Tutu shocks Kenyan churches

2003-08-15 20:12

Nairobi - Kenyan church leaders on Friday expressed shock at South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu's sentiment that sexual orientation is not an issue in a Christian leader.

"We are particularly shocked to hear the remarks attributed to our esteemed visitor, retired archbishop Tutu, that sexual orientation is not an issue in a Christian leader, and that homosexual leaders should remain celibate," the Kenyan Church said in a statement.

"His remarks have dismayed us, the word of God is clear and specific on this matter, and it's not a matter of orientation, opinion or interpretation, but a matter of obedience," the statement added.

Tutu, who came to Kenya on Thursday to attend an international conference on truth commissions, told journalists at a press briefing on arrival at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport that "sexual orientation is not significant to bar someone from becoming a priest".

"We have said that any ordained person should be celibate," Tutu said, referring to the recent election of Reverend Gene Robinson as the bishop of New Hampshire, making him the first openly gay bishop in the US Episcopal Church.

The leaders from all church denominations and other independent church groups in Kenya said the matter was not only for Anglicans, but was a national issue that Kenyans must take seriously and arise to stand against.

"Homosexuality and lesbianism must be condemned, opposed and totally rejected out of this nation. We stand with the Anglican brethren in Kenya and across the world, who are shocked and saddened by this unfortunate development," the statement said.

Kenyan Anglican bishops are set to meet for one week in the port city of Mombasa on August 25, to specifically discuss the issue of gays holding posts in the 77 million community and decide whether to or not maintain their ties with their American and British counterparts.

The leaders expressed fear that there were also attempts to quietly push for the liberalisation of homosexuality and lesbianism in Kenya.

"We fail to understand how someone, and especially a church leader, can willfully and continually disobey God, and still consider himself a Christian and further present himself as a role model for others," said the statement. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA