NAKURU, Kenya (CNS) Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki assured the Catholic Church that abortion will remain illegal despite contrary statements by members of the country’s parliament drafting a new constitution. Addressing the congregation in Christ the King Cathedral Feb. 26 during the installation of Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Nakuru, the president said he opposed efforts to legalize abortion and would not support any draft of the constitution that included language legalizing the procedure.
The proposed constitution will be subject to a nationwide referendum in June.
Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi, who celebrated the installation Mass, told Kibaki that the church will reject the constitution if it would allow abortion to be legalized.
"It is wrong for the constitution to abandon fundamental moral values which were respected by our culture and promoted by the Christian faith," Cardinal Njue told the gathering, which included former President Daniel Moi.
Kibaki asked the church to pray for members of parliament as they began work on the final draft of the constitution. He also commended Cardinal Njue for his public stance in opposition to abortion.