statement released at the end of their meeting read in part.



While encouraging AMECEA institutions to engage in research and publications on issues concerning nomadic communities, they further said that the church will find ways to mobilize human and other resources from within and outside for evangelization of the nomads and organise meetings at different levels.



Episcopal conferences and dioceses were also urged to include representatives of nomads in diocesan pastoral structures and programs.



KENYA: Thousands of Youths to Take Part in Taizé Event

NAIROBI, November 18, 2008 (CISA) -Over six thousand young people from different countries are expected in Nairobi next week for a five-day event organised by the Taizé brothers community of France.



The meeting, from November 26 to 30, has been prepared over the past year by brothers from Taizé and volunteers from different continents in collaboration with youth chaplains from churches in Nairobi. The theme will be, ‘Sharing hope’.



The ecumenical community of Taizé was founded by Brother Roger in 1940 in France. It works for unity between Christians and welcomes thousands of young adults throughout the year. It has organized similar gatherings in other cities, including Johannesburg in 1995, Calcutta in 2006, Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 2007, and Geneva in 2007.



The program of the international meeting will mainly consist of prayer and sharing, the organisers said. The main venue will be on the grounds of Queen of Apostles minor seminary on Thika Road.



The morning program will take place in the 70 parishes and church congregations and religious institutions where the participants will be accommodated. Local youth will escort their guests to visit places of suffering and hope and share the creativity and commitment of ‘people of hope’ in the neighbourhoods.



The Nairobi meeting is intended to support young people in their search for God and their desire to commit themselves in their Church and in society.



Thousands of young people, Catholic and Protestant, from different provinces of Kenya and other countries are already registered: 500 from Tanzania, 450 from Uganda, 260 from Rwanda, 50 from Burundi, 20 from the Democratic Republic of Congo.



Other participants will be from South Africa, Madagascar, Zambia, the Sudan, Mozambique and Angola. Over one hundred young people will come from Europe, Asia and North America. The first ones arrived on November 15 and have started a program in different communities in Nairobi.



Brother Alois, the prior of the Taizé community, along with several Taizé brothers will take part in the Nairobi event. Cardinal John Njue, the archbishop of Nairobi, will be present during the evening prayer on November 28 at 6.00 pm. Other church leaders from various denominations are expected to take part in some of the prayer services.



Transport will be provided to participants from the host parishes to the central venue of the meeting. Common prayer at 1 pm and 6 pm will take place under large tents, meals will be served and different workshops will take place in the afternoon.



Taizé brothers lived in Nairobi (in Mathare and Kangemi) from 1978 until 1989. Brother Roger, founder of Taize, first visited Kenya in 1978 and later in 1987.



For more information go to: http://taize.fr/en or contact the Brothers of Taizé, Mji wa Furaha, tel: +254 720 132 017, info@taize-nairobi.net



KENYA: More than 6,000 Christian Youth Converge for Prayers

NAIROBI, November 28, 2008 (CISA) -Over 6,000 Christian youth from some 25 countries are in Nairobi for a pilgrimage of prayer and to share their experiences and diverse cultures.



The event is organized by the Taize community, based in France. On Thursday, 25 young people arrived from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, Bro Luc who is the coordinating the event told CISA.



“What touched me most is that the youth from DRC did not have any pass or visa allowing them to travel. They got their passes at the border between Rwanda and DRC and came through Uganda to Kenya.”



Patrick Cansa from DRC said, “In Taize, I have discovered that the most import thing in life is not to loose hope and to work hard to keep that hope and give it to others.”



Coming from a country which has been unstable for years, Cansa said that governance in the DRC is weak and that the political leaders are corrupt. Congolese young people want change, he said.



Boniface Ayebare, among 440 youngsters from Uganda, said, “I have been closely associated with Taize. I first visited Taize community in France in 2001 and I stayed there for two years during which I learnt to live and share with others. Taize gave meaning to my life.”



