The Catholic Church Sunday launched the 'No' vote against the draft constitution by distributing copies of a five page statement from the Kenya Episcopal Conference to all its churches countrywide. Several copies of the Pastoral letter dated 15th April, 2010 and signed by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue on behalf of the 25 Catholic Bishops were however received with hostility by some faithful in other parts of the country.
In one of the churches in Nyanza, the announcement by a priest that was presiding a Sunday service about the letter from the Catholic Secretariat on the draft was received by an unusual silence from the faithful.
Majority of the faithful who had been urged to read the letter that was pinned at a notice board just walked away soon after the church service.
“Our Bishops did not consult us before they rushed to the conclusion that we did not support the draft. As far as we are concerned, we support the draft”, said one faithful who did not want to be named.
Sources indicate that the priests were finding it very difficult to read the document before their faithful as demanded.
“It is extremely difficult to start reading the letter before my faithful when Kenyans have already made their decision on the draft”, said a local Priest.
Elsewhere, Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Bishop of Southern Nyanza Diocese Rt. Rev. James Kenneth Ochiel said it was unfortunate that some of his fellow church leaders are yet to read the mood of Kenyans about the new constitution.
Bishop Ochiel reiterated that the Church shall have made a terrible mistake by reversing the gains it has made in the fight for reforms and democracy in the country by rejecting the draft constitution.
“The church has over the years fought for democracy and reforms and this is the time”, he said.
The Bishop who emphasized that he was speaking as a Kenyan and Individual and not an ACK Bishop said those agitating for more time to debate the contentious issues want to polarize the country further.
“Kenyans are charged and the more there is a delay in giving Kenyans a new constitutional dispensation, the more the country would be polarised”, said Bishop Ochiel.
He said there is nothing wrong with passing the draft at the referendum and them calling for parliamentary amendments.
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