Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Cardinal Says Church Can't Police Priests On Celibacy

It is difficult for bishops to monitor the daily lives of priests to ensure they do not live with women, according to John Cardinal Njue, the Catholic archbishop of Nairobi and head of the bishops' conference.

"It is a big challenge. At times I receive anonymous letters, I ask around silently, but you cannot act on anonymous letters," the cardinal said.

"But when a clear case comes up, the two individuals -both priest and the woman - are asked what they are up to, and take responsibility for their actions. This includes suspension, or excommunication, or dispensation."

He urged Christians to help by honestly reporting unbecoming behaviour among priests. Cardinal Njue spoke to The Standard newspaper in an interview published on Sunday, July 12.

Children fathered by priests are entitled to care by the clerics in accordance with the law, the cardinal said.

"Individuals make decisions freely and take actions. They should take responsibility for those actions. The Children's Act says the father of a child is the first duty-bearer for the life and upkeep of that child. That is the position of the church; there are no two ways about it."

Noting that there are over 2,000 priests in Kenya, Cardinal Njue said that the great majority of them respect their vows. Those who fall are a minority.

The formation process in seminaries is adequate, as after eight years of rigorous training, students are expected to have had enough time to reflect, and embrace priesthood of their own will.

The cardinal also called on Catholics not to be led astray by movements opposed to mandatory priestly celibacy that are now active in Kenya.
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