Ayebare said peace is needed in the region. “I work with a private firm that deals with language. In this firm, we receive many refugees from DRC, Rwanda and Burundi, and when you share experiences with them you realize that these people have traversed different situations and the way you behave towards them makes a big difference.”



The event, whose theme is ‘Together, seeking paths of hope’, started on Monday and concludes on Sunday. The Taize community was founded in 1940 by Brother Roger. The aim of the group is to encourage especially the youth and to build reconciliation and peace.



AFRICA: Churches Urge More Efforts in War Against HIV/Aids

NAIROBI, December 2, 2008 (CISA) -Churches in Africa have called for more efforts to fight the HIV/Aids pandemic in a continent that is the world’s worst-hit region.



In a message to mark the 20th World Aids Day on Monday, All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) urged churches to be in the forefront, playing the vital role of awareness creation on protection against HIV/Aids.



“Urging people to know their status is the number one strategy in combating the pandemic as it helps them know the right way to deal with their status, whether positive or negative, since even those already infected still need to protect themselves,” the statement said.



This year’s special focus is on children who get infected through mother-to-child transmission. According to UNICEF, nearly 2,000 infants are infected daily with HIV during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding - most of them in sub-Saharan Africa - and that everyday some 6,000 young people between the ages of 14 and 24 contract the virus. Currently, over 2 million children are infected with HIV and there are several hundred thousand children born HIV positive each year.



In spite of the alarming figures, only 9 percent of pregnant women living with HIV in the developing world are provided with drugs to prevent the virus being transmitted to their babies, AACC noted. As a result, nearly half a million children become infected with HIV every year.



“We add our voice to that of the ‘Stop AIDS in Children’ campaign that is calling on governments and international agencies to urgently improve PMTCT [prevention of mother to child transmission] coverage worldwide.”



Over 33 million people are living with HIV/Aids globally. “AACC continues to encourage churches to work to overcome ignorance and prejudice surrounding HIV/Aids and help raise awareness by selling the symbolic red ribbons and any other activity or activities they deem appropriate to halt the spread of HIV.”



The organization also urged pharmaceutical companies not to be driven by profit gains but to put human life first by making life-prolonging drugs affordable. “The latest drugs in the market are known to work miracles, have very little or no side effects and are giving hope to the infected. But much more needs to be done since only a small fraction of PLWHAS are on ARVs,” AACC said.



KENYA: Media Challenged to Highlight Issues of the Disabled

NAIROBI, December 5, 2008 (CISA) -Kenyan media has been urged to give sufficient coverage of issues of concern to persons with disabilities.



The call was made at one-day seminar for journalists held in Nairobi on Wednesday, as the world marked the day for the disabled. The seminar was jointly organized by the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy- Kenya and the Kenya Journalists Association.



The purpose of the event was to promote visibility and participation of minority groups in national affairs.



Among the recommendations made was that the media should champion the rights of people with disabilities by working with their organizations. On their part, organizations for the disabled should reach out to journalists and enlighten them on issues of concern.



It was also suggested that an award be established for reporters who excel in covering issues on persons with disabilities issues.



Meanwhile, the Vatican will not sign the UN convention that aims to stop prejudice against the persons with disabilities because the agreement is fundamentally flawed.



The Holy See says the convention leaves the door open to abortion of the handicapped babies. Though the Holy See contributed to the preparation of the text, its request to include an explicit rejection of the aborting of the disabled was not accepted.



The convention has been signed by 136 UN member states, but the Holy See is not one of them and will not be if the wording is not changed.



KENYA: Pope Backs Church’s Call for Healing Through Justice

NAIROBI, December 16, 2008 (CISA) -Pope Benedict XVI joined Kenyans in marking the nation’s 45th birthday on Friday with a call for justice.



The pope sent greetings of peace to President Mwai Kibaki and to all citizens as the country celebrated its freedom from British colonialism on December 12, 1963.



“I pray that the Almighty will bless all the people of the country with well-being as they work together to promote justice and build up the common good,” the pope wrote.



