The Government of Kenya has proposed reforms to the appointment process of Catholic Bishops, citing national security concerns as the reason for their involvement.
In a letter addressed to Pope Francis, the Kenyan Government expressed worries that some current Bishops do not meet the standards outlined in Chapter Six of the constitution. They emphasized the need for future appointments to align with constitutional demands.
“We recognize the Catholic Church’s well-established structure but aim to hold the Church to the State’s high standards. Our goal is a free, fair, and transparent appointment process that benefits the Church and adheres to Chapter Six of our Constitution. Hence, we call for reforms.”
post-Papal Decision
The government further explained its desired role in the appointment process, proposing involvement after the Papal Decision. “Following the Diocesan Consultation and the Apostolic Nuncio, nominees should be vetted by the DCI before their names are sent to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome. We also seek to intervene post-Papal Decision to ensure no irregularities occur between the DCI and Rome.”
Additionally, the government expects a prompt response from the Pope, stating, “This is a minor request, and we ask Rome to comply swiftly.”
Pope Francis did not comment but responded to our email with the emoji below.
