The Catholic Diocese of Malindi’s Bishop, Willybard Lagho, has announced a ban on giving politicians any special treatment during Holy Mass.
He stated that no politician should be allowed to address the congregation or receive preferential seating arrangements.
In a strongly worded statement, the bishop emphasized that all churchgoers, regardless of their status in society, should be treated equally.
He reminded priests, church assistants, and lay members that the church is a place of worship, where people should focus on prayers, listening to God’s word, and participating in the Eucharist.
“I want to remind all Parish priests, Assistant priests, and the entire Laity that places of worship are sacred.
Every worshipper inside the church should focus solely on prayers, listening to the Word of God, and receiving the Eucharist,” Bishop Lagho said.
He stressed that no one, including politicians, should be given special seats or the opportunity to address congregants.
He warned against using churches as platforms for personal or political interests, calling it a misuse of sacred spaces.
“It is completely inappropriate to turn the church into a place for any other business besides worship,” he added.
Politicians Seeking Recognition Should Not Be Given Special Treatment
Bishop Lagho also took issue with politicians who inform church leaders in advance about their attendance, saying this is a sign of entitlement. He insisted that such individuals should not receive any special recognition.
“Anyone who notifies the church leadership in advance about their intention to attend Mass on a specific day is clearly seeking special treatment. Such individuals should not be given any recognition,” he stated firmly.
He further warned that any priest or church leader who fails to uphold this directive will bear full responsibility for their actions.
Call for Peace and Rejection of Political Exploitation of Churches
The bishop urged Christians to pray for peace and resist attempts to use churches for political purposes or unethical activities like money laundering.
“Let us pray for peace in our country and stand against individuals who use places of worship for political gain and money laundering,” he urged.
Bishop Lagho ended his statement by extending his best wishes to all priests, religious leaders, and church members, encouraging them to have a spiritually fulfilling Lenten season.
“I wish all priests, religious leaders, and lay members of the diocese a deeply meaningful and fruitful Lenten season,” he concluded.
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