KENYA: Bishops Conference Slams LGBTQ+ Supreme Court Ruling And Calls for Review

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

Members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) have faulted the ruling by the Supreme Court which allows the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) group the right to association, appealing to the highest judicial court in the country to overturn the verdict which is “an attack to humanity.”

“The determination on 24th February 2023 by the Supreme Court of Kenya on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) group right of association is unconstitutional, unwelcome and should be withdrawn,” the Catholic Prelates warned in the statement issued Friday, March 10, adding, “It contradicts the basic values of the people of Kenya as enshrined in the Constitution… they are unnatural, they are wrong, they are evil and intrinsically immoral. They are contrary to the natural law.”

According to the Church leaders, registration of any association is to promote what it stands for hence allowing the LGBTQ+ group the right to association means “promotion of homosexual actions and normalizing homosexual and same sex unions.”

Against this backdrop, the bishops cautioned that “this ruling sets the platform for activism and pressure to further recognize homosexuality actions and same sex unions as acceptable and further infiltrate our processes of formation in our institutions.”

Affirming that Kenya is a God-fearing nation and that life is sacred and a precious gift from God who created humanity as male and female in his own image and likeness the bishops say in their Friday message, “We fault the determination of the Supreme Court of Kenya and declare it as an effort towards the promotion of LGBTQ+ ideology which seeks to destroy life. It is an attack on humanity.”

They narrate further in the statement signed by the Conference’s Chairman Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa Archdiocese, “This ideology is an attempt to undermine the family and cultural values which are rooted in the very nature of humankind. It also undermines the dignity of life which is at the core of our beliefs as a nation (and it is) an attack on our faith systems.

Aware that LGBTQ+ is an ideology that is being pushed into humanity and the society by individuals and groups that have personal interests, the Prelates said the decision “cannot be said to be promoting the common good which we all have to work for.”

“Human sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul. Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity as a gift from God,” members of KCCB highlighted in their message noting that “sexual identity cannot be defined merely by referring to sexual orientations.”

Since Kenyan’s culture is founded on norms and values as well as religious values and beliefs which should be respected, the Church leaders “regret that the LGBTQ+ ideology is taking advantage of our people, and especially the innocent vulnerable individuals like the youth and the poor.”

They noted that many of the individuals being recruited into the LGBTQ+ group are promised financial benefits yet “the impact of homosexuality is grave and has far reaching effects.”

“With homosexuality and same sex unions being introduced in our society, the continuity of humanity is put at risk by homosexual acts. Same sex unions are not able to contribute in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human race,” the Bishops disclose and referenced Art 45 of Kenya’s Constitution which states that “the family is the natural and fundamental unit of society and the necessary basis of social order, and shall enjoy the recognition and protection of the State.”

They reminded the Government of its constitutional responsibility and moral obligation to safeguard and protect the family against the LGBTQ+ ideology and other threats saying “As a nation, we have a moral obligation to safeguard the young people from such erroneous ideas about sexuality and marriage. It is for this reason that we remind all Kenyans that the Penal Code 1930 criminalizes same-sex acts as ‘gross indecency’ and ‘carnal knowledge against the order of nature’. This should be upheld by our judiciary in defence of life and the family.”

Additionally, “The principles of respect and non-discrimination cannot be invoked to support legal recognition of same sex unions,” they warned in their message and continued, “Differentiating between persons or refusing social recognition or benefits is unacceptable only when it is contrary to justice.”

Since the common good requires that laws recognize, promote and protect marriage as the basis of the family, the primary unit of society, the bishops said, “We reiterate what is enshrined in the Constitution that marriage is between a man and a woman.” Therefore “it is more than evident that the ruling in favour of LGBTQ+ registration is tantamount to normalization of unnatural unions; it is approval of deviant behavior.”

The Church leaders pointed out that if the Supreme Court ruling is upheld “It will lead to breakdown of the moral fabric of our society, the institution of marriage and family and the future generations.”

“Normalizing these unions will make morality subjective; yet morality is an objective aspect of the universe. It is trying to make up your own morality and applying it to the society,” reads part of the Friday message as it continues, “Legitimization of homosexuality and especially through decisions of the judiciary would lead to tolerance of evil. It is true that human beings are created with freedom, but that freedom cannot be reduced to doing evil.”

The Catholic bishops cautioned Kenyan’s against the push to have the LGBTQ+ community registered in country and encouraged “strengthening the family unit and marriages in communities as image of God’s Love and insisted that the Supreme Court of Kenya reviews this ruling, and determine that an association that seeks the promotion of illegal and immoral actions be overturned.”

Additionally, they “asked all like-minded people, institutions and organizations to be enjoined in this appeal for review in view of overturning this ruling of the Supreme Court of Kenya, urged all Kenyans to be vigilant to all the avenues the ideology of LGBTQ+ is being introduced in our schools and community,” and finally called upon all citizens “to resist the ideological pressures that seek to destroy our families and uphold the value and Christian dignity of marriage and family,” noting that “We should all seek to protect and defend our moral fabric for the common good of humanity and the society.

In conclusion, the bishops called for the “conversion of heart of all those who are seeking to promote this ideology and all those persons who may have deviant sexual orientation in our society.”