I do not like writing about the church, unless am writing about its religious deeds. Worst of all, I do not like judging the church. So, I will just document a few happenings involving politics and the church, which took place last week, last year and about 71 years ago. The events do not take place ion the same place, but have much in common.
During the Spanish civil war , which was fought from 1936 -1939, and which set pace for the second world war, most Catholics and Catholic Clergy supported the nationalist movement against which the secular Republicans were fighting against. This proved to be quite catastrophic for the majority catholic nation during the war. It was said that the Nationalist used Catholic chapels and Monasteries as their hideouts, and launched attacks from them. This prompted The Republicans to attack Catholic Chapels and Monasteries. Republican Strongholds lost trust in the Roman Catholic Church, and many clergymen were killed in the war.
About 70 years later, during the 2007 disputed Kenyan elections. Certain politicians were alleged to have cut deals or what are known as Memorandum of Understanding with the Muslims. This did not go on well with the church, with religious leaders , and they came out from behind the pulpit to give their views on the issue. Several of them went a step ahead by telling us who was politically closer to the devil than the other, and who we should vote for. When Kenyans later decided to solve the dispute in ways which made the devil look like a saint. The church realized their mistake and went quiet as Kenyans engaged in worse than devilish activities, like burning women and children in churches. Maybe that is why the prime minister trashed the church when they termed his leadership as ineffective.
About 71 years later from the second Spanish Civil War and 1 year later from the post election violence, a group of university students presented their grievances to the administration. The administration addressed the grievances in a manner the students did not like. This prompted a larger number of the students to launch a demonstration towards the institutions administrative blocks,. After the professors in the administration were unable to solve the differences in a manner befitting a learned individual, the students decided to demonstrate on Thika Road, holding back Traffic on the busy road. Anti0-Riot police were called in , and were able to contain the demonstration, but students continued rioting a few meters from the road. The Professors at the university's administration block decided to close the university. They then decided to disband the university';s student union for the active role they played in the demonstration. With the aid of the university chaplain, the professors at the administration block assembled a few previous student union leaders and some Christian Union leaders. They then prepared a document that was to be read on behalf of all the students in support of the administration and against the demonstration that had taken place. The Christian union leaders were then offered some of the university's security personnel and a press statement was called at the 680 hotel. Attempts to hold the scheduled press conference failed after the conference was scuttled by officials of the disbanded student union.
Why do parties in conflict rush to indulge the church in their scuffles, instead of using the church to mediate the disagreement. Why do they take advantage of the large following of the church to skew such disagreements in their side. Is it the role of religion and God to actively take part in wars which the church did not start in the first place. Inclusion of the church in such matters has often proved to be disastrous as seen above, and should be avoided by all, at all costs. Keep the church holy!
Disclaimer: The writer is a student in the mentioned institution, and happens to have been affected by the demonstration and administration rulings that followed the demonstration.
During the Spanish civil war , which was fought from 1936 -1939, and which set pace for the second world war, most Catholics and Catholic Clergy supported the nationalist movement against which the secular Republicans were fighting against. This proved to be quite catastrophic for the majority catholic nation during the war. It was said that the Nationalist used Catholic chapels and Monasteries as their hideouts, and launched attacks from them. This prompted The Republicans to attack Catholic Chapels and Monasteries. Republican Strongholds lost trust in the Roman Catholic Church, and many clergymen were killed in the war.
About 70 years later, during the 2007 disputed Kenyan elections. Certain politicians were alleged to have cut deals or what are known as Memorandum of Understanding with the Muslims. This did not go on well with the church, with religious leaders , and they came out from behind the pulpit to give their views on the issue. Several of them went a step ahead by telling us who was politically closer to the devil than the other, and who we should vote for. When Kenyans later decided to solve the dispute in ways which made the devil look like a saint. The church realized their mistake and went quiet as Kenyans engaged in worse than devilish activities, like burning women and children in churches. Maybe that is why the prime minister trashed the church when they termed his leadership as ineffective.
About 71 years later from the second Spanish Civil War and 1 year later from the post election violence, a group of university students presented their grievances to the administration. The administration addressed the grievances in a manner the students did not like. This prompted a larger number of the students to launch a demonstration towards the institutions administrative blocks,. After the professors in the administration were unable to solve the differences in a manner befitting a learned individual, the students decided to demonstrate on Thika Road, holding back Traffic on the busy road. Anti0-Riot police were called in , and were able to contain the demonstration, but students continued rioting a few meters from the road. The Professors at the university's administration block decided to close the university. They then decided to disband the university';s student union for the active role they played in the demonstration. With the aid of the university chaplain, the professors at the administration block assembled a few previous student union leaders and some Christian Union leaders. They then prepared a document that was to be read on behalf of all the students in support of the administration and against the demonstration that had taken place. The Christian union leaders were then offered some of the university's security personnel and a press statement was called at the 680 hotel. Attempts to hold the scheduled press conference failed after the conference was scuttled by officials of the disbanded student union.
Why do parties in conflict rush to indulge the church in their scuffles, instead of using the church to mediate the disagreement. Why do they take advantage of the large following of the church to skew such disagreements in their side. Is it the role of religion and God to actively take part in wars which the church did not start in the first place. Inclusion of the church in such matters has often proved to be disastrous as seen above, and should be avoided by all, at all costs. Keep the church holy!
Disclaimer: The writer is a student in the mentioned institution, and happens to have been affected by the demonstration and administration rulings that followed the demonstration.
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