The Independence celebrations came as Kenyans awaited justice for perpetrators of the deadly post-election chaos early in the year, reform of public institutions and more accountability from the political class. Millions of Kenyans are also struggling with hunger following crop failure, the disruptive violence and inflation.



The pope’s message resonates with last month’s call by the Catholic bishops of Kenya for implementation of two important reports on last year’s flawed election.



The ‘Kriegler Report’ proposes a reformed national electoral body while the ‘Waki Report’ calls for establishment of a tribunal to try perpetrators of the post-election violence.



“The Kriegler and Waki Reports, just released, have simply brought home to us the gravity of our situation. Kenya is at a crossroads,” the bishops said. “We can take the opportunity that these reports provide to confront the “culture of impunity” or degenerate into further crises, ineptitude and moral stagnation. Consequently, we support the implementation of these reports.”



After initial opposition by politicians, and a spirited campaign by civil society and the media, parliament passed legislation to implement the reports.



The pope’s Independence Day message to Kenya shows the continued good relations between the country and the Holy See since the two established relations in 1930. Pope Pius XI set up the Apostolic Delegation of Africa in Mombasa, headed by Monsignor Arthur Hinsey, to serve nearly the entire continent.



The Holy See established full diplomatic relations with Kenya in 1996, with Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci as the first nuncio. Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin succeeded Tonucci in 2005.

KENYA: Involve Youth in Peace Building, Group Urges

NAIROBI, December 19, 2008 (CISA) -A global network of young religious leaders has urged that young people be involved in all initiatives meant to bring about peace after the post-election violence.



The youth are not only victims and perpetrators of violence, but also defenders of their communities, said the Global Youth Network, an affiliate of Religions for Peace.



The leaders of the network, representing six regions of the world, held their third annual meeting in Nairobi this week as an expression of solidarity with the country following the post-election chaos in January and February.



In a statement to the media, the network deplored violence especially in Africa, noting that the continent has for years had the highest number of refugees and internally displaced persons in the world.



The 14 leaders of the global network visited Kibera, Nairobi’s largest slum which was heavily hit by the violence, to express support for young people there who chose the path of peace.



“In Kenya, as well as the rest of the world, youth have been key actors in brewing conflicts. Therefore, it is paramount that the youth who are both victims and perpetrators of violence are involved in all initiatives meant to bring about peace,” the group said. Established at the 2006 World Youth Assembly in Hiroshima, Japan, the Global Youth Network harnesses the energy and commitment of religious youth leaders all over the world to advance multi-religious cooperation for peace.

KENYA: Church Must Advocate for Good Governance, Church Bodies Say

LIMURU, November 7, 2008 (CISA) -Representatives from different church organisations have said that the Church has a significant role to play in advocating for good governance to alleviate the suffering of the people caused by poor governance.They called for maximum participation of all adding that it is more effective done in an ecumenical spirit.The representatives met this week from November 3 to 6 in Jumuia Centre in Limuru to deliberate on advocacy for good governance under the auspices of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA).They agreed that the socio-economic challenges facing the country and region today are due to poor governance which plays a significant factor in these challenges.“We appreciate that this forum has come at a time when Kenyans are being presented with the contentious Waki and Kriegler Reports on post-election violence. In our prophetic calling as a church, we are obliged to intervene for the oppressed as we read from prophet Jeremiah 22; 3 (King James Bible), they said.They came up with the following recommendations of achieving good governance; that a legal framework for lobbying and advocacy in Kenya should be developed, participation of the Church in legislative processes through a Parliamentary Liaison Desk be enhanced and a need for interfaith collaboration in advocacy.Other recommendations made were requirement of capacity building in lobbying and advocacy skills for strategic actors, role of media in advocacy and collaboration of all Kenyans and full participation in advocating for good governance.The organisations said, “We believe it is the duty of each one of us, Church leaders, Church organs and all advocates of justice to take up a proactive role in order to attain a well governed, just and more equitable society.”The following Church organisations were represented: Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, (CJPC) Jesuit Hakimani Centre, National Council of Churches of Kenya, (NCCK) Religious Superiors Conference of Kenya (RSCK) and Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK).

KENYA: Catholic Experts Back Cardinal’s Anti-Abortion Crusade

NAIROBI, November 4, 2008 (CISA) -Four Catholic professionals have said that making abortion legal in Kenya will have serious implications for the family, religion and society in general.Gynaecologist Dr Stephen Karanja, lawyer Richard Kakeeto, Professor Ann Muigai of Kenya Parents Caucus, and counsellor Mukami Njoroge urged Kenyans to reject the Reproductive Health and Rights Bill 2008 that is waiting to be tabled in parliament.The Catholic professionals spoke on Sunday at seminar on the issue organised by the Justice and Peace Committee of Consolata Shrine Parish in Nairobi. Cardinal John Njue, the archbishop of Nairobi, is spearheading a national campaign against the proposed legislation.“The bill is a cornerstone for making abortion legal and, therefore, it must be rejected by everybody. It encourages children from 10 years to be sexually active and to access contraceptives,” Dr Karanja said.Lawyer Kakeeto said that reproductive rights have no basis in international law, adding that there is need to create awareness on the dangers of legal abortion. He advised that the bill should not be allowed to be tabled in parliament because it could easily be politicised. He noted that the bill was drafted in New York and does not have its origin in Kenya.Prof Muigai said the proposed law has a direct impact on family, for it would challenge the authority of parents over their children. Trust between parents and children will break down as the bill emphasizes confidentiality between the healthcare worker and the child.“The bill inspires a spirit of defiance and rebellion and children can sue parents if they are denied their ‘sexual rights’,” Prof Muigai said. She added that the bill challenges the institution of marriage and demonizes pregnancy.The bill challenges religion by making it seem fanatical and old-fashioned and silently introduces homosexuality and eugenics selection of perfect humans, the so-called “intelligent people in society,” the experts observed.It will also introduce In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), “another silent holocaust” where embryos are abused, discriminated and thousands of them frozen in refrigerators. “It is a clear no to abortion; we don’t need to consider another option,” said Fr Marino Gemma, the Consolata parish priest, referring to Cardinal Njue’s recent pastoral letter on the subject.He Catholic Church and Muslims have expressed vehement opposition to the bill,which is sponsored by Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW). The church is collecting signatures against the bill from around the country to be presented to the government.

KENYA: Diocese Appeals for Food Relief as Famine Worsens

ISIOLO, October 21, 2008 (CISA) -In parts of Isiolo Catholic Diocese, people hit by famine have resorted to eating wild fruits which take up to 12 hours to cook.This is happening in Daaba area, following prolonged drought in the semi-arid diocese in Eastern Province.The diocesan Development Coordinator, Stephen Olate, told CISA that the most desperate areas are Merti and Sericho divisions.He said children under the age of five, pregnant mothers and the sick are most vulnerable to the food shortage.Strategic rangelands and boreholes to which the community resorts to support the livestock are of little help because it has not rained since March.“The people have started moving to neighbouring districts in search of food and pasture, causing conflicts over scarce resources,” he said. Olate said three weeks ago some people were killed in Koom.The government’s emergency food programmes reaches only about 30 per cent of those who need relief.Olate said his diocese was appealing to the government and donors to respond adequately and not to “wait until the situation gets out of hand like it happened in 2005 and 2006.” Over 5 million Kenyans are facing famine.Some 80 per cent of the people of Isiolo are pastoralists. According to 2006 statistics, the diocese has a total population of 116,000, including 27,000 Catholics.

