Anglican Church opposes registration of lobby for gays and lesbians

The Anglican Church has called on the Registrar of Societies not to honour the court order requiring the government to allow for registration of an umbrella organisation for gays and lesbians.

Archbishop Eliud Wabukala on Wednesday said the ruling was against the Constitution that Kenyans overwhelmingly voted for.

Dr Wabukala said the ruling was based on a narrow judgment, which did not consider a number of key background issues.

“The judgement was made on very narrow considerations and it is not only against Christianity but also against the Muslim teachings and traditions,” said the archbishop.

Speaking at the Imani Conference Centre in Nakuru where he led a workshop for the Mothers' Union executive committee members, Dr Wabukala said the ruling was also going against the rich African traditions that recognise a family as one made up of a man and a woman.

While pointing out that the church would not support the move that aims at promoting and empowering gays in the society, he added that the church only recognises a marriage between a man and a woman.

RIGHT FAMILY UNIT

“The church supports a family unit and the society at large. Families can only be formed through the right family unit.

“Any law that goes against the family values is naïve and should not be allowed in any country,” he said.

The High Court on Monday ordered the NGOs Coordination Board to recognise and register a gays’ lobby it had earlier rejected on moral and religious grounds.

The court ruled that the Constitution allows for the recognition and protection of the rights of "every person", including minority groups such as gays and lesbians.

The archbishop was speaking on the final day of a three-day Mothers Union retreat in Nakuru sought to discuss matters that will guide the running of the church in the next three years.

He added that the Mothers Union also is responsible for ensuring that families remain intact.