By Arnold Neliba
MALINDI, JULY 25, 2023 (CISA)-The use of religion, sometimes on Sundays, as a political platform in the name of interfaith prayers is wrong, Rt. Rev. Willybard Lagho Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Malindi has said cautioning against partisan political activism of faith leaders.
In an open letter to faith leaders shared with CISA, the bishop who is also the chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism (CIRDE) warned that the Sunday prayer forums are more of use of faith to assert political authority.
“How legitimate are such prayers? Politicians are regaining lost space by inviting faith leaders to alternative forum paid for by politicians,” the bishop pointed to the current trend of thanksgiving prayer services by political factions.
“Faith leaders aligned to one political party should not be allowed to shepherd because their political activism is not only a full time job but hurting the faith and a section of their followers with different political affiliations. Is this trend among faith leaders motivated by personal financial gains? I hope not,” the bishop held calling for “something” to be done.
In the run to the August 2022, places of worship were at the center of politics with politicians taking advantage of the ready audience to sell their political agenda and whose presence came with hefty donations. As a result, the Catholic Church banned politicking in church in a September 15, 2021 statement.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops also gave guidelines among them; any politician who attended Mass is to do so like any worshipper and no special consideration be given to him or her to propagate their political agenda.