KENYA: Thugs Posing as Police Grab Money for Parish Car

KITALE, October 7, 2008 (CISA) -Thugs masquerading as policemen broke into the father’s house in a Catholic parish in north-western Kenya made away with KSh 100,000 that had been raised to buy a parish car.Bishop of Kitale Diocese, Maurice Crowley, six men in police gear entered Kiminini Catholic Parish early on Sunday night and broke into the house of Fr Francis Opondo. They ordered everyone to lie down. “One man who tired to resist was clobbered on the head,” the bishop said.The thugs harassed the priest and others in the house demanding the money that had been collected at a fundraiser earlier in the day.The bishop said the local chief and the police are carrying out investigations. But no one has been arrested in connection with the incident. “It is the third time the mission has been broken into in the recent years,” Bishop Crowley said.Kiminini Parish, dedicated to St Peter Claver, was founded in 1945. It has a population of 40,000 and 17, 000 of whom are Catholic, according to figures published in 2006.

KENYA: Catholic University Urges States to Help Poor Youth

NAIROBI, October 3, 2008 (CISA) -Kenyan and other African governments should consider providing loans that will fully cover essential needs of NEEDY students at universities, the chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) has said.Malawian Bishop Tarcisio Ziyaye said accessing university education remained a key challenge for young people from poor families.“I request the Kenyan government and all other African governments to consider funding loan schemes that will fully cover the essential needs of students at universities,” Bishop Ziyaye said.While appreciating the higher education loans scheme already in place in Kenya, the bishop said “more can still be done to give greater peace of mind to the beneficiaries of these loans.” He also thanked companies and other organisations that support students at the university.Bishop Ziyaye was speaking on Friday during CUEA’s 23rd graduation ceremony in Nairobi. A total of 1,441 students received degrees and diplomas. Prime Minister Raila Odinga was the chief guest.The chancellor said he was grateful to the Government of Kenya for its support of the university since it was founded 24 years ago. “We in the church always count on government support as a major partner in the provision of higher education.”Addressing the new graduates, he said the education they had received prepared them to serve anywhere in the world, but they should consider serving countries first. “Let your country be your homepage. Africa cannot develop without you. Africa needs you. Therefore devote your youthful expertise in serving the motherland.”The fresh graduates should not just be job seekers but also agents of change by sharing their knowledge and time with others.On his part Prime Minister Odinga assured of the governement’s commitment to higher education. “The coalition government is committed to expansion and improvement of university education and to make it accessible and affordable to everyone irrespective of their social status.” The government, he further pledged, will invest more money in research.Bishop Ziyaye announced that CUEA’s silver jubilee will commence on February 9, 2009. The university started as a graduate school of theology known as the Catholic Higher Institute of Eastern Africa (CHIEA) in 1984, founded by the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA).

KENYA: HIV/Aids Book for Primary School Children Launched

NAIROBI, September 26, 2008 (CISA) -A 12-book series on HIV/Aids for upper primary school children was launched yesterday during the ongoing 11th Nairobi International Book Fair.The book is recommended for children in classes 5 to 8 and was launched by the managing director of Daisy Creative Publishers, Cheryl de Souza.The series is designed to develop life skills among upper primary pupils to enable them understand the dangers of HIV/Aids, avoid contraction, prevent stigma and promote positive social/cultural values and discrimination of those with the disease.It is prepared in a set of twelve titles, each covering one of the following themes: risky behaviour, spread of HIV/Aids, peer influence and HIV/aids, myths and misconceptions about HIV/Aids, cultural/traditional practices and HIV/Aids and moral and religious values.Other themes are prevention of HIV/Aids, care and support of the infected and affected, stigma and discrimination and social and economic effects of HIV/Aids.Souza said, “These series are intended to promote abstinence, uphold values and education, build responsibility, avoid early marriages, create support and love for the infected and encourage debate, drama, art crafts and quizzes on HIV/Aids.”“We feel that children from 10 to 15 are still protected and we want to keep it that way,” she said.The series, originally published in Uganda by Baroque Publishers Limited Jasper will be available in all leading bookshops from November 1, 2008 at a cost of Kshs 140 each or US$ 2.