Entitlement Is Poisoning the Church, says a Catholic Bishop
Catholic Diocese of Malindi Bishop Willybard K Lagho (Photo/ Courtesy)
By The COAST Reporter
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Catholic Diocese of Malindi Bishop Willybard K Lagho has issued a pastoral letter to parish priests, assistant priests and all the laity to observe equality of worshippers irrespective of their social status.
In his letter dated April 2, 2025, the bishop quotes the Book of James that says on Chapter 2, verses 3 to 4: ‘Entitlement is poisoning the church’.
“As your Shepherd, I remain united with you in prayers asking God that Lenten season and Jubilee year may truly become the Damascus moment of conversion and genuine leadership,” he says.
The cleric reminds all priests, assistant priests and the laity that places of worship are sacred and all worshippers inside the church are expected to focus on prayers.
“Listening to the Word of God and partaking in the Eucharist.”
According to him it is sacrilegious to transform church for any other businesses.
This comes in the wake of churches under the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) banning political activities in its member churches.
It directive stipulates that politicians will no longer be allowed to make speeches during church services and should instead address the public or media outside the pulpit.
This follows a similar stance taken by the Anglican Church of Kenya when Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit barred and restricted politicians to all ACK churches nationwide.
Some of the casualties of this ban were the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and his wife, Dorcas, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua when they were stopped from addressing the congregation during a Nyeri service.
Bishop Lagho, in his pastoral letter, tells all worshippers, including politicians, to be treated equally and no one is entitled to special seats or seating places nor time to address the faithful.
“A person who notifies church leadership regarding their plan to attend Mass on specific days and times is manifestly an entitlement seeker and should not be recognized.”
The bishop warns that a priest or church leader who disrespects this directive will be held personally responsible.
“Let’s all pray for peace in our country and admonish people using places of worship for political expediency and money laundering.”
He wished priests and religious laity in the Malindi Diocese a very fruitful Lenten season with blessings as it grinds to an end ‘soon’.
