Church Orders Kenya's Catholic Clergy Out Of Politics

In Kenya, a pastoral letter issued by the Kenya Episcopal Conference on behalf of the country's 27 Catholic bishops prohibits Catholic clergy in the country from accepting positions on governmental boards. It also says that priests should not take sides in party politics. Friday's East African Standard reports that the mandate was issued as the Kenyan government began to try to enlist the support of churches for President Kibaki in next year's elections. The directive seems to particularly be directed at Father Dominic Wamugunda, the Dean of Students, University of Nairobi, who has been increasingly active in government affairs.