Originally published at National Catholic Register
The archbishop said the Church is called to uphold her integrity by refusing contributions that may ‘inadvertently’ compromise her independence or facilitate ‘unjust enrichment.’
The archbishop of Kenya’s Archdiocese of Nairobi has turned down financial donations that the country’s president offered to a Catholic parish, stating that the Church will not be compromised by offers from politicians who seek to use church fundraising events for self gain.
In a Nov. 18 statement widely circulated on social media platforms, Archbishop Philip Anyolo Subira declined over 5 million Kenyan shillings ($38,500) that President William Samoei Ruto offered to Soweto Catholic Church on Nov. 17. The cash gift was meant for the construction of a new rectory at the parish.
The president further gave the parish choir and the Pontifical Missionary Childhood a 600,000 Kenyan shilling ($4,600) cash reward and promised to donate a bus to the parish, both of which the archbishop has also declined.
In the statement, the archbishop explained that the “political donations” to the Soweto Catholic Church are in violation of Kenya’s Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024, which requires fundraising appeals to have a permit.
“These funds will be refunded to the respective donors,” Anyolo said, adding in
