AFRICA/KENYA - Cardinal Njue leads Catholics in the fight against abortion: “start submitting signatures so that after gathering them in their millions we move to petition the competent authorities to stop this campaign of discussing how to kill the unborn babies.”

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “Now, I call upon you to stand firm and defend the life of the unborn babies. Say and shout it aloud that: Abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy by killing the unborn and defenseless child. Such direct action, willed, either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law and to Christian teaching.” This is the call being launched by His Eminence Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, in order to lead the Catholic community in taking action, as the local Parliament heads for discussions on the legalization of abortion.
Cardinal Njue has written a Pastoral Letter, a copy of which was sent to Agenzia Fides, in which he affirms that “abortion is killing an innocent person and God says, “You shall not kill (Exodus 20:13). The womb of any mother is supposed to be the safest place where the child, even just conceived, should feel most secure and loved. There is no way we shall support a society that destroys the unborn who have been created as gratuitous gifts from God to the community.”
Addressing the Catholics in politics, Cardinal Njue encouraged them to act in accordance with the Church: “Those of you who are Catholics and are holding positions of public responsibility should be distinguished by your sense of integrity. Your actions should be constituent with your faith and the moral principles taught by the Church in which you claim membership. In fulfilment of your public responsibilities, you must uphold public morality and promote public order and peace. You must work for laws and public policies that sustain human life and promote the common good. You must work hard to assure prenatal care for all women. You must work to correct injustices and all situations of evil that threaten human dignity and human rights.”
In order to stop this abortion law, the Archbishop of Nairobi invites the faithful and men of good will to “submit a million signatures for the baby.”
“This is our non-stop baby defending crusade for the next couple of months. Radio Waumini, Church announcements, posters and the National Mirror, will keep you informed about our way forward,” Cardinal Njue concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 8/10/2